Emily held up a hand before Markus could say or do something Harman would regret. In truth, she’d expected to be asked to leave days ago. Too many people were muttering about how her innovations had allowed Vesperian to thrive, how her innovations had brought the city to its knees. And while she had defeated Justice, most of the city didn’t know what had really happened. They didn’t know they should be grateful…
“I understand,” she said. She rather doubted she was expected to attend the rest of Casper’s funeral, let alone Caleb’s confirmation as Heir. God alone knew what had happened to Casper’s casket. Sienna hadn’t said anything, but…If nothing else, it was an excuse for her and Frieda to leave the city. “I’ll be gone by the end of the day.”
“Thank you.” Harman rose. “And I hope we will meet again.”
Emily concealed her amusement as Harman left the room. She didn’t think anyone had told her anything quite so insincere…
“I’m sorry,” Markus said. “I can petition the council, if you wish. They cannot send you into exile without a proper hearing.”
“Don’t worry about it,” Emily said. “Just send a message to Frieda, telling her to meet me on the bridge. She won’t want to stay either.”
“Probably for the best.” Markus rose and held out a hand. “Good luck with resuming your studies, Emily.”
“I’ll need it,” Emily said. She rubbed her forehead. She’d have to work hard – very hard – to catch up. And she would have to do some of that with Caleb. It was going to be awkward as hell. “I’ll be sure to give Melissa your love.”
“She said she would come visit at half-term,” Markus said. “By then, hopefully everything will be back to normal.”
“Or as normal as it gets around here,” Emily said. Beneficence had been changing – for better and for worse – even before Vesperian’s death. “Don’t forget to send the message.”
“I won’t.” Markus paused. “Caleb is waiting for you downstairs. Do you want me to sneak you out the back?”
Emily hesitated. She didn’t want to face Caleb, not now. But she didn’t have a choice. They had to talk…
“I’ll meet him downstairs,” she said. She knew she was being silly, but she couldn’t help feeling that facing a necromancer would be easier. “I’ll walk with him to the bridge.”
“Good luck.” Markus waved a hand. “See you next time.”
Chapter Thirty-Nine
CALEB STOOD BY THE DOOR WHEN Emily entered the lobby, looking as if he had aged several years in the last few months. His face was scarred – Frieda had caught him a nasty blow, during their brief fight – although Emily was surprised he hadn’t asked his mother to heal it. But then, there were far more injured people on the streets, people who could never live a normal life without magical healing. He’d just have to live with his scars until he returned to Whitehall.
“Emily.” Caleb sounded nervous. “I…how are you?”
Emily looked back at him for a long moment, unable or unwilling to put a name to any of her emotions. She’d liked Caleb, even loved him. He’d been a decent man, for all of his faults; she’d trusted him enough to lower the barriers completely, to allow him to enter her and take her virginity…she thought, though she didn’t know, that he’d been a virgin too. Were they both still virgins if they’d swapped virginities?
Her lips twisted at the absurd thought. Caleb looked alarmed, then offended; Emily sighed inwardly, realizing he thought she’d been laughing at him. But she hadn’t laughed…she closed her eyes for a long moment, centering herself. The dull heartache felt worse when she looked at him…
“I’m fine,” she lied. She nodded to the door. “I have to walk to the bridge.”
Caleb’s expression tightened. “They’re kicking you out? After everything you did for them?”
“Someone has to take the blame.” Emily pushed open the door. A gust of warm air struck her. It smelled faintly of fish from the market down the street. “And I’m leaving the city anyway.”
She cast a privacy ward as they started to walk down the street, heading to the bridge. She’d meet Frieda there, hopefully, and then teleport back to Dragon’s Den. Or all the way back to Whitehall, perhaps. A night in her own bed felt like a very good idea, but the sooner she was back at school the better. She had a lot of work to do.
“Mother said you probably wouldn’t want to stay,” Caleb said. “She had a lot of sharp things to say to me.”
Emily nodded. Having a mother like Sienna was a two-edged sword. She would fight for her children, defend them…but she’d also keep them firmly in line. Caleb hadn’t lived up to the standards she expected from her children. Emily was grimly sure that Sienna would make him pay for it.
“But Marian wanted to apologize to you,” Caleb added, after a moment. “She was…she was overwhelmed.”
“I don’t blame her,” Emily said, tartly. She’d been overwhelmed by blood magic, four years ago. “Is she recovering?”
“Slowly,” Caleb said. “Mother thinks she’ll be going to Whitehall next year.”
Emily glanced at him. “Is that a good idea?”
“She’s too fragile for Stronghold, after…after…well, everything,” Caleb said. “Mother actually thought about keeping Marian at home and teaching her personally, but she doesn’t know everything Marian will need to learn. I have strict orders to look after her when she arrives.”
“Ouch,” Emily said. She wondered if Sienna was doing Marian any favors. An overprotective brother dogging her heels would make it harder for her to establish herself at school. But she didn’t blame Sienna for wanting to protect her child. “Don’t be too overbearing.”
“I learned from Casper.” Caleb smiled, his face lighting up. “Mostly, I learned what not to do…”
“True,” Emily agreed. “But…”
She shook her head. Casper had followed her to Heart’s Eye. Caleb, she knew now, wouldn’t do the same. He wasn’t a fighter, not at heart. He was a researcher…