Page 81 of The Art of Exiley

She holds me at arm’s length, assessing. “Is… is that Prince Jerk’s jacket?”

“Uh, yeah.” I’d put it back on after changing with plans to return it to Rafe. Also, it smells good.

“Did you hear about Hypatia?” I ask her.

“Hear what about her? Where is she?”

“She was abducted last night.”

Georgie covers her mouth in horror. I summarize the details of Hypatia sneaking out to Carnevale and the bounty on Sires.

“This must be why Master Loew has been so panicked. He’s been looking everywhere for you. You should probably go see him.”

I’ve been too distracted with concern for Hypatia to think about Michael. But after last night, I don’t feel ready to face him alone. “Will you come with me?” I ask Georgie.

She nods and says, “Finish your breakfast first. Whatever happened to you last night, I can tell you need to eat.” Since my breakfast is banana bread with clotted cream and date syrup, I’m happy to comply.

As we head through the Spring wing, I try to remember whether I said anything mortifying to Michael while I was woozy. I have no idea if our dance was what I thought it was. But even if we did have a moment of shared attraction, that doesn’t mean he’s interested in anything more. Nowthat Georgie knows how I feel about him, I’m glad to have her with me for moral support.

I knock tentatively at Michael’s office door, which immediately swings open.

“Oh, thank the Conductor!” Michael says, and for a moment I think he might hug me. Instead, he steps back, allowing Georgie and me to come in. “How are you feeling?” he asks.

“I’m a little shaken up, but that’s it.” Entering his office brings a lingering memory of our argument and the reminder that I’m supposed to be mad at him. But the truth is that just being in his presence brings me a sense of relief, and after everything I’ve been through since last night, I don’t have the energy to conjure up my ire. “I’m fine, really.”

“Good,” Michael says, but when our eyes meet, he quickly looks away.

“Do you have any news about Hypatia?” I ask.

“Ah, yes. I know you two are close. We have a few leads as to where she may be.”

“You do?”

He nods. “I assure you, many people are working hard to bring her back.”

“Hey, um, Ada?” Georgie says in a strained voice. She’s staring at a photo lying on top of a stack of papers on Michael’s desk, her eyes wide as saucers. I step over to see what’s caught her attention. My stomach sinks.

“Who is that?” I ask Michael, trying to sound as casual as possible.

Michael leans over to see the picture that I’m pointing to. It’s blurry but clear enough that I have no questions about at least two of the faces I see circled in red ink. Neither, apparently, does Georgie.

“That’s a photograph of the inner circle of the Inquisitors,” he says. “The Guard have determined it’s legitimate. We haven’t had intelligence on the activity of the Inquisitors this specific in decades, and we’re confident this information can help lead us to Hypatia.”

None of this makes any sense.

“How do you know that they’re the ones who have her?”

“We have compelling evidence linking them to all of the recent abductions.”

Time seems to slow, the beating of my heart echoing in my skull. I glance at Georgie, and her eyes look like they might pop out of her face.

“We have to go,” I say.

“But you just got here—”

I dash out of the room with Georgie on my heels.

“Wasn’t that your—” she starts.

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