“Daniel!” She ran into his arms and buried her head against his chest. “I’m so glad it’s you. I thought it was your father. He’s the only one who knocks. The rest just let themselves in whenever they want. I feel like an animal in a zoo cage—a specimen on display that people come to stare at.”
He hugged her for a few seconds. With a growing sense of alarm, he realized she was shaking. “Are you alright?” He held her at arm’s length to study her face. She’d changed so much during her time in the outer world. When she left, she’d been little more than a frightened child. She was still frightened but definitely no longer a child. Her short-cropped hair made her look like one of the so-called Fallen, as did the expression in her eyes. There was a keen spark of awareness which hadn’t been there before. He’d grown used to the dull submissiveness of most consecrated brides. Hannah no longer belonged among them.
He led her to a seat on the bed and drew up a chair facing her.
She laughed a trifle hysterically. “It feels so good to hear my own voice again. I haven’t spoken to anybody since they brought me back.”
“Why not?” Daniel registered puzzlement.
She dropped her voice to a whisper. “I don’t want them to know anything about the people I was with. Not about Granny Faye or Zach or Cassie.”
“Cassie!” The scion flinched at the name. It brought back a memory of her last ominous words to him. “See you at the finish line.” He switched his attention back to Hannah. “I was told you were being sheltered by Cassie, but I didn’t believe it. How on earth did she find you?”
“She didn’t.” Hannah shrugged simply. “I went looking for her. I thought I’d be safest staying with an enemy of the diviner.”
Daniel smiled in spite of himself. “That was a very clever thing to do. I don’t know the Zach or Faye you mentioned. Only Cassie, Griffin and Erik.”
The girl looked confused. “Who are they?”
“The three people who are making it extremely hard for the diviner to get the artifacts he wants.”
“Good!” she exclaimed decisively. Her mood shifted immediately to one of concern. “Is Cassie alright?”
“Oh yes, quite well,” Daniel replied dryly. “I recently crossed paths with Cassie and Griffin in China. They very nearly stole the relic I was sent to retrieve. As for Erik, he stalked me at the library last week.”
“Why would he do that?”
Daniel patted her hand. “Because he and his friends want to get you out of here. He asked me to help.”
Contrary to his expectations, Hannah didn’t receive the news gladly. She sank her head into her hands and began to sob.
“Oh, my goodness, Hannah. What is it?”
She raised her tear-stained face and smiled. “Not what you think. I’m crying because I’m so relieved. It all came out in a rush. I’ve been walking a tightrope ever since I was brought back. Not talking to anybody. Your brother Joshua coming to visit every day—trying to force me to give him information.”
“Joshua?” Daniel’s heart sank at the name. “He’s been bothering you?”
“He keeps questioning me, trying to break me down. He wants to know how I got out, details about the people I stayed with, all of it. I haven’t said a word though. I promise I won’t.”
“He’ll try to find your weaknesses. Hannah, he can be relentless. I ought to know. I grew up with him. Be on your guard around him, always.”
“I’m trying.” Tears streamed down her cheeks. “I think I can take anything knowing there are people who care about me. People who want to get me out of here.”
“You do! Absolutely.” Daniel came to sit beside her on the bed. He placed his arm comfortingly around her shoulder. “Erik and I are putting together a plan. It won’t be more than a week. You just have to stay strong til then.”
She nodded vehemently. “I will. I promise. Joshua can’t lay a hand on me as long as your father still thinks...” she trailed off with a grimace.
“So long as my father still thinks you’ll share his bed again soon.” Daniel completed the thought.
She nodded and wiped away her tears. “That’s never going to happen, but he doesn’t need to know that.”
Daniel gave her arm a reassuring squeeze and then rose to go. “I’ll come back to see you as soon as we have our escape route finalized. Hannah, don’t ever forget. You’re not alone.”
She flashed a grateful smile. “I’ll remember. Thank you, Daniel!”
***
The scion backed out of the girl’s room as quietly as possible. He didn’t want his visits to be noted by anybody in the community. Sliding the door shut noiselessly, he turned, almost jumping out of his skin at the sight confronting him.
“Hello, brother.” Joshua gave a triumphant smirk.
“Where did you come from?” Daniel demanded angrily. “You nearly scared me half to death.”
“Only half?” the spymaster asked dryly. “You look pale as a ghost.”
“I just went to visit Hannah,” Daniel stated the obvious.
“So I see. I suppose it’s only natural. She was your wife before she was reassigned to our father.” He eyed his brother slyly. “I do hope you’re not asserting any conjugal rights. She isn’t your wife anymore, you know.”
Daniel flushed angrily. “What a despicable thought!”
Joshua shrugged. “In any case, I don’t imagine you would experience much success in gaining her favor. The girl has been uncommunicative ever since her return.”
The scion took a moment to remind himself to keep up the pretense. “She wouldn’t talk to me either. I just wanted to make sure that she was being treated well.”
“In my opinion, she’s being treated far better than she deserves,” Joshua commented.
“Since she isn’t your wife any more than she is mine, her treatment remains our father’s concern.” Daniel moved away from the door. “Are you walking this way? I’m going toward the
