Her eyes softened, and she squeezed my hand. "So…what are we, exactly? After…everything?"
For a long moment, I couldn't answer. The rally's echoes still rang in my ears shouts, laughter, a last squelch of jam underfoot. The night air was thick with the scent of trampled grass, burnt sugar, and revolution. But Velka's hand was warm in mine, and her question didn't feel like one I could answer in front of half the academy, even if most of them were still distracted by Mara's epic attempt to ride a flying tart out the window.
I glanced at Velka, met her eyes, and squeezed her fingers back. "Come with me," I said, voice low, the urgency of truth making me bolder than usual.
