Servants strung garlands of feylantern lights in the hallways. People moved back and forth. The air smelled of roasting meat and spices. I walked through it, strangely disconnected, the quiet sounds of my footsteps lost in the celebratory chaos. Derek raised his head, listening. “It’s the hunt dinner. They finally got all the game sorted and cooked. We are supposed to celebrate the winners at midnight.” Great. Everyone stuffed back into the single dining hall. That would go well. I made it up the stairs. My heart beat a little faster. I picked up speed. He wouldn’t leave without me. Not even with the panacea on the line. I walked into our room. Empty. A stack of my books had disappeared. Curran’s clothes, thrown on the chair, had vanished. The bed was made. No way. The sound of running water came from the bathroom and Curran emerged, wiping his hands with a towel.
