I greet each horse with a good morning, receiving a neigh or whicker in response. In the week that has passed, I've come to learn and appreciate the personality of each animal, like which ones prefer oats instead of hay in the morning and the few that have become too old to do much exercise. Of all of them, Hetty will always be my favorite.

Jemson has shown his face at the stable only a few times, complimenting me on my ability to run the stable on my own and giving me the pay I've earned. I don't mind that he's left things to me. I prefer not having someone looking over my shoulder. It comes as no surprise that he's absent when I arrive.

My regular routine begins, all the while I'm counting the minutes until Syndel will arrive with our lunches. Afterward, we'll take out two horses, probably Toby and Hugh this time, for some exercise. During our daily outings, we speak of things that might seem trivial to anyone else, like Swen's latest cooking disaster or trying to remember the names of the townspeople we've met, but I'd be content even if neither of us said a word. As long as we're together.

I haven't been able to determine how she feels about me. It's clear she enjoys my company or at least prefers it more than that of anyone else. Then there are moments when she looks at me and I can almost believe she sees me as a man. These moments are bittersweet. I long to be what she expects, but it's an aspiration I can never truly reach.

Noon comes and goes. I look at the stable entrance every few minutes, waiting for it to be lit by her glow. Has she forgotten? The more time that passes, the more I think of other possibilities. Someone else has claimed her attention. Or her safety has been compromised. I'm not certain which one fills me with more dread.

Unable to stand it any longer, I set down my tools and head to Swen's house. As the old building comes into view Arem appears in front of me, looking excited.

“You'll never guess the news I have!” he exclaims, waving a slip of paper like a banner.

Normally I welcome his visits, but now it's difficult for me to mask my impatience. “What is your news?” I ask, trying to hurry him on.

“Got a letter from my father. He'll be home later than he expected because Tiffly's crops haven't done well, but that's not the news. He saw them there, even spoke to one of them. They'll be here in three days!”

“Friends of your family?” I asked distractedly, looking past him in the hopes that Syndel will emerge from the house and put my worries to rest.

“No,” Arem says. “The Noble-lords.”

A maelstrom of panic engulfs me. I cannot think clearly. This can't be. I should still have three weeks before I must leave Nikom. Three weeks to spend with Syndel. My heart constricts. I have to leave her now.

“Cress?” Arem says, touching my arm.

I flinch back to reality, quickly masking my distress. “Thank you for telling me,” I say, my voice shaking. If he hadn't, I would have been trapped. I walk past him without another word and continue to Swen's. I have to find Syndel.

All is quiet when I enter. I inhale deeply, unable to sense a single aura. No one is here. I search the rooms anyway but find nothing. I am anxious and agitated. Where is everyone?

As I return to the door to leave, I hear voices coming from the porch. I freeze in place. She's out there with Swen. She's safe. Relief weakens my knees. Leaning on the door for support, I catch their muffled voices as they continue to speak.

“I don't want to hurt his feelings,” Syndel says, “but I can't spend time with him anymore.”

“I understand,” says Swen. “I noticed from the start he had eyes for you. Would you like me to speak to him?”

“No. I should do it myself. We're just too different. I hope he'll understand.”

“Is there someone else?” Swen asks, teasing in her voice.

“I can't say for certain, but . . .”

I don't want to hear any more. Despair fills me. I was wrong to hope. All this time she has simply been sparing my feelings. Movement returns to my legs. I back away from the door, desperate to escape.

I collect my things from my room and move to the window, knowing I cannot go out the front door and face her. Without bothering to make sure no one is watching, I drop to the ground and run to the nearest shadows. Concealed in darkness, I fall to my knees and bury my face in my hands. A Soulless cannot weep, but I feel as if I've lost my soul all over again.

***

I wait for the sun to set before leaving my hiding place. I glance at Swen's house for the last time as I walk the empty streets toward the stable. There's one more thing I need to collect.

Entering the building, I go directly to the fourth stall on the right. Swaying sleepily, Henrietta peeks at me, letting out a low grunt.

“Sorry to wake you,” I whisper. “I'm leaving and I want you to come with me.”

The mare doesn't hesitate. Joining me at the gate, she nudges my shoulder as if encouraging me to lead the way. I open the gate to let her out but abruptly halt. We are not alone. A warm glow shines at the stable entrance. “Syndel?” I stammer in disbelief.

“You were going to leave without saying goodbye?” she demands, sounding angry.

I stiffen. “What does it matter?” I ask defensively. “My actions no longer concern you.”

She folds her arms across her chest. “Are you sure about that?”

Her question confuses me. Is she tormenting me on purpose? “You don't need to patronize me any longer. I heard you and Swen.”

Her eyes widen for an instant before she lets out a laugh. The sweet sound cuts me deep.

“If you're going to eavesdrop,” she says, stalking toward me, her eyes narrowed, “you should at least listen to the entire conversation. Hermis has been watching me like a love-sick schoolboy for days now. He brings me flowers and leaves little notes for me at breakfast. He finds me in Swen's garden when I'm not with you at the stable. That's who we were talking about. Not you.”

I blink at her, dazed by the anger in her voice and the realization that she doesn't dislike me. I hope my foolish misunderstanding hasn't changed that. Not that it matters. “I still have to leave,” I say, shifting my attention to prepare my ride.

“I know,” she says, sounding less angry. “I saw Arem while I was out looking for you. He told me about the Noble-lords.”

I freeze. Does she know they are the reason I'm leaving? Slowly, I turn to face her. “How did—”

“I know what you are, Cress.”

I cannot speak. My gaze drops to the ground. Taking several steps backward, I bump into Henrietta, who, for some reason, pushes me forward again. I dare not look at Syndel. “Will you warn the town or send word to the Noble-lords? You have every right to.”

“No.”

My head jerks up. “Why not?” I snap, not sure why her response provokes me. “I'm an abomination. I should be tied up and served to the Noble-lords like a feast.”

She seems unfazed by my outburst. “You're different. You're not like other Soulless.”

“How could you know that?” I demand. “You know nothing about me.”

“That's not true,” she says. “I admit you're difficult to read, but you've let your guard down more than once, just enough for me to see.”

“You can read minds?” I stammer, afraid of all the other things she might know.

She shakes her head. “It doesn't work like that. Your thoughts are your own. I sense emotions and changes in mood. I read intentions. All of these are connected to souls or the lack thereof.” She drops her gaze this time. “I'm a Sikari.”

Of all the things she could have said, I never expected this. It's not possible. “But they were wiped out by the Soulless more than a hundred years ago.” I cringe at my own words.

“Some of them survived,” she says calmly as if not bothered by the deaths of thousands of her kin. “My mother was a Sikari, and her mother before her. I'm the last of my family and perhaps the last of all the Sikari. Which is why I'm going with you.”

I start to laugh. Not out of amusement or cruelty. Everything that has transpired in the last few minutes is madness and I choose to laugh instead of scream. Her glare returns.

“The Noble-lords aren't coming here to hunt Soulless, Cress,” she says, and I see the fear behind her glare. “They're coming for me.”