“Wait, your middle name is Regulus?” Beni laughed.

“Beni…” I growled.

After a post-sex wipedown, I’d had to face the music. I needed to tell the others what had happened on the phone. Especially Espy. Beni had flashed me a wolfish grin while slow clapping as I descended the stairs. Then I laid my cards on the table.

“I’m sorry, I’m sorry.” She placed a hand on her chest like she was struggling to breathe. “It’s just..Seth Regulus? Chosen prince, really? Your dad likes to lay it on a little thick, doesn’t he?”

“Are you quite finished?”

“Yeah. Wait, no.” She let out another peal of laughter that eventually dissolved into a happy sigh. “Okay, I’m good.”

“Anyway,” I said archly. “That’s that. I’m sure he’s on his way here right now because he didn’t bother calling back.”

“It’s not unknown for Saints to work with local governments they couldn’t avoid,” Espy said slowly. “But I find it hard to believe Ricard would knowingly sacrifice civilians. Given that possibility, do you still want to do this?”

“Do you?” I asked. “All of you. If we go through with this, it’s officially an unsanctioned mission. I won’t have you on Dad’s shitlist because of me.”

“Meh.” Beni shrugged. “Might as well. Nothing good on TV anyway.”

“Ben, there’s not even a TV in here.”

“Fortunately for you, hmm?”

“Maybe it’s irresponsible, as the Magda,” Espy said over us. “But even if I tried to insist you wait here for Richard, you wouldn’t do it. I’d rather be prepared to back you up.”

“You know I’m with you,” Evan said.

I let out a breath, hoping it wasn’t too obvious.

“You’re sure then?” Espy asked one more time.

“Well, I’m already dressed for it,” I said weakly.

Knights are known for suits of armor, and the Knights of Seth had our own version. Instead of shining chainmail, we wore kneepads and vambraces of high impact plastic, lightweight yet durable. Under the bracers, we donned gloves with vanadium stripes sewn into the fingers and knuckles. I’d always thought they were a little skeletal-looking. If it ever came to blows, the sacred metal would at least allow our punches to actually hurt. My every-day boots were already capped with the same metal, so those were good to go.

With my jacket on, you wouldn’t know I was decked, Hiding in plain sight was the Saints’ way. Baby was strapped to my back, and beneath her sheath I wore Evan’s t-shirt like a breastplate. I popped my collar up to hide her hilt, and I was good to go.

Everyone else had thrown on their own versions of the gear, with Espy and Beni pulling their hair back in carefully braided buns.

“So you’re just going to walk out into the woods and hope they find you?” Beni’s mirth vanished.

“If I’m right about someone watching me, I don’t think hope will have anything to do with it,” I said. “And after Dad’s phone call, I’m more convinced than ever.”

I could tell they didn’t fully buy into my theory about Dad being involved with Song, but I couldn’t make my brain conjure anything else that made sense. As the saying goes, the simplest answer is usually the right one.

“It’s nearly full dark,” I said. “Better get out there.”

“We’ll be right behind you,” Evan said, cupping my cheek. “You remember the signal?”

“Course,” I said. “I’ll send it up at the first sign of trouble.”

“We’ll be watching,” he said.

Then he kissed me. I blushed knowing that the others were watching (Beni whooped), but didn’t pull away. I needed the strength his lips gave me. We lingered, but eventually I stepped back.

Aiming for a semblance of my usual self, I winked. “Wish me luck.”

“Luck,” he said softly.

I headed for the door without looking back.