Empire of Night by Kelley Armstrong

the floor. And it was like being back in Edgewood, the old Moria sauntering in after an adventure.
    â€œI have news,” she said, and for perhaps the first time since Gavril’s betrayal, she smiled at her sister.
    Once Ashyn recovered from her heart palpitations—she couldn’t believe Moria had been caught spying on the emperor —she calmed and listened. With every word Moria said, Ashyn felt like she was exhaling after holding her breath. While she’d never doubted that the emperor was doing something, she’d quietly shared her sister’s opinion that it seemed too little. This news came as a relief. Until Moria told her who’d be the envoys.
    â€œYou and Tyrus?” Ashyn said. “While I logically follow his reasoning, it seems . . .”
    Coldly logical. Like admitting he would sacrifice the children and the villagers to protect the empire. She understood it, but could not fathom making such a choice herself.
    She’d seen Emperor Tatsu’s warmth and affection for his son. Now to send him as an envoy after two spies had presumably perished? While she agreed the risk was much smaller, it was still a risk.
    â€œDo you have a choice?” As soon as Ashyn said the words and saw her sister’s face, she knew it didn’t matter.
    â€œI must go,” Moria said. “But you don’t need to.”
    Ashyn went still.
    Moria rose from where she’d collapsed, sprawled over cushions with Daigo, and she moved to sit beside Ashyn on the sleeping mat. Her voice softened. “You’ve been through enough. Tyrus and I can handle it.”
    Of every unintended slight Ashyn had suffered over the last six days, this one cut the deepest. Before the massacre,they’d never been separated for more than a half day.
    Tyrus and I can handle it.
    â€œI’d like to go,” Ashyn said.
    Moria grinned. “All right, then. If you’re sure you want to give up all this”—her hand swept across the luxurious room—“for a horse and a hard pallet.”
    â€œI’m sure.”
    â€œThen start packing. We leave at dawn.”
    And that was it. Her sister didn’t wish her to stay behind, but simply hadn’t presumed she would join them. Life had changed. They were no longer children, tumbling on each other’s heels. They’d not been for many summers. This was but another step down a path they couldn’t avoid.
    Moria rose. “We’ll need to get a message to Ronan.”
    â€œWhy?”
    â€œBecause he should know. I’m also hoping he’ll offer to come along. He can’t actually join us, of course—”
    â€œNo, he cannot. Because he has not been pardoned. He will not be until he allows us to ask for it.”
    â€œHe hoped to see you today. With me. In the market.”
    Ashyn struggled to keep her face neutral. “The fact remains that he is a thief condemned to the Forest of the Dead, and until he seeks pardon, he is safest where he is. I’ll ask you to humor me in this. Please. Until the sentence is lifted, I’d not have him in any danger, and sending him that message implies we need his help.”
    Moria hesitated, then nodded. “All right. I’ll take that extra time to bathe. It’ll be days before we have another chance.”
    â€œFetch the water. I’ll stoke the fire.”
    When her sister was gone, Ashyn heard a grumble and looked down at Tova, lying by her feet.
    â€œRonan should not be told,” she said.
    Tova fixed his dark eyes on her, and she squirmed under his stare. While she’d not have Ronan endangered, the truth was a little less selfless, a lot less honorable. But to admit her own troubles seemed to cheapen Moria’s, as if by saying, “He hurt me,” she put Ronan’s betrayal on the same level as Gavril’s.
    When she’d first met Ronan, he’d seemed infatuated with Moria, which was no surprise. Yet as