55. What Cannot Lose
Caspian
Footsteps echo across the second-floor hallway and both Zavian and I look toward the staircase at the same time. For one hopeful second, I expect to see Asena. Instead, it is Maria, one of the younger maids. She pauses when she notices both of us staring at her.
"...Did I interrupt something?"
I don't answer.
"Maria," I say quietly, "where is Miss Asena?"
She blinks, "I... I thought she was with you, sir."
Everything inside me goes still.
"What?"
"I saw her walk toward the back corridor a few minutes ago. I assumed she was meeting you."
The purse almost slips from my hand again and I look at Zavian. He is already looking at me and neither of us speaks. We don't need to for we both have the same thought: she's gone.
Without another word, Zavian reache
