I shut my mouth and match her stride. We pass more feeders flitting from one room to another. We turn the corner, heading into the quiet hallway of my room, and Naida nearly pushes me inside when she opens the door. I turn, irritated.
“Are you going to tell me what’s going on?”
The door opens again, and a rushed Clarissa enters with her arms full of dresses and accessories. Naida grabs my shoulders and hurries me to the bathtub, where a bubble bath is already waiting. She undresses me and gets me into the tub. She scrubs my arms with vigor and enthusiasm.
“Naida!” I protest. “What’s going on?”
“Cassian is having a guest tonight. You know about the Southern Territories?”
I nod.
“Good, well, the representative of the Halfbloods is coming here—Zerion Labrot.”
“And what about it?”
“He’
