Moria bolted upright, pulse racing, mind on fire, knowing she had to do something, had to get somewhere, but she was momentarily dazed. She looked around.
Where am I?
An empty room. Her gaze snagged on one of her daggers lying on the floor, and it all rushed back.
"Daigo!"
She grabbed the dagger and ran. She tore across the gardens and threw open the door to their quarters. As she raced through, she could see Daigo lying on the cushion, a pool of crimson beside him.
"Moria?"
It was Ashyn, but Moria barely heard her. She flew to Daigo as the wildcat rose, stretching and snarling a yawn. He let out a chirp as she dropped to her knees, running her hands up and down his sides.
She could see and feel no injury.
Her gaze shot to the crimson pool. It was a bright-red cushion he'd been lying on. She kept patting him down, certain there was something. He rubbed his cheek against hers as a purr rumbled through him. Behind her, Tova whined and Ashyn hurried over.
"Moria? What's wrong?"
"He's hurt. When you were gone. He came in and hurt him."
"What?" Ashyn's hand closed on her shoulder. "When did I leave?"
Moria gulped breath as her heart slowed. She couldn't find any sign of injury on Daigo. In fact, he seemed rested and recovered from his infection.
"Moria?"
She turned to Ashyn. "Did you leave the room?"
"No, I've been in bed the whole time. Reading my book."
Moria stood. "Gavril lied to escape. He said he'd hurt Daigo so I'd come straight here before raising the alarm."
"Gavril?"
She turned to her sister and told her everything.
"I--I don't understand," Ashyn said when Moria had finished. "That's not possible."
"The Seeking party never found Marshal Kitsune's body, did they?" Moria paced the floor, fury and rage fresh again.
"No, I can believe the marshal survived. I can believe he would strike against the emperor. While I find it difficult to believe any person could do it in that way--raising shadow stalkers and annihilating a village of innocents--I do not know the marshal. But I do know Gavril, and that is what I cannot believe. That he was part of this."
"He admitted it. He used us and betrayed us, and he played a role in the massacre of our village and the death of our father." She gripped her dagger. "For th
at, I'll kill him."
"Moria, don't talk like that."
"Like what?" Moria spun on her sister. "Don't threaten to kill the boy who helped massacre every person in our village? Who helped murder our father? Gavril Kitsune's life will end by my hand, Ashyn. I swear it."
Her sister dropped her gaze, mouth setting in a way that told Moria she would resume the discussion at a more suitable time. Moria continued pacing the room.
"Now that we know this, we need to decide how to handle--"
Ashyn leaped up. "We must tell someone. Immediately."
"All right. We'll summon--"