I found her on the stairs.

Val was coming down from the rooftop access looking like someone who'd been somewhere they weren't supposed to be and hadn't quite talked themselves into a reason yet.

Hair loose, jacket pulled close, eyes a little too bright for midnight.

I grabbed her arm and pulled her sideways into the alcove before she could say a word.

"My room," I said. "Now."

"Lyra—"

"Now, Val."

She came.

I shut the door behind us and turned to face her. She was already moving to ...