"Don't be absurd," Reddy barked, and she straightened to glare at him. "What would the company do without you? You've made the pixies dependent. Woman, you've made me dependent. I can't spare you!"
I hid my smile against Ronan's shoulder, squeezing one of Nireas's hand in mine as Myra's cheeks went pink. She grasped Reddy's face in two hands and pulled him close for a noisy kiss, Reddy scowling at her for a moment before his eyes fell shut and his arms wrapped around her. The couple settled, Myra resting her head on Reddy's shoulder, and he resumed his glaring at everyone else.
"And don't ask about my girls. They can help out if they like, but the theater won't have shows without them," Reddy said to Asterion as their party from the wings broke up.
Jude and Hunter appeared at the organ, sitting at the edge of the stage and leaning back into our tangle of legs.
Asterion puffed and considered Reddy for a moment of thought. "Perhaps Mortimer might be able to—"
"I can help."
I had to lean forward to stare back into the wings of the stage to see her. Isabella walked out slowly. Her cheek was bruised, her throat too—Eston's work, no doubt—and she looked tired and frightened and nervous, but her shoulders were straight.
"I'd like to help them," she said, her voice a little ragged. "And I…I was never very good here, anyway. I know I can't leave this world. And maybe one day, I won't mind that. But in the meantime, I'd like to help those people. I can help them, if you let me."
"Good girl, lovey," Myra murmured.
Asterion offered Isabella a bow, just as he had for Myra, although his eyes were slightly narrowed. He hadn't witnessed the scene here the night before, but perhaps he had his own suspicions about the young woman.
"I offer my gratitude," he said simply.
Ronan cleared his throat, gathering their attention."Is that it, then? Do we believe Birsha's gone into hiding and that'll be the end of our trouble?" he asked.
"No," Marius said immediately. "You never turn your back on an enemy like Birsha."
Asterion nodded. "Until we know for certain Birsha is dead, we remain vigilant, we guard the vulnerable, and we rightfully blacken his reputation to others."
"And we hunt him," Conall growled, crossing to stand with Asterion. "We don't cease until we've caught and killed him."
I reached for Hunter's hand, finding it already rising back to meet mine. Jude leaned between Ronan's and my thighs. Nireas's arms wove over my back with Ronan's arm, and I managed a moment of peace, even in the wake of Conall's dark words.
Whatever role I took now, company girl or ferocious monster, I did so with these men at my side.