No one spoke for a moment after Nick finished. The room felt tighter than it had before she walked in, like the walls had moved a few inches closer without anyone noticing. This was no longer about guessing what the King might do. Now they knew exactly what was coming and exactly how little time they had to stop it.
Alaric looked at Nick. "Why did you switch sides?"
She did not answer immediately. Her eyes moved to Silas first, then back to Alaric, and when she spoke her voice was flat and completely without apology. "Because they moved against Silas. Anyone against him is against me."
A moment of silence. Nick continued without being asked. "I was with them to gather information, nothing more. I didn't know their target was him." The moment I knew, I left.
Sean had been watching her the entire time, reading her the way he read everything. "And now?" he asked.
"They know I'm gone," Nick said. "They'll be looking for me, and they know I know too much to leave walking around."
