Chapter 171

Pierce looked puzzled. “Kit, I thought you left with your mother. Are you well?”

“Yes, I’m fine, Pierce, thank you. I only forgot to tell Landon something, that’s all.”

The Representative from Metfirth did not buy that excuse, but he continued on his way, his forehead crinkled. He wasn’t quite to the end of the hall when Landon did come around the corner. Thankfully, Eli was with him—along with Cassius, Jate, Danyen, and Drake. Eli was walking of his own accord, but Kit could tell it was a struggle.

“Why won’t you let them help you?” she asked, keeping her voice low so that Pierce, who had stopped to observe, wouldn’t hear. Her mother’s words about him came back to her, and she wished she’d have a chance to talk to Eli about it, but that couldn’t happen that night, not in his condition and not with her plans.

“I’m fine,” he insisted, though the sweat on his brow and the paleness of his complexion didn’t convince her.