It seems to take them a century to exit the hallway I’m hiding in. The first one out is the woman, whose name I learn from side conversations is Ruby. Two younger people I vaguely recognize from here and there flank her, with the maid who takes care of my room behind them and, to my astonishment, Cooper and Julia behind the maid.
And, of course, Aidan is the last to leave.
None of the others so much as turn their heads in my direction, but Aidan does. He pauses only a few steps away from me, then turns his neck as if it’s on a swivel, searching for the source of whatever smell or noise he might be sensing.
I just hold my breath and pray.
Whoever the gods are—I have no idea who they are, by the way, at this point—they must have been listening, because he doesn’t see me. And he leaves.
