It's all in our hands.

Stelon looked a tad upset by what she’d overheard. Larkin gave her a smile, staring into her eyes and trying to see her thoughts. What is she thinking? He wondered. Is this why she was masquerading as a lady of royalty, to find the truth behind all the whispered rumors? If his suspicion was right, he hoped she was satisfied.

She looked somewhat comforted by his indifferent smile, but the fear in her eyes would not leave, and her concerned expression remained. It was obvious to Larkin that she was struggling over something inside, confused and unsure of what consequences her choices could bring. Trying to hide the impact this new knowledge was making, she mirrored Larkin’s smile.

Pretending to be satisfied, he nodded once and looked back to Aurora. She was nervously playing with the jewels that dangled between her breasts - which drew Larkin’s eyes from her face - and trying to see the other Governors. She wasn’t sure about all of this, how could Larkin just suddenly dump this on them, so unexpected? She knew, though, once the surprise passed, that everyone would be absolutely ecstatic about the information Larkin held, and how the rebels would soon be no more.

But could it truly be done? Aurora let her eyes fall back onto the boy. And this was how Larkin would be able to do it? It was almost too much for her to believe, but even if The Shrike said he could move mountains, she would have the utmost faith in his claim. She saw the pained expression on the young man’s face, unable to sympathize. He looked as if he really did not enjoy the attention Larkin must have given him. He had probably resisted and provoked Larkin’s anger one too many times, and now feared every coming second in the man’s presence.

Larkin shifted his gaze back to Aurora’s face, wondering what he should do now. He couldn’t let Tic out of his sight again; the boy would only try another escape, and the party would perhaps be his last chance, the only time he could be out of Larkin’s sight and not locked up in a room with luxury he had no desire for. It was too late for that, though, Larkin wasn’t going to give him another chance.

And Stelon, he thought. He wanted to spend more time with her, and not let her out of his sight either. He didn’t want her running off with this news and revealing it to another. He couldn’t shake his suspicion of her, no matter how many logical explanations he could come up with for her strange behavior. So, why couldn’t he have her in one arm and Tic in the other? He shifted the boy from his front to his left, letting his arm rest on Tic’s shoulders.

After Aurora bowed, reassured Larkin she would keep the secret and left, he let his eyes fall onto Stelon once again. His free arm reached out, and a smile beckoned her to come and be wrapped within it. He hoped she would not be foolish and flee, if she was what he suspected.