Empire of Night by Kelley Armstrong

held it there, casually, as the mummy gnashed its teeth and clawed with its remaining arm.
    â€œNeed some help with that?” Tyrus asked.
    â€œNo, it’s remarkably light. That must be a result of the drying process.”
    â€œAnd the fact it’s missing three limbs.”
    â€œTrue.”
    Ashyn cast a nervous glance at the huddled monks, now shifting and looking their way. “We ought to lower our voices. Or be more respectful. It is a monk, after all.”
    â€œMmm, not truly,” Moria said. “It’s only part of a monk.” She caught Ashyn’s look. “Yes, I know. Give me a hand getting it free.”
    Ashyn looked aghast at the mummy, and Moria sputtered a laugh.
    â€œI mean the spirit,” she said.
    Ashyn started her entreaties, while Moria ordered the spirit gone. It didn’t take long before the wind came, signaling the spirit’s departure.
    â€œNow let’s hope it stays gone this time,” Ronan said.
    Ashyn cleared her throat. “Actually, as I was trying to say, I don’t think the spirit returned.” She pointed at the sealed box next to the open one. “That one’s been quiet since the first attack. And now I’ll wager one of those two”—she pointed at the boxes on the other wagon—“is quiet.”
    Tyrus nodded. “Because those spirits hopped into this fellow.”
    â€œThey can apparently jump bodies on their own, but cannot move to the second world without help. I think the attacks were more panic than anything. Realizing they’d leaped, only to still not be free.”
    â€œSo let’s help the last one,” Moria said. “Ronan? Pry open that fourth box. I’ll guard this”—she indicated the hacked-up mummy—“in case he makes the jump. Ashyn? Can you go with Ronan and perform the rituals? If we can do this without me bullying the spirit, that’s best.”
    â€œAnd my task?” Tyrus asked.
    â€œI would not presume to give you one, your highness.”
    Tyrus laughed. “Which means you don’t have anything for me to do. I’ll help Ronan. Shout if that comes back to life.”
    â€œI think I can handle it.”
    He grinned. “I’ve no doubt.”
    They laid the last spirit to rest without incident. Then Tyrus spoke to the monks. He told them that he had no idea what had happened, but it was resolved now and they ought not to speak of it to anyone until he’d related the events to his imperial father.
    Moria went with Tyrus, leaving Ronan and Ashyn alone.
    â€œI suppose you’ll be scuttling off into the shadows again,” she said.
    He tensed as if he didn’t like her choice of words. Then he motioned for her and Tova to follow him farther away so they could speak.
    â€œWhat are you doing here?” she asked when they neared the ridge base.
    â€œTyrus hired me to accompany you.”
    â€œOh.” That was, of course, not what she’d hoped to hear.
    â€œYou ought to have told me you were leaving the city,” he said.
    â€œThen you ought to have accepted my request for an audience, so I could have explained the situation.”
    He paused. “Was that what you wished to see me about? I thought . . .” He inhaled. “When I left. That kiss. I . . . I feared how you might have interpreted it.”
    She said nothing. She couldn’t. It was hard enough to standthere, listening to her fears made real.
    â€œWe had been together for days,” he continued. “I came to care for you, but . . . it was not the sort of caring that my kiss implied. I apologize for that.”
    Ashyn clenched her hands at her sides. Stop talking. Please stop talking.
    â€œYou’re a wonderful girl, Ashyn. You’re brilliant and you’re beautiful and you’re . . .” He trailed off, as if he could find no more adjectives to flatter her with.
    Stop talking now. Please.
    He continued. “I do