"Emerald?" a voice whispered through the door. "I thought I heard some noises. What are you doing here so late?"
Emerald let out the breath she didn't realise she was holding.
It was Nessa.
"Gods, it's just you," Emerald muttered. She dropped the parchment onto the table and rushed to the door, pulling it open just enough to usher her cousin in.
She glanced down both ends of the hallway before shutting it quickly behind them.
Nessa blinked at her, still in her oversized nightshirt, and her hair all tousled. "Okay… why do you look like you just saw a ghost?"
Emerald didn't answer. She grabbed Nessa's hand and tugged her toward the desk. "Sit. Quietly."
"Em, what are you—?"
"Shhh!" Emerald hissed.
Nessa sat down with a sigh, clearly confused. "You're acting like you broke into someone else's house. You know it's your office, right? Why are you being so secretive?"
Emerald leaned against the desk, arms folded tightly. "Because Uncle Darius can't know I'm here."
