“But I flinched midturn when, from behind, a hand, blazing hot, wrapped tightly around my upper arm. A voice I knew better than my own spoke quietly into my ear from the other side of the silk hood. “Would you think me such a fool that you could be here, in this city, this building, this room and me not know about it?” I swallowed, frozen. I couldn’t turn to face him. I couldn’t lift my head. Even my soul was stunned.”