No longer observed by witnesses, he leaned in, and then he was kissing her to make up for every day they had lost, every week that had been stolen, every month spent torn apart.

"I love you," Orion said in lieu of a reply, in perfect replacement of any straightforward answer. "I love you, I love you, I'm sorry I said so many stupid things. I can't believe I asked why we couldn't cross the Suzhou Creek."

Silas gripped the bars. "Don't worry," he said in a rush. "Don't worry. I'll get you out."

"Why?" Phoebe turned around. "You've worked so hard to put me in here, Magician."

Phoebe pressed her earpiece again. "Keep moving."

Rosalind's expression flashed with terror. Her hand shot up to her ear. "There are soldiers."

"I have you covered."

"What?"

No. No no no no no-

"Fantastic," Lady Hong said. "Thank you, Xielian."

Silas nodded, offering a small smile.

we are finished flirting with each other, may we discuss the small change in plans?"

Alisa giggled. Rosalind knitted her brows together, feeling rather unjustly accused.

"I was not flirting"

"I was."

"Please don't be angry at me," Oliver said suddenly, "because this might be the last chance I have to do this." Before Celia could ask what he was talking about, before she could so much as grasp the meaning of his words, Oliver slid a hand along the side of her neck, then kissed her on the mouth.

"You're all too late," Juliette said plainly. "I've been wiping out this group since dawn."

"You have been what" Celia asked. Behind her, Oliver sCratched his head, looking befuddled that he hadn't even known this was an ongoing issue.

Juliette nudged the body with her shoe. "I overheard the first one saying terrible things about wanting to torture someone at the inn. Then he raised his weapon at me when I asked who he was, so I shot first. These weren't friends, were they?"

Silence.

“N-no," the innkeeper said. “No, they were not.”

"Rosalind, I love you dearly, so take no offense to this. I think I'd rather throw myself into Nanjing Road traffic than organize a joint ceremony with you.”

"He was asking when we would be available to attend their wedding."

Rosalind stopped dead in her tracks. "Excuse me?"

Orion halted with her, confused. "Wouldn't Celia have already told " He blinked, then realized his mistake in an instant. "Oh. Oh, so he hasn't proposed yet."

"Hong Liwen, you are in so much trouble. .”

"Don't tell, don't tell, pleasepleaseplease," he begged in theatrics.

"Oliver," she said suddenly. "Can you put me in contact with Priest?"

The wire stayed quiet. It stayed quiet for such a long time that Celia thought she might have lost signal until Oliver activated his side again, clearing his throat.

"I can do that," he said. "She's, uh, she's actually already heading that way. Don't freak out.”

Celia blinked. "Why would I freak out?"

"Let me just start off by saying I am a responsible brother.

"Christ, I know I asked to be hit, but a warning would have been nice”

Phoebe kissed him in apology.

"Hong Feiyi, don't you see why I couldn't let go of Priest? I’m not some unerring operative. I tried to convince myself that I was simply devoted to the country, but then I saw you in that cell and verything finally made sense.” His eyes dropped. "Of course I was committed to her beyond what was acceptable for the mission. I was so fascinated because I could see the parts of you in her. Ive loved you this whole time, just split in two.”

Phoebe, for once, had no retort at the ready. Her mouth opened and closed. When her grip tightened on the pistol in her hand, she finally followed Silas's instructions, and hit him hard across the face.

The metal made contact with a vicious clunk.