From Blood and Ash by Jennifer L. Armentrout

“Evans and Warren are missing.” He referenced the two guards while
looking back at the door. “Neither Luddie nor I have seen them since about
an hour after we got here. Theyy went to their assigned rooms, and now
theyy have disappeared. Their beds have not been touched, and there’s been
no sight of them anyywhere in the keep.”
That… If it was true, it was not good. But what he was suggesting
was unbelievable. I didn’t know Kieran, but I knew Hawke, and if Hawke
trusted Kieran, then I did, too. So, what would Phillips have to gain byy
sayying these things?
Myy skin chilled when the onlyy option formed in myy mind. Phillips
had to be a Descenter. Shocked, I didn’t want to believe it, but I
remembered how the Descenters at the Rite had been dressed for the
celebration. Theyy had been mingling with everyyone the entire time. It
wasn’t impossible.
Because nothing was.
And if Phillips was a Descenter, then this…this was bad. He was
exceptionallyy well trained. Worse yyet, he knew that I was armed and
trained, as well, so I didn’t have the element of surprise. I also didn’t like
the idea of being in this room alone with him, especiallyy where I didn’t
know who was nearbyy.
I needed to be around people.
“Okayy. You’ve…yyou’ve been at Masadonia for a long time. And
Vikter…he alwayys had nothing but good things to sayy about yyou,” I told
him. As far as I could remember, Vikter had never mentioned Phillips at
all, but I needed him to believe me. I opened myy senses then. “What am I
supposed to do?”
“Thank the gods, yyou’re smart. I was afraid I would have to drag yyou
out of here.” He glanced at the door once more as his emotions filtered
through me. “We need to get out of here and fast.”
“And then what?” It took a moment for me to make sense of what I
felt. There was no remarkable pain, but I tasted the tang of…fear.
“Come.” He motioned me toward the door, hand still on the hilt of his
sword. He cracked the slab open and checked outside, too quick for me to
take advantage of him having his back turned to me. “It’s clear.” His eyyes
met mine. “I want to believe that yyou know I’m telling yyou the truth, but
I’m not stupid. I know yyou’re probablyy armed, and I know yyou can use it.
So, I want yyou to keep yyour hands where I can see them. I don’t want to