The words sank into me deeper than I liked.
Keegan was already fading. Gideon was nearly gone. And I was the thread between them.
“Then we move,” I said, my voice sharper than I intended.
Crossing Academy grounds with Gideon draped between us was worse than dragging him through the Wilds. At least in the forest, there had been cover, shadows to hide in, vines to shield us. Here, the lawns spread open, the cobbled walk gleamed damp with summer’s gloom, and lanterns swung gently from their posts. At least the sun had set, and the kitchen sprites offered a grand dinner to celebrate the first day of classes. I should probably be there welcoming everyone, but sometimes choices have to be made.
Skonk stumbled into a flowerbed, muttering curses that could wake the dead. Twobble tripped over Gideon’s dragging boot and nearly pitched face-first into the gravel while I attempted to steady Gideon’s body. Bella hissed at them both, trying to keep Gideon above ground, but she wasn’t tall enough to balance his weight without me bracing the other side. We did everything wrong.
“Shh!” I hissed for the tenth time, sweat beading down my back.
“Shh yourself,” Twobble grumbled, hauling at Gideon’s legs. “This is not my ideal summer pastime.”
“Summer school indeed,” Stella said, sweeping past with her teacup still perfectly steady. “Nothing says order and learning like hauling an unconscious enemy across the courtyard.”
Bella barked out a short laugh despite herself. “She’s not wrong.”
“Focus,” I snickered as a bubble of nervous amusement rose in my chest. This was too preposterous.
We must have looked absurd: two goblins grunting, a fox shifter bracing with all her might, an elderly vampire directing,and me, clutching a half-dead man like my entire world depended on him.
Every lantern felt like a spotlight, every window like a watching eye. I imagined students peeking through the glass, whispering, teachers pausing homework, Ember catching the whole circus out of the corner of her eye.
My heart pounded so hard I thought it would give us away.
And of course, that was the moment we ran into Lady Limora and Vivienne.
They strolled out from one of the side gardens, arm in arm, both carrying baskets brimming with herbs and blossoms. Lady Limora’s hair gleamed in the lantern light, and Vivienne’s bright laugh floated out ahead of her. The two of them stopped dead when they spotted us—five disheveled rescuers half-dragging, half-carrying what could only look like a corpse.
My stomach dropped clear to my shoes.
“Evening,” Stella said too quickly, sweeping forward to drape her shawl over Gideon.She flung it across Gideon’s shoulders in a dramatic flourish that might’ve worked, if the thing hadn’t slid right off again and puddled at our feet.
Limora’s brows climbed high, her expression as regal as ever. Vivienne pressed her lips together, clearly fighting a laugh.
“Interesting work,” Lady Limora cooed.
“Right up our alley,” Vivenne agreed.
Twobble groaned. “So much for stealth.”
Skonk snorted. “Subtle as a parade.”
Before I could stammer out an excuse, Limora stepped closer, set her basket neatly on the ground, and slid one slender arm under Gideon’s other shoulder.
“You’re doing it all wrong,” she said smoothly, as though we were moving a sofa instead of an infamous enemy.
Vivienne, cheeks pink with suppressed giggles, mirrored her on the other side. “One, two, three…lift.”
And just like that, the two of them were carrying more than half his weight, brisk and efficient, no questions asked.
I gaped. “You’re not… going to ask—”
“Darling,” Limora interrupted, her eyes sparkling, “if you’re willing to carry him across the courtyard in broad view, I’m willing to carry him the rest of the way. Explanations can come later.”
Vivienne finally laughed outright, shaking her head. “Summer school is looking lively already. Corpses and…”
“Not a corpse,” I corrected.
