Tristan and Zaria approach the balcony.
“Where?” Tristan asks.
I point to where I thought I saw the flash of movement, but nothing is there. With a sigh I push off the stone ledge and make my way back inside just as the doors to my chamber open and Kian appears.
He looks at each of us in turn, running a hand over his still-wet hair, looking almost sheepish.
“What’s with the expressions? And why are you dressed in that?” he asks, concern in his voice.
“There is a traitor in the castle,” Tristan answers for me.
Kian frowns. “We know that. Maxon has had Nix and Zaria spying since we returned from the Evergreens.”
“Well, spying isn’t working!” I snap, magic whipping from my body creating a wave of tension in the air.
“Prince Alivar was here,” Tristan explains.
“Here? As in, this room?”
I grunt, plonking myself down on the sofa. “Fucker saw me naked.”
Kian’s eyes widen and he snaps his head to Tristan. “What the fuck, man?”
“I didn’t know he could portal into the bathroom. Did you?”
“The bathroom!? Maxon is going to kill us.”
I scowl at Kian as he approaches. “Where were you?”
Kian stops in his tracks. “Me?”
“Yes. Your room is down the hall, and that was an awfully long shower. Not saying you can’t take your time, but you seemed nervous when you walked in,” I state.
“I uhh . . . was occupied.”
“Doing what?”
Kian looks to Tristan pleadingly, and I glance between the two of them. Tristan lets out an exasperated sigh. “He was relieving some tension with a lady.”
“Oh.” My eyebrows raise, then it really clicks. “Oh . . . ”
Well, now, I feel stupid.
“Madeline cornered me, and–”
My eyes snap up, anger burning in the pit of my stomach and something like betrayal stings my insides. “Madeline?”
“Yes.” Kian looks at Tristan and Zaria, puzzled.
I don’t know why, but a feeling of dread or worry gnaws at my insides. Actually, I know why. Madeline is a power hungry,manipulative bitch. I know it. They know it. She locked me up and tried to hurt me when I had done nothing to her. Though, even she couldn’t have known what locking me in a cupboard would do. She is cruel and cold. How could he want to sleep with her? Didn’t he himself say she is a snake?
“I see your face. It wasn’t like that. It was purely transactional.”
“Do you think she was keeping you distracted?” Zaria pipes up.
Is Madeline the traitor?
Kian opens his mouth and closes it, but Tristan gestures for him to continue.
