“Good.”
I head back upstairsto inform the woman of the good news—that my brothers are returning to handle this disaster properly.
Except right when I reach the landing, my nose lifts and my ears attune to sound below.
There’s activity in the kitchen.
She’s left her room. Hmm. I suppose she does have two functioning legs. I’m just surprised she knows her way around the castle already. How much did Remus show her?
I descend the stairs and pause in the kitchen doorway.
She’s bustling around, hair pulled back from that lovely face, grabbing ingredients and tossing them into a bowl with the ease of someone who’s cooked a thousand meals.
Seeing her, I feel a strange tightness in my chest.
She’s so beautiful. Moves with such sure grace. I can’t help remembering the way fire flashed in her eyes when we sparred upstairs. The defiance. The spirit.
As if feeling my eyes on her, she suddenly looks my way. “Oh.” A surprised little puff of air. “You.”
I swallow hard, forcing my wits to cooperate as I stride into the room. “Me,” I say, relieved when my voice comes out normal instead of strangled.
“I’ve informed my eldest brother of Remus’s latest catastrophe. You’ll be pleased to know they’re all returning from vacation early.”
She surprises me when her eyes light up. Actuallylight up. “So I’ll get to meet Hannah and the baby?”
I frown. “Uh. Yes. The entire family will be coming.”
She smiles—genuinely smiles—and drops her hands into the bowl, beginning to knead. “Excellent. Remus told me so much about them. I can’t wait to meet them. I assume Kharon and Ksenia will be coming too?”
“Just how much did my brother tell you about our family?” I ask, disconcerted as I move closer despite myself.
Her eyes flash my way briefly. “Everything.” She focuses back on whatever’s in the bowl. “Well, he didn’t tell me very much aboutyou. So now that you’re here, you might as well fill in the gaps.”
My mouth actually drops open.
Then I recover. “I think it would be better if you told me about yourself. Where are you from?”
Her eyes narrow as she pulls yeasty dough from the bowl and slaps it on the counter with unnecessary force. “I’m not telling you that. You’ll just try to take me back there.”
Clever girl.
“It doesn’t matter whether you tell me or not. Layden said the humans have video of Remus descending on your town. He’ll be able to determine the location.”
She hisses in a breath, eyes flashing up at me. Then she glares back at the dough and begins kneading it furiously. “It doesn’t matter. Remus will come for me again.”
Though by the uncertain look that enters her eyes after she says it, I can see doubt taking root.
It’s my job to water that seed until it grows into a forest between them.
“Whatever my brother told you,” I say, making my voice softer, almost gentle, “was a lie. He is not who he presented himself as.”
She scoffs, shaking her head. “What do you know about it? You weren’t there. You wereasleep.”
My jaw tenses. For a moment, I worry Remus is threatening to take back our body. But no. I’m still in control.
“I know my twin. Don’t you think I know him better than anybody?”
She slams the dough against the counter one final time, then not only looks at me but takes several purposeful steps toward me. Plants her flour-dusted hands on her hips.
