‘What?’
Will’s eyes were glassy and his hair ruffled, as if he, or someone else, had been running their fingers through it. He made to step into the room, but Aya raised her arm, blocking the doorway.
‘What,’ she snapped.
Will groaned, his head leaning against the doorframe. ‘Has anyone told you howlovelyyou are?’ he drawled.
‘You’re drunk. Go to bed.’
Will lifted his head, his eyes squinting, as if he could hold her in place with his stare. ‘You know Aidon was tracking you, right?’
Gods above.
Aya grabbed Will’s arm and tugged him into the room. He stumbled as she shoved him onto the couch, a muffledoofescaping from him as he bounced on the cushions. His hand around her hip, tugging her so she fell with him, her legs on either side of his lap.
‘You’re being reckless,’ she hissed as she went to shove off him.
Will’s hands held her in place, his eyes bright as he grinned up at her. ‘You knew, didn’t you?’
Of course she knew. She knew the prince had marked her just as she had marked him. She also knew that, like her own initial attraction to him, that spark in his eye when he looked at her wasn’t forced. So tonight, when she’d walked past where Aidon and Peter had just settled for a drink, she kept walking toward that plaza, knowing full well he’d follow.
‘I needed to bring him back to the wrecked restaurant. I wanted to search the space. And I suggested a Diaforaté was behind the attack.’
Will squinted at her, his thumb arcing almost mindlessly against the space right above her hip bone. ‘Do you actually think that?’
Aya planted a hand on his chest, shoving him back as she stood. ‘No.’ It was more likely that the City Guard had gone lax on their patrol. But with a gentle prod toward the possibility, it might get Trahir thinking seriously about Kakos. Or at the very least, nudge Aidon in the right direction. ‘This could’ve waited until the morning.’
‘Ah,’ Will said as he reached into his pocket. ‘But this couldn’t.’ He handed her a small piece of parchment. ‘Natali has accepted our request.’
Aya’s jaw locked as she read the messy scrawl. They were due to meet them tomorrow.
Will sighed, his hand dragging through his tousled hair as he slumped back against the cushions. He glanced up at her, his fingers stilling in his strands. ‘You could have told mewhyyou dismissed me so thoroughly.’
‘What are you talking about.’
‘This afternoon after the Council meeting. I get not wanting anyone to overhear what you were planning, but …’ Will trailed off, his lips parted as he registered her confusion. A laugh, short and bitter, escaped him. ‘Of course.’ He pushed himself to his feet, his body swaying slightly with the suddenmovement. He fell into her, and her arms slipped under his as she held him steady.
‘What’s gotten into you?’ She frowned up at him. His shirt was untucked, the collar wrinkled, as if he hadn’t been able to stop tugging on it. It wasn’t like Will to be so unkempt. So frazzled.
His face was a mere breath away from hers, his gray eyes darkening as he took her in. She could feel his heart pounding against his chest – againsthersas he leaned into her. ‘You truly hate me, don’t you.’
It wasn’t a question, but Aya opened her mouth, theyesprimed on her lips. ‘Does it matter?’ she asked instead.
Will’s weight disappeared as he righted himself, his hand tugging again through his mussed hair. ‘No.’
His voice was cold – empty.
‘Goodnight, Aya,’ he muttered as he ducked out her door.
32
The Maraciana, the main libraries of the Saj that studied in Trahir, sat nestled on the western cliffs of Rinnia, partially built into the cliff face, far past the small temple Aidon had shown Aya. It looked more like a small palace than a place to study. Two tall rectangular buildings alongside the main complex stood before her, their facades connected with an open bridge many stories above the ground.
‘The dormitories,’ Ezekiel explained.
The attendant had offered to escort them here, given a carriage was needed. He’d chattered happily throughout the ride, pointing out various parts of the city. Will had remained quiet, his face contemplative as he stared out the window.
Perhaps his hangover lingered.
