"Isn't it?" He stepped aside, gesturing for her to continue toward her rooms. But he fell into step beside her, a shadow that wouldn't be shaken. "Tell me, what thoughts required such urgent clearing that you'd brave the castle's shifting passages alone?"
"Just... thoughts."
"About?"
She scrambled for something, anything that wasn't the truth. "The Wild Hunt ball. Eliam mentioned it before he left. I've never attended anything like that before."
"Ah yes. Your debut as his chosen companion." Something flickered in his expression—amusement? Warning? "You'll be quite the sensation. Everyone's dying to get a closer look at the human who's captured his attention so... thoroughly."
They'd reached her door. She put her hand on the handle, hoping he'd take the hint.
He didn't.
"Strange," he mused, eyes tracking over her with uncomfortable intensity. "You don't smell like the herb gardens. No rosemary. No sage. No midnight thyme."
"I didn't touch anything. Just walked."
"Through gardens without brushing a single plant? How remarkably careful of you." He leaned against her doorframe, clearly in no hurry to leave. "You do smell of stone, though. And dust. And something else... something older."
Her heart hammered against her ribs. "The castle is old. Everything smells of stone and age."
"Not everything." His nostrils flared slightly. "Some parts are older than others. Deeper. The kind of places his lordship wouldn't want you wandering."
"Good thing I was in the gardens then."
"Yes. Good thing." He studied her for another long moment, then pushed off from the doorframe with lazy grace. But as he moved past her, his hand came up to rest on her shoulder, a gesture that might have been friendly if not for the way his fingers pressed just slightly too hard.
She couldn't help it—she flinched. Full-body recoil from the unexpected contact, her shoulder jerking away from his touch as if burned.
His eyes sharpened with interest. "Jumpy tonight, aren't we?"
"You startled me. Again."
"Hmm." His thumb brushed the junction of her neck and shoulder, right where tension had locked her muscles into knots. "You're trembling."
"It's cold."
"Is it?" He let his hand drop, but she could feel the weight of his attention like a physical thing. "Strange. I find it rather warm. All that walking you did must have chilled you. Though one would think the exertion would have the opposite effect."
"I should go inside."
"You should." But he didn't move, blocking her path to the door for just a moment longer. "Sweet dreams, little rabbit. Do try to stay in your rooms for the remainder of the night. It would be... unfortunate if you got lost again."
"I won't."
"Won't get lost? Or won't leave your rooms?"
"Both."
"Clever answer." He started down the hall, then paused, looking back over his shoulder. "Oh, and Briar? The kitchen gardens were replanted yesterday. Turned over completely for winter vegetables. Rather muddy work. Terrible mess."
Her stomach dropped.
"Your shoes are remarkably clean for someone who just walked through fresh-turned earth." His smile was all teeth. "Sleep well."
Then he melted back into the shadows, leaving her standing at her door with too clean shoes and her obvious lie.
She slipped into her room and locked the door, knowing it was useless. If Thaine decided to report her midnight wandering to Eliam he would immediately question her and she would be unable to provide him with the answers that could, at the very least, prepare him.
