“If we unrolled it completely, we could both fit and just lay on the floor,” I said, lifting the edge of the bedroll.
Rhodes leaned up, placing a hand gently over mine to stop me. “No,” he shook his head. “I don’t get cold easily. But I remember how you shivered that morning on the rooftop. Tuck yourself in—I’ll wrap around you.”
The velvety rasp of his voice paired with the sweetness of his words sent butterflies flitting through my stomach. I obliged and crawled in. Rhodes molded his body to mine, tugging my back against his chest. His warmth wrapped around me like a thickblanket, his steady heartbeat a quiet rhythm against my spine. When he nuzzled into the crook of my neck, I felt completely at ease.
I felt safe.
“I thought Nash would hate me,” I whispered.
Rhodes grazed his thumb slowly back and forth over the back of my hand. “How come?”
“Because of… everything that happened. Because of Laney.”
He propped himself up slightly and gently turned my face toward his with a warm palm.
“You are not responsible for Delaney’s death. You know that, right?”
No.
I nodded anyway. But Rhodes’s eyes said he knew it was a lie.
“As kids, we used to go to the trade market with Ma and Pa, and Delaney and Nash were always there. I never really got to know him, but we all played together back then. Until Shayde accidentally mentioned the Glade to Nash… after that, we weren’t allowed to go anymore. But that’s how Pa learned about Salvitto—and how he channeled the water element at just ten years old.”
“He channeled an element that young?”
Rhodes’s mouth curled into a sideways grin, one dimple appearing. “Exactly. That’s why Pa sought him out once he was of age and offered him a place in the Glade’s forces.”
I remembered what Laney once said about her brother’s chosen profession and mentioned it to Rhodes. He brushed a loose strand of hair from my face, tucking it gently behind my ear. After the war room, my head was buzzing with questions about the Glade—and Rhodes answered every one. Their family’s supposed hometown, Jysper, had always been a cover story to protect the Glade’s true location. He explained the delicate magic woven tomaintain that illusion, assuring me I’d understand more once we arrived. So I decided to trust him and wait to see for myself.
“The Shadow Glade,” he continued, “demands absolute loyalty to its secrecy. To their parents, his work probably seems dangerous enough—but they don’t know half of what he’s hiding from them.”
I stayed silent, taking in his words. But I couldn’t muster a response.
“From what I know of Salvitto, he’s a good man—loyal to the core. It doesn’t surprise me in the least that Delaney was his little sister.”
Chapter 18
River and I led the way down the path. When the forest became too dense for the horses, we veered onto the main road—just for now.
As we neared the next village, I noticed an unusual number of people breaking from the crowd, arms loaded with food, clothes, and supplies. We weren’t close enough to the Glade for this to be the safe place Nash had mentioned for the night.
An older man was about to pass us when Rhodes stopped him to ask what was going on.
“It’s market day! Lots of vendors out this evening. Best one of the season, if you ask me,” the man hollered, as if we were hard of hearing.
As he moved past, I noticed his saddlebags stuffed with trinkets.
“We need to pass through quickly. Too many people means we risk being noticed,” Rhodes said.
“I didn’t know about the market day,” Nash added, scanning the crowd. “We should find away around it.”
Scarlet stayed quiet.
“Or,” I offered, “we check it out. If it’s the best market of the season, someone’s bound to be gossiping about Mageia. We still haven’t figured out how we’re getting into the castle.”
“That is a terrible idea, Fitzroy,” Rhodes muttered.
I ignored him and tightened my balaclava. “You’d be surprised how much information gets spilled over a few pints of ale. A village this size has to have an alehouse. Nash can come with me. You and Scarlet can eavesdrop on the vendors.”
