“We’ll scout both entrances,” Rhodes continued, steady as ever. “At the darkest hour. If we can get in, retrieve what and who we need, and get out within the hour… we might actually have a shot.”
“Wemight?” I scoffed.
Rhodes narrowed his eyes. A flicker of elemental fire danced at his fingertips before he clenched his hand into a fist, taming the flame.
“Wecan,” my sister said with conviction. “Wewill.”
From its outward appearance, I hadn’t held much hope for the quality of food at the Crossroads. Yet here I was, slowly climbingthe stairs of the only inn, my belly full from a surprisingly delicious home-cooked meal.
Nash, Scarlet, and I reached the second floor, stepping into a narrow hallway with just one door on each side. I spun around, searching for another staircase, as if I’d somehow misjudged the building’s height.
Two doors. Two rooms. Four people.
Rhodes jogged up the stairs, confirming my suspicion. He held up two heavy iron keys.
I groaned. “You could’ve mentioned there were only two rooms, Salvitto.”
Nash shrugged. “Didn’t think it’d be that big of an issue. Rhodes and Scarlet in one, me and—”
“In your fucking dreams.” I shoved him.
Nash held his hands up in mock surrender. “Hey, I haven’t been dreaming like that Barren’s soldier was. I’ve been saving my imagination for the real thing.”
“Fallon and I will take one room,” Scarlet said firmly, holding her palm out to Rhodes.
His face fell, silent plea in his eyes. “Scarlet…”
But she didn’t flinch. She curled her fingers once, twice, hand still raised like a challenge. “It’s that or I bunk with Nash.”
Her crimson gaze gleamed fiercely in the dim hallway. I whistled.
Rhodes’s response was practically a growl. “I think not.”
“Try me,” she shot back.
Without hesitation, Rhodes dropped the key into her outstretched hand.
Nash snatched the other key from him, muttering as he headed toward their room, “One inn, one bed, two matching sisters. But nooo, you all just aren’t any fun.”
Chapter 22
Maybe I’d just sleep outside.
“Can I bunk with you?”I asked Lakota, not caring how much it sounded like begging.
“I’d rather tune in to your dramatic situation. Goodnight, human.”
“I hope you get a thorn in your side tonight!”
He huffed in response.
Fallon didn’t bother to ask if I needed the washroom first—she shut the door behind us and went straight in. I heard water run for a moment before I fell backward onto the thin mattress, arms stretched wide.
Then Fallon cursed.
I pushed up onto my elbows. “Everything okay?”
Her voice came muffled through the wooden door. “Their running water is barely lukewarm.”
