I leaned down to pick up Lark, who seemed pleased that she had won the little game, and I sat her on my shoulders. She giggled and grabbed my head like I was a horse and my hair was the reins.
“Is everything okay? With you and Maxwell, I mean?” Benji asked.
“Yeah,” I said. “Well, sort of.”
I glanced down the hall, making sure my brothers weren’t around, then checked the ceilings for bats. I wouldn’t put it past Adriel to send servants to spy on me while I was under house arrest.
“Can I actually ask you guys something?” I said.
They both nodded.
“It’s kind of a big favor,” I admitted. “So I’d understand if you guys said no.”
“What’s up?” Benji asked.
Caleb searched my expression. “I have a feeling there’s more to this than a favor.”
“There is,” I said with a grimace. “If I tell you this, you guys have to keep it a secret. Pierce and Adriel can’t know.”
The Foster brothers exchanged glances.
“If you don’t want to lie to your mates, I understand,” I said. “I feel bad for doing it in the first place, but there’s no other way. Maybe I should just start from the beginning…”
* * *
“He banned you fromwhat?”
Both Caleb and Benji practically yelled at once. Even though all five of us were squirreled away in my bedroom, I winced and hissed, “Keep it down!”
“But I don’t understand,” Benji murmured. “Why doesn’t Adriel want you around humans?”
“Because he thinks I’m unstable and dangerous right now,” I said, rolling my eyes. “He thinks I can’t be trusted because I almost hurt that man.”
“That’s silly,” Caleb muttered. “We’re humans, and you’re fine with us.”
“I know. But he’s being paranoid,” I said.
I didn’t want to tell them the other part--that I was falling for Maxwell. It was too soon. Even though I knew I cared for him like a close friend, I was afraid Pierce’s suggestion was pushing me towards feelings I didn’t have. Despite our almost-kiss, I needed more time. I needed to know if what I was feeling was truly real and not just a quick crush.
“So, what can we do about it?” Benji asked. “Do you want us to talk to him for you?”
“No. It can’t be you two,” I said. “Adriel would know you’re standing up for me because we’re good friends, and since I’m the girls’ uncle.”
“Then what?” Caleb asked.
I chose my words carefully. “It has to be a human they know and trust, but who isn’t related to you, or the Tenebrae family at all. It has to be a human who knows about our existence, but would never spill our secret.”
“Maxwell,” they said at once.
I smiled. “Right. Adriel doesn’t want me around humans, and therefore he doesn’t want Maxwell around,” I explained. “But if you can convince him that Maxwellneedsto be around, then--”
“Then Maxwell being around you unharmed will prove to Adriel that you’re in control!” Caleb finished.
“Right.”
“But what does that have to do with us?” Benji asked.
This was the part I was dreading. I glanced over at the girls, who were chasing each other in circles again in the middle of the room.
