My heart broke for the kids. They didn't know what was going on and they didn't deserve this.
I kneeled so I was at eye-level with him. "There's something I have to fix. I'll be back, okay?"
Kip's lip quivered. "That's what Pascal said too, and then we heard him making weird sounds, and then we couldn't find him..."
A chill ran down my spine. What was he talking about? What the hell had Headmaster done to Pascal?
I stood abruptly. "You stay here, Kip. I'm going to bring Pascal back, don't you worry."
Kip shot me a wavering smile and nodded. I'd never lied to him before and I didn't intend to start now.
My gut told me Argon knew more about Pascal's whereabouts than he initially let on, and unlike Headmaster, I trusted him to tell me the truth. I rushed out of the orphanage, my cane clacking fast against the ground, and I clumsily climbed back on Midnight. She had the patience of an angel as she waited for me to mount, then when I was settled on her back, she raised her head and glanced at me over her shoulder, as if waiting for my command.
How could I tell her what to do? Did she understand English?
"Er, can you please take us back to the castle grounds, Midnight?" I asked.
Midnight let out a soft grunt, then began trotting up the street. I sighed in relief. Having someone I could depend on, even if that someone was a horse, was much needed right now.
I looked ahead, my chest tightening with anticipation. Devereaux and Argon would know what to do.
I'm coming, Pascal.
18
Devereaux
Now that Florian was gone,my irritation towards Argon returned in full force. I faced him with a simmering anger in my belly and demanded, "Why did you interrupt? Did you not see we were about to kiss?"
"Sorry. I didn't see until I got close," Argon said, not sounding fully apologetic.
I was quite worked up and Argon's non-apology threw fuel on the fire. "I do not understand. Am I not your experiment? You should have let it play out like you wanted. I could have proven your hypothesis once and for all."
But more than all that, I desperately wanted to kiss Florian. Having that opportunity stolen from me was beyond frustrating.
"I realize that," Argon said tightly, "but I'm trying to do this new thing where I'mnota total asshole."
His remark confused me. "What do you mean?"
Argon grumbled, dragging his scaled hand across his face. "Never mind. Anyway, if Florian's friend was kidnapped, I needed to act fast."
"Kidnapped?" I echoed, startled. "What are you talking about?"
Argon let out a noise that resembled a growl. "What do you think was happening right in front of you? The carriage? The omega?"
The pieces fell together. The carriage! In the flurry of excitement after Florian's sudden appearance, I'd forgotten about it. The memory of reaching past the burly man to save the omega came back to me. My hand flew to the back of my head where it still felt sore.
"Did they knock me out?" I asked.
Argon nodded. "I'm sorry. I wasn't fast enough to stop it."
His apology sounded genuine this time. There was a tinge of guilt in it too, like he regretted not acting sooner.
Rubbing my sore spot, I said, "Let me fully understand. Are you saying the kidnapped omega was Florian's friend Pascal?"
"That's my suspicion," Argon mumbled.
"How did you know?"
