The answer has me both embarrassed and relieved.
He wouldn’t.
Sin wants me to panic. He expects me to run blindly, just like I might if I ever need to hide from an opponent.
I take a deep inhale, not touching the door. Instead, I step back, scanning the castle. If Sin can follow my scent, it will be far too easy for him to track me if I’m inside. I need to stay out here, where any trace of me won’t be constrained to a small room.
Chewing on my bottom lip, I look around, brainstorming. If I did go indoors, I don’t think Sin would expect me to hide in his room. But after the threat he made about me entering that space, I have no intention of setting foot in there, ever.
My eyes sweep up to the castle’s third floor, locking on a single, small balcony. Sin’s balcony.
That could work.
The smooth stones of Morgana’s castle offer little in the way of climbing handholds, but I can work around that. When Damien and I did our morning runs, I had a lot of time to become acquainted with my surroundings. And while most of Rosie’s plants are kept in the garden, she also has a huge vine that has since grown against one of the castle walls.
My adrenaline pumps full force as I silently move along the wall, hoping I don’t make any sounds that might carry to Sin.
The vines snake all the way up a turret on the far left side of the castle. The vine’s base is as thick as a softball, giving me hope that it will be strong enough to hold me.
Ignoring the burning in my arms from Sin’s workout and my injuries, I start climbing. Thankfully,the vines are solid and don’t come with razor-sharp thorns. The castle is only three stories high, but the turret stretches far above the third floor. Unfortunately for me, the vines don’t twist all the way around the turret here, and I have to angle my body over to the roof, stretching to get my toes on the slippery metal.
This is a stupid idea. If I slip, I’ll break my neck.
But I’m low on time, and I know my hiding spot is perfect. So, instead of overthinking my next move, I push myself off the turret, throwing my weight onto the slightly slanted roof. There are about two seconds where I wobble, and my balance falters, but I manage to steady myself.
Quietly exhaling, I gingerly pad along the roof, not making a sound. I head for Sin’s balcony, quietly reminding myself I’m not afraid of heights. Once I’m directly above it, I lay down, making myself as small as possible.
Not even a minute later I hear Sin call out, “Ready or not, here I come.”
I don’t dare look over the ledge to watch him enter the castle but let myself breathe a sigh of relief when I hear him go inside.
A slow grin spreads across my face, and I shift so that I’m crouched over the edge of the roof, just over his balcony. If Sin does check here, there’s a good chance he’ll find me. But I’m ready for him.
I am not prey.
I start counting the seconds in my head to get an idea of how much time I have left. Twenty minutes pass without any hint of him until I finally hear Sin’s door open.
It’s time.
Another minute and his balcony door opens, just beneath me. Sin steps out, and without giving him a chance to sense me, I drop from the roof. In the next heartbeat, I’m on his back, with my legs wrapped around his waist, and my dagger is pressed against his neck.
At the feel of my blade, Sin goes completely still.
“I win,” I whisper in his ear before slipping off him.
I stand tall, triumphant in my victory. Sin turns, his eyes scanning the roof, before understanding dawns on him.
“Clever girl,” he notes, looking impressed.
I grin back. “And I didn’t enter your room.”
His pupils flare before he backs up, crossing his arms and looking smug. “I see that. Though I’m very curious to see how you plan on leaving to enjoy your afternoon off.”
My grin falters as I scan his balcony. Even if I stand on the railing, there’s no way I’ll be able to reach the roof. I look at his room, my spine stiffening.
Nope, not going that way.
I walk to the balcony ledge and lean against it, shrugging. “Someone will notice I’m not around. At some point, Magnus or Damien will go outside, and I’ll ask them to apparate me.”
