“Keller,” I shout, drawing his eyes up to mine. “Focus on me.”
“I’m having a hard time doing that when I’m trying to figure out how this random number texted you, how they knew about The Informative.”
“What are you talking about?” I ask.
“It’s not real.”
“What’s not real?”
“The Informative. It’s just something I came up with to fuck with you since you were trying to fuck with me. No one knew about it. No one but—” His eyes darken. “No fucking way.”
“What?” I ask, but he takes off toward my door. “Keller, wait, talk to me.”
But he’s gone before I can stop him, my door clicking shut.
I stare toward his retreat, waiting for him to come back, for him to charge through the door, but he doesn’t.
He doesn’t return all night.
And in the morning, when he’s supposed to greet me once I’m ready and lead me to the grand entrance, where I’m supposed to parade around the capital in a car... he’s not there either.
ChapterTwenty-Two
KELLER
My feet pound against the stone floors through the servants’ quarters. People ask me if I’m okay as I make my way through the halls, but I ignore them. There’s one thing on my mind, one person, and nothing will get in my way until I have answers.
When I reach room 270, I raise my fist and pound on the door. “Lara, open up,” I yell. I pound some more until the door unlocks and Lara’s startled face comes into view.
Looking her dead in the eyes, I ask, “Where is he?”
“Who?” she asks.
“Who the fuck else would I be talking about?” I ask as I toss her door open, slamming it against the wall.
“Brimar?” she asks. “He’s not here. What’s going on?”
“Don’t act as if you have no fucking clue what’s happening.”
Hand to her chest, she backs away, her eyes wide with concern. “I don’t, Keller. I have no idea what’s happening. Is everything okay with Lilly?”
“You’re telling me you don’t know about this?” I flash her my phone’s screen and she takes it in her hand, reading the text.
I watch carefully as her eyes scan the message, scrolling back and forth, her mouth falling open in shock. When she’s done, she asks, “You think Brimar did this?”
I hold up two fingers and say, “There are two people I told about The Informative and the trick I was playing on Lilly, and there are two people who know about my adoption. You... and Brimar. From the look on your face, I’m guessing it wasn’t you.”
“It wasn’t,” she says. “I’d never do that to you, and you know that. You know where my loyalty lies.” When I don’t say anything, she shakes my shoulder. “Keller, you know I didn’t do this.”
“I know.” I believe her. But then I add in a seething tone, “Where is he?”
“I don’t know. Do you want me to text him?”
“Yes. Don’t tell him I’m looking for him.”
“I won’t.” She picks up her phone from her table and quickly types away. While we wait for a response, she asks, “Does Lilly know?”
“Yes, he texted it to her.”
