He furrows his brow, nods slowly.
“Clue one. Let’s hear it,” I say.
He stands up, shifting his tray off to the side with his bare foot, reaching into the sink to wet a napkin.“Clue one,” he begins, bending down to one knee, shifting my hair away from my face to touch my cheeks with a cold, wet towel. I must look flushed.
“Go to the farthest building north of the city. It’s an abandoned building… It used to belong to one of Demechnef’s headquarters. Go to the last room, on the top floor. Take a look around. I’m curious to see what you find.”
I study him with a suspicious grimace.“You want me to poke my head inside an abandoned Demechnef building?” I mock. He blinks back, waiting for me to accept the fact that he means every word.“Okay,” I say between pauses, watching him comb his fingers through my wavy hair.“But what if it’s dangerous?”
“It might be,” he taunts with narrowing eyes. “But you’ll go anyway.”
I roll my eyes at his confidence, mostly because it’s spot on. I’ll go. Of course, I’ll go. If it gets me a step closer to understanding him, I will walk through a field of grenades.
“I guess I’ll see you tomorrow, then?”
He blinks slowly, a deeply satisfied smile.
“Don’t tell anyone where you’re going.”
29. Forged From Fire
Their eyes, as if stitchedto remain open permanently, follow me down the long hall into the main corridor.
I thought I’d only witness the mortified glares from Meridei and Belinda. But they are gawking at me in shock by the dozens. How many wanted to see me kiss the cold lips of death? How many were expecting I’d leave in the arms of a physician?
But I glide across that checkerboard-tiled floor with my shoulders back and a smirk, like I’m untouchable. Like I’m built for war.
Like I’m the king.
I finally notice Meridei and Belinda filling out their daily paperwork, sitting at a writing desk with a gas lamp illuminating their clipboards. I hover over their work, casting my shadow upon them like a sword to their throats.
In synchrony, they raise their eyes to look up at me. Meridei’s eyes twitch. Belinda coughs as if her sudden gasp forced her to accidentally inhale a string of saliva.
“I’m pleased we came to an understanding today,” I tell them. “Yes, I’m pleased because I wouldn’t want either of you to fall under the assumption that I don’t like to play games.”
“I don’t catch your meaning,” Meridei says slowly, keeping her face perfectly still.
I lean forward, clamping my hands down over theirs, squeezing.
“I believe it’s my move now.”
30.“Will You Always Protect Me?”
“You’re not leaving this house.”
Aurick crosses his arms over his chest with a wounded look, a frown that only flickers across his eyes.
“One, there’s a storm coming. Two, it is frowned upon for a woman to walk around alone. And three, the evenings are the only time of day I get to enjoy your company,” he explains.
“I’ll only be gone an hour or two,” I offer.
“What do you have to do?” he asks, face falling from a heavy sigh.
I consider telling him I am following up on a lead with Dessin… But something deep inside of me is waving a red flag.“Today is my father’s birthday.”At least I’m not lying.“I’d like to visit him before the night ends.”
His brow softens, and he cocks his head back slightly, focusing on me with wide eyes. He nods once, slow with a sigh of remorse.“Would you like me to go with you?”
“No,” I utter.“That’s nice of you to offer, but this is a visit I need to do by myself.”
