“What’s up, Buttercup?”
I shrieked, jumping at Morty’s voice and his head popping out from the doorway across the hall.“What the heck, Morty? Why do you keep popping up out of nowhere?”
He shrugged, leaning against the doorframe. “I thought you liked surprises.”
Arms crossed over his chest, one ankle in front of the other, his posture appeared relaxed, but the serious expression on his face betrayed him.
“Are you…Morty, are you keeping an eye out for me?” I cocked my head, finding it hard to believe the guy who’d blownup everything the day he arrived had good intentions. “You don’t have to do that.”
“Well, that’s good. Since, you know, I’mnot.” He pushed off the wall and started down the hall. “However, keeping an eyeonyou…? That might be a different story.”
I frowned, taking off after him. “Why?”
“Why what?”
“Why would you need to keep an eye on me?” I reached him near the creepy bedroom where we’d first met. “Or, better question,whoasked you to keep an eye on me?”
“No one asks me to do anything.” He glanced over his shoulder and smirked. “Or, if they do, they quickly learn I don’t take orders.”
Miss Alice came around the corner. “What are you two doing back here?”
I whirled to face her. “Looking for you, actually. I wanted to thank you for the delicious dinner.”
Turning an adorable shade of pink, she waved me away.
Morty stepped up to my side and slung his arm around my shoulders. “Actually,Iwas coming to thank you, Miss Alice.” He tightened his grip so I couldn’t throw him off. “My new best friend, Quinn, here, tagged along.”
She pursed her lips and narrowed her eyes. “What are you up to, Mister Dread?”
He groaned. “Ugh. I hate that name more than Morty.”
Using his distraction, I slipped from his hold and took Miss Alice’s hand. “Thank you. I’m glad I found you.”
She placed her hand on mine and squeezed. “I appreciate the kindness, dear. Now, run along.” She eyed Morty before winking conspiratorially at me. “And if you don’t mind a word of advice from an old lady like me, stick with those you trust and stick it to those you don’t. Alright?”
Patting the knife tucked in the pocket of my dress, I smirked at Morty. “A great idea, Miss Alice. I’ll do that.”
With that, I shoved my lockbox under my arm and returned to Camelot Courtyard. By the time I got there, Izzy, Angela, and Morgan sat at a table discussing our first clue.
“It’s weird that they keep telling us about our pledge paddles, right? Like, we get it. They’re going to make it weird and force us to bond with Merle over wood.”
“Ew, Angela.” Izzy scrunched up her face. “Unnecessary.”
Angela laughed, waving her off. “I just mean they don’t need to keep mentioning it. Isn’t it weird?”
Morgan’s forehead wrinkled. “I didn’t think it was, but now I do. Only because you won’t stop bringing up Merle’s wood.” She smirked, teasing Angela and elbowing her side. “Why? What are you thinking?”
Angela turned to me as I sat down. “Quinn, you’ll get it. Don’t they keep going on and on about the paddles and journeys here like it means something? Even what Merle said earlier—how they’re a symbol of a brother’s time with his fraternity?” She leaned back in her chair and huffed. “I’m only saying I think it’s related.”
I shrugged. “Our first Knight did give us the lockbox.”
Izzy and Morgan’s skeptical faces turned contemplative.
“If she’s right, maybe our Knight from the Honor Challenge has the next clue?”
Vivian chose that moment to interrupt. “Why would you think that?”
I swiveled my head to the left, where she sat at a completely different table,nota part of our conversation,and narrowed my eyes at her. “Why do you care? Especially if you think it’s a dumb idea?”
