I nodded once with curt finality. I’d tried.
“I hope you feel better,” I said, getting up.
“Wait.”
I stopped; my eyebrows arched in surprise.
“I want to talk about something else,” she said quietly.
“Okay.”
She wiped her eyes again and looked at me seriously, the redness around her eyes making me worry.
“I have a sister and she has never once done what you are doing now,” she said.
I wasn’t sure what I’d thought she was going to say but it wasn’t that. I opened my mouth to speak, but she continued.
“I know Caelan has been training with you and that he asked you to go to the ball,” she said. “And I know you must think that is why I avoid you. But that could not be any further from the truth. I have never had a problem with you.”
I couldn’t believe what she was saying. “I… well, yeah, I did think there was something between you two but I never thought you had a problem with me. I just thought you were awkward because of Caelan’s feelings for you.”
A troubled look flashed across her face.
“It was Caelan that I had a problem with but not because of any feelings he may or may not have for me. I thought he was overstepping.”
I narrowed my eyes. “What do you mean, ‘overstepping’?”
She shook her head. “I disapproved of what he was doing, is all. What he was doing with you. But it was not what it seemed like. I was not jealous.”
I wanted to believe her but nothing added up. What was with everyone’s cryptic bullshit? “He was just training with me. Helping me improve. What’s wrong with that?”
Her expression wasn’t irritated or angry but worried. “It is critical you find your way on your own. He should know that.”
It felt like she’d delivered a blow to my stomach. Everyone had said something like this to me at some point or another.
“What way? What’re you talking about?” I asked. “Why’s it a problem if he helps me train?”
“It is not specifically about the training—look, he and I disagree on fundamental ideas for Initiates that come to Nightfall,” she said. “But that is the least of my concerns now. Did you get my note?”
My jaw slacked. “You left that note? Beware the raven. What does that mean?”
“You know what it means,” Saryna said. “You needed to be warned.”
“Away from who?” I asked, my voice wavering as my body trembled in shock. “Malakai? Ezreal? Blake?”
“All of them,” Saryna whispered.
“But why? Why not just tell me? Why play this game with secret notes?” I snapped.
“I am sorry,” she said, her voice strained. “I was directed not to engage with you. But you needed to be warned.”
I sat down at the edge of the seat, leaning towards her. “Saryna—warn me about what?”
“Saryna!”
We both snapped up.
The warmth drained from my face as I saw Malakai strolling across the room.
