“Leo, Percy, and Roark, the hottie who texted Jeff. This place is just men?”
“Not exactly,” I say. I’ve seen a few female staff members. Not many, though. And just seen. Somehow, it hurts that they are leaving me alone. It’s gotten better now that Leo has told them they can “exchange pleasantries.” “Are you ready?” I take her hand.
“As long as you’re letting me inside, I can change later.” Wren takes her bag from my shoulder, puts it back in the back seat, and closes the door with her butt.
I grab her hand.
“Wait, I need to lock the car.”
“Trust me, you don’t.” I tug her away. I’ve thought hard about whether I should bring her in the side door or the front door. It opens up onto a massive foyer with a formal dining room and a living-room-slash-ballroom on the other side. I’ve yet to see anyone in any of the spaces. The guys seem to live mostly off the foyer with the forbidden curtain. But the side door is closer, more relatable. Somehow, it feels more like home. I turn the cast iron lever and push the heavy door open.
“Whoa, this is amazing.” Wren’s heals click on the stones. Her hand runs along the stone walls. “It’s really medieval.”
“I think this is one of the older sections of the castle.”
“Curved stone stairs. So cool.” Wren steps up.
“Oh, let’s go the other way. Here, follow me.” I hold my hand out for her. My muscles relax. Having Wren here makes it all that much more real. My college roommate hated when her friends from back home came for a visit. She said it was like mixing oil and water. But for me, Wren isalways salad dressing. She can blend wherever she goes. And she makes everything better. I’m only the tiniest bit worried about what she’s going to think about the way and why I was brought here.
Through the back hallway, we emerge into what I think of as the dragon eye atrium. The curtain looms large. “Oh, there are a few rules. I’m not allowed to look behind the curtain.”
“Tell me you have.”
“No. And we’re not doing it now.” Wren takes a step toward it, but I pull her back to me. “Absolutely not. This job is too important to me. You’re not going to get me kicked out of here.” Although, I know now it’s the portal. But I’m not looking at it, and I’m not violating the NDA, not even for Wren.
“Okay. I can be a rule follower too. But just for you. Because I love my little sister.”
“I know you do.” I take her through the doorway to the stairs and up to my suite.
There’s a staff member coming down the center hallway. He inclines his head and mumbles, “Good morning,” before he scurries away.
“Have you made any friends?” Wren asks after he’s out of earshot.
“Yes, I guess.” I’m not sure I can count the guys as friends. But Leo? Yes, he’s a friend. “The house manager, Leo. He and I chat.”
“So Leo?” Wren wiggles her eyebrows at me.
“Is an old man, but very nice.” I hold my hand on the knob to my room. I know my sister—she’s going to explode when she sees the suite. “He’s the one who sent you the NDA.”
“Right, tell no one about what I see in the castle. I signedit and sent it back. Don’t give me that look. I read things occasionally.” She pops her hand onto her hip. “But no one else other than Leo? I know that Europeans can be more closed off than people from home.”
“I don’t mind that. Last time I was home, it took me an hour to get away from people in the grocery store. And I didn’t even know them. I had a ten-minute discussion with a Gen Z girl about broccoli and the proper way to cook it. Aren’t they supposed to just be grunting and wearing black at that age? Western Pennsylvania isn’t normal. The people are too nice.”
“Fine. You might be right. But there’s a happy middle ground. I know you—you’re a workaholic, and I’m just afraid you’re going to lock yourself in a closet or basement for the next six months?—”
“Five months, two weeks.”
“Excuse me. Five months, two weeks.” Wren wrinkles up her nose. “That’s a long time to be... well, alone. Unless you’re not alone?” She crosses her arms over her chest.
“The other day I had a full two-minute conversation about how fast the grass was growing with the gardener. He thinks it’s going to be a snowy winter.” I open the door, and Wren doesn’t disappoint. One step into the suite and she screams. I’m laughing and closing the door with speed when the distinctive thudding of feet echoes down the hallway.
40
ROARK
I’m thudding down the hallway, smoke billowing in irritation at letting myself fall asleep. Yes, with Kieren away at Crest Wing, Evander and I have been taking turns watching over Raine. Both of our dragons are uneasy. The ceremony on Monday can’t come soon enough. There’s yelling from Raine’s suite. Evander’s running from the back staircase.
“What’s going on?” He’s shirtless, in his workout pants leftover from our time at the academy.
