“Guards who leave you alone during a blackout,” he says, his tone hard.
My breath quickens, chest tight with anger. I knew he’d use last night against me.
Investigating whether Janus is Stellan’s mole with Wilder’s pet sniffing around and reporting my movements. Dismissing her would only raise his suspicions. Better to see this through—either prove Janus’s guilt or clear her name. At least I have the others to help.
“Welcome, Isolde. You can set up in one of the officers’ quarters. Wilder can show you the way,” I say, my voice saccharine sweet. Wilder balks, his eyes narrowing at the dismissal.
He didn’t warn me about Isolde, nor was he invited to breakfast.
Isolde shrugs, unfazed. “Cool.”
She turns on her heel, ready to leave, but Wilder halts me with his intense gaze. “We will talk later?”
He means we should discuss Alden and Ravi further, but I have it covered.
“I’ll check my calendar. I can squeeze you in somewhere,” I reply, keeping my tone light despite the adrenaline coursing through me.
“Leigh.” Heat pools in my belly at the bold challenge in how he says my name, that familiar tension crackling between us.
“Wilder.” I hold his gaze. Two can play at this game.
“I am going to my room. Whatever sexually charged moment you two are having, I don’t want to be part of it.” Gianna leaves, bypassing Isolde with an assessing look, but Isolde doesn’t wither under her stare. The Blade stands taller, her chin lifted in defiance.
“Shall we?” Isolde asks, clearly unsure where to go, leaving Wilder no choice but to follow her. I give him a four-finger wave, smirking.
His glare promises retribution, and my toes curl.
With Wilder out of earshot, I grab Jaxon’s sleeve. “I need your help.”
“Go on,” Jaxson muses, excitement brightening his worn-out gaze.
“Can you go to Little Death and check on the vampires? I want to ensure they are okay.”
Jaxson grins. His enthusiasm reveals that his eagerness is more about seeing Desiree than helping me.
“Go at dusk, ask to speak to Vane directly, but be mindful of his gift. Anything you’d rather the prince not know, lock it up tight and throw away the key,” I warn him.
“Please, I am not scared of Vane.”
I sense a challenge in his words, a hint of bravado that prompts my frown. “Just be careful,” I say.
“I got your back, L-Rae.”
Jaxson leaves, and Bennett invents an excuse to go, but before Pallas can run off, I call out, “Got a sec?”
He pauses, meeting my gaze with his expressive eyes and smooth complexion. “What’s up?”
“Keep an eye on Bennett for me.”
“Why?”
“He’s keeping something from me,” I say.
Pallas laughs.“You want me to spy on your spy?”
I hold his eyes as I reply, “Yes.”
I can’t shakethe sense of urgency as Leigh and I stand under an awning at Mensa Station, the nerve center of the country’s rail network. Our timing is tight—Prince Alden’s train will arrive just after mine departs. With the city still reeling from the blackout and my efforts to prepare Soter for my absence, we haven’t had enough time to discuss Alden or Ravi.
