Where Sybille gobbled up my lie, cooing that going to Justus’s mother is brilliant, Antoni’s clearly not convinced.
“Your plan is terrible, Fallon.”
“I didn’t ask for your opinion.”
“Maybe, but you’re clearly here to ask for something of me.”
“This was a bad idea.” I turn and reach for the doorknob.
Sybille scuttles against the wall to block me. “I will not let you die because someone’s pride is getting in the way.”
Even though the cabin is dark, I don’t miss the nerve feathering Antoni’s jaw.
“This is a big ask, Antoni, and yeah, you can say no, but Fallon needs to get across that canal. I want to borrow your boat. I’ll pay you for it, of course.”
“Sybille,” I whisper, unaware that was what she’d devised.
“You want to—” Antoni sputters. “Do you even know how to drive a boat?”
She gives a one-shouldered shrug. “How difficult can it be? You two do it.”
Mattia snorts.
“And how exactly will you get through the guard barrage with a wanted felon, huh?”
“I’m not a felon . . .” I swallow. “Yet.”
Syb snatches the note her father wrote me and pushes it into Antoni’s hands. Because the boat is wedged in between others, the single porthole spits out very little light. Antoni squints to make out the writing.
“I know you’re literate, so you must’ve noticed it says Fallon’s name on there.” He punches the spot on the parchment.
“Nothing a little ink smudge can’t fix. Besides, it’s signed by my father.”
“What if they ask to search the vessel?”
“That’s why I want to borrowyourboat, Antoni.” She taps her foot against the little round rug.
A long beat passes. I’m not certain why everyone’s so silent and grim until I catch Mattia gnawing on his lip while Antoni scowls.
“How do you know about that?” the latter finally asks.
My eyebrows pinch together. “That?”
Antoni’s Adam’s apple jostles up and down the column of his throat. “Who told you?”
“I put two and two together. I know you and my sister aren’t dating—or dating humans—and yet you two spend an inordinate amount of time going back and forth to Rax together. I approve of what you’re doing, by the way.”
“What are you doing?” I find myself asking.
His gaze snaps to mine with such force, I take a step back and shut my mouth. “That’s really none of your business. As to borrowing my boat, that’s a no.”
“We’re talking about Fallon’s life! Do you really want her to die?”
He glares at Sybille. “I said no to borrowing it because I’ll be driving the fucking thing.”
“Not sure that’s such a great idea, Cap.” Mattia spears his fingers through his golden mop and chin-nods to me. “Word on the street is that whoever gives her passage will be tossed into Filiaserpens.”
“So you’re okay with letting Sybille swim with the serpents?” Antoni asks.
