Good,she thought even as her heart screamed the opposite.
Lora turned her head away. She’d asked for this. But why did it have to hurt sodamnmuch? “Why are you here, then?”
“I need you.” Her gaze snapped to him, looking for the hidden emotions within them but coming up empty again. “I need you to be our spy. El thinks you’re our best chance.”Oh.Had she been seeing emotions that weren’t there?
“What makes you think I would spy for you?” she asked.
“El is under the impression you would want to do the right thing.”
“I see. And what doyouthink?” Was he only here now because Elyssa had told him to come?
Eyden’s gaze was fixated on the bottles on the opposite wall. “I think if you’re set on staying here, then make the best of it. You can get closer to Karwyn than any of us.”
“You trust me to spy on him?”
“I don’t need to answer that.” Eyden sounded so tired. His tone made her feel on edge. He didn’t seem like himself. Where was the anger he’d had yesterday?
“Are you okay?” she asked before she could help herself.
“Do you care?” he asked, his voice ice cold.
Lora swallowed, unsure how to get out of the minefield she’d set herself. “I don’tnotcare.” His gaze melted a tiny bit. “You don’t seem like yourself.” She shrugged, avoiding eye contact.
“And you think you know me so well?” he asked. A hint of a smile appeared on his face. She wanted nothing more than to see his smirk again.
Was it her? Had she made himthismiserable? But what other choice did she have when she couldn’t tell him the real reason she was staying in this cursed palace? It didn’t stop the guilt from twisting her insides.
“Maybe,” she answered, unable to help herself, biting her lip to keep her grin contained. Eyden noticed anyway, and his smile widened. She rushed on, “Karwyn is a locked book. Rhay, on the other hand…”
“Rhay?”
“Blue. Nix. You remember him, right?”
Eyden crossed his arms. “Yes, he was our way in. Ilario has been making deals with him.”
Questions swirled in her head, but she let them go for now. She couldn’t offer Eyden the answer he was seeking, but she could give him whatever info she had gathered. “His real name is Rhay. He’s an advisor and he’s friends with Karwyn.”
Clear surprise coloured his features. “That rich prick is anadvisor?” His tone sounded lighter now.
“I didn’t expect it either. But he knows things. If I can get closer to him, he might confide in me.”
That hint of a smile evaporated. “I don’t think that’s a good idea.”
“It’s a brilliant idea,” Lora said. “You came here to ask me to spy and I just told you I would. I can also try to talk to more of the royals. I was talking to the King of Carnylen today and he showed promise.”
Eyden’s mouth formed a straight line. “Okay, then. Just don’t get too close to this Rhay guy. I don’t trust him.” Was that jealousy she was sensing? Before she could comment, Eyden said, “Try to find out whatever you can, and I’ll be at the next party Ilario can sneak us into.”
“No.”
“No?”
“You don’t need to be here. If Rhay catches you…I can tell Ilario.” As much as she wanted it to be Eyden, he couldn’t come back. It was too risky. Nothing had changed; she needed to stay focused and he needed to stay away—safe.
Eyden took a step forward. It was all it took for them to be as close as possible without actually touching. “Sorry, special one, but that’s not an option. I’ll be here.”
The use of his nickname for her sent shivers to the tips of her toes. “Why? You don’t trust Ilario?” His eyes drank her in, the pale blue of his irises brightening. She should have stepped back, but she didn’t.
“This is on me. Ilario doesn’t know the full picture and El asked me to handle this. That’s why I’m here.”
