“I’m sure it would look like that to you,” Layken replied. “You don’t know the half of it.”
“Perhaps you’re in denial. It’s a steep fall from guard to babysitter.”
Layken stared at her for a few seconds, no longer smiling. A shiver ran over her skin. Had she gone too far?
Layken moved closer, forcing Lora to flinch back on instinct. The start of a grin tugged at his lips. “If you’re trying to provoke me, I would stop now.”
Lora heard the door open, and Layken immediately stepped back.
Rhay’s voice filled the room before she even spotted him. “Have I been replaced?” Rhay asked, putting a hand to his heart. “I’m deeply offended. Well, I’m sure I can find another task to fill my free time.” He unscrewed the cap on the shiny flask he was holding and put it to his lips. A displeased look crossed his face. “Like fill this up again. By Caelo, I could’ve sworn it was full.”
Layken moved back to the door. The grin had long disappeared. “She’s all yours, Rhay. I’ll be outside.” His shoulder brushed Rhay as he walked past him. Before he closed the door behind him, Layken added, “I better not get anysurprises.Are we clear?”
“Crystal,” Rhay replied, flashing a smile.
Once the door was pulled shut, Rhay sat down next to Lora as he stored his empty flask in his jacket. Today it was lavender.
“Do you know Layken well?” Lora asked, having noticed the tension.
Rhay exhaled loudly. “No, but we’ve crossed paths.”
“You dislike him, don’t you?”
“Let’s just say he’s very loyal to Karwyn.”
Lora tried to catch his gaze. “And you aren’t?”
He sighed, dragging a hand though his pastel blue hair. “I am.”
This was where her spying needed to kick in. Layken wasn’t here and Rhay’s loyalties seemed more unclear than ever. “Always?” Rhay looked at her suspiciously. “Just because you are friends doesn’t mean you always have to see eye to eye.”
“I suppose not,” Rhay replied. “Do you?”
Lora played innocent. “Do I what?”
“Always agree with Karwyn?”
“I haven’t known him for very long.”
“That’s not an answer, love.”
He wouldn’t let her in if she didn’t give him something. But how much could she risk telling him without compromising her agreement? Would Rhay go behind her back and repeat everything to Karwyn? The contract stated that she couldn’t reveal any of Karwyn’s secrets.
Lora lowered her voice. “Sometimes I wonder…”
Rhay turned towards her, intrigued. “Wonder what, love?”
“Why was my mother so fixated on keeping me away?” Her hand went to the empty spot on her collarbone where her rose-gold necklace used to sit. She wished she still had it—something to hold onto. “Don’t you get aweirdfeeling here sometimes? In the palace?”
Her eyes willed him to take the bait.Come on, tell me something.
Rhay turned his head to the side. “It’s…complicated.”
“That’s not a concrete answer either.”
“You’re safe here, Lora. You’re an Adelway. Just…stay away from whatever is giving you thisweirdfeeling.”
Being an Adelway made her the opposite of safe. But Rhay sounded honest. Did he have no idea at all what Karwyn had in store for her?
