She always kept their interactions short and strictly business. Eyden had sounded surprised the first time Lora had called. She’d been going back and forth on her decision to reach out, but she had reasoned with herself that she had agreed to spy, so she owed Eyden at least a heads-up that she wouldn’t be attending Rhay’s after-parties. Lora had told him that Karwyn wanted her image to be that of a perfect princess and so he’d forbidden her from attending. And since Lora was a good spy who didn’t want to raise any suspicion, she had to go with Karwyn’s whim.
She hoped Karwyn would revoke his rule to banish her from Rhay’s parties. It had been too long since she’d seen Eyden in person. Rhay had mentioned an annual masquerade ball at their last training session. Maybe he could convince Karwyn to let her attend since it was a special occasion.
“Liraen to Lora, are you even listening?” Rhay asked. “You’re missing my amazing speech of encouragement.”
Lora reluctantly looked over her shoulder. Putting his long legs over one arm of the sunset-coloured chair, Rhay leaned back into the cushion.
“I’m listening, it’s just not helping,” Lora replied before staring back at the dark wall, as bleak as her non-existent future.
The chair creaked as Rhay got up. “It’s not helping because you’re notlettingit help.” Rhay’s voice sounded closer now. When she turned around, he caught her gaze.
“All I do istry,” Lora said. She was so frustratingly limited in all of her actions. But maybe Rhay could help her.
Before she could let out the question lingering in her mind, Rhay took her outstretched hand. His face wrinkled as he tried to focus, probably trying to read her emotions as he had done a few times now.
Rhay dropped her hand. “Afraid you’ll have to get over this yourself, love.”
“Do you ever buy anything else besides crystals?” Lora blurted out.
Rhay chuckled as he took a step back. “Way to change the conversation, little Adelway.”
“I’m serious.”
He regarded her with a new sense of curiosity. “I buy lots of things. Clothes, jewellery, alcohol…the random, fun human item. I’ve got a TV in my room. Why are you asking?”
“I’m bored. I’ve heard of human technology before and I’ve always wanted to see it for myself.”
Grinning, his ocean eyes sparkled. “You’re more than welcome to join me for movie night, love, if you want to experience the wonders of human reality TV.”
Lora bit her tongue, holding back her curiosity about which shows Rhay was so amused by. “I was thinking about something else. A phone.” She’d been wanting to ask Rhay for weeks, and she finally felt it was worth the risk. Shehad totalk to her family.
“Why do you need a phone?”
“Can’t I be curious?” Lora shot back.
Rhay crossed his arms, his half-smile amused. “If you want it, you’ll have to tell me why.”
“Name your price, Rhay. If you get me what I want and don’t tell Karwyn, I owe you.”
“Mhm, interesting offer, love.” Rhay stepped closer, drinking in her expression. She tried to remain impassive. “I must say, I don’t think reconnecting with a thief who betrayed you is the best way to fill your free time.”
Damn him.She’d hoped Rhay would find her request not worth analysing. “I never said anything about him.”
“You didn’t have to. I can sense a hopeless crush a mile away.”
Hopeless crush?Could he sense Karwyn’s, then?
Rhay sighed dramatically. “If you want it so badly, I bet Rio can ask around.”
Lora’s gaze snapped back to him.Ilario.If Rhay asked Ilario, he would tell Eyden, and then Eyden would suspect Lora wasn’t choosing to stay here. Her whole secret, the binding agreement, could blow up in her face.
“Never mind, forget it. You’re right. It’s hopeless.” She held up her hand as Rhay was about to respond. “Let’s get back to training.”
“Nowyou want to train?”
“Yes,” she lied. There was no way of getting a new phone. No way to her family.
“I don’t understand why you won’t take advantage of your fire. It’s a great defence. Some of us aren’t so lucky.” She could see his restlessness. Why did Rhay even care about her training?
