Light fills the enormous space, spilling from the lamps hanging between the columns as I hurry after him once more, and damn, this can’t keep happening. Is he doing it on purpose, keeping me off balance by always leaving me behind?
Soon enough, the glow of a fire sends shadows leaping on the columns and walls, and I see the nest. Ardruna is sitting on her haunches before it, gnawing on a bone, and Talton is toying with a round object. As I approach, I get a better look and think it might be a button. A pile of clothing is set beside them, not very far from the small fire.
Roane walks past it and sits on the edge of the niche, letting his hands hang between his knees. His long hair is a tangled mess, hanging over his shoulders.
I deliberately look away and place the griffin egg down. “Are you all going to hang out here today? No work? Is there a truce with the monsters I wasn’t made aware of?”
“You think we’d inform you of any plans we make?” Roane grinds out.
“Are your plans a secret?” I crouch down by the fire to warm myself. “Such as why you glow in the dark like a fireworm?”
“You like that comparison, do you?”
“Very much.” I turn to face him again, smirking. “Why do you glow, Roane?”
“That doesn’t concern you.”
“Youconcern me. Your friends concern me. This world concerns me. Because I now live in it!”
“It’s not your world.”
“And yet. Tell me more about it. Teach me how to defend myself. Explain to me why the monsters can’t all be returned to the books they escaped from. Give me some answers.”
His head bows, dark strands falling in his face. He clasps his hands together. His knuckles are covered in old, white scars. Dirt has gathered in every crack and hollow, turning them into a spidery map.
“Come on, Roane,” Ardruna says. “You’ve never been a chatterbox to start with, but you can answer her questions.”
“Can I?” he rasps. “What if I don’t have all the answers?”
“Oh, come on. You always do.”
“This time I don’t,” he whispers. “Her presence here makes no sense.”
“Well, your presence here makes no sense, either,” I say, lifting my chin. “You can’t put the monsters back into the books, but it doesn’t matter, because for some reason this world is closed and locked. And you’re imprisoned with them. It can’t be right. This can’t be how this world has always been. What did you do?”
He lifts his head and his gaze is kind of blank, impossible to read, though something flashes in his eyes like the fin of a sea serpent.
Fear.
“Am I getting warm?” I ask. “Did you cause this? What did youdo, Roane?”
“Nothing,” he says.
“Right. You expect me to believe?—”
“I don’t fuckingexpectanything.” He stands, eyes closing. He takes a step and stumbles, catching himself in the last moment. “Fuck.”
“Roane?” I shoot to my feet and start toward him, only to stop when he finds his footing.
“Whoa,” Ardruna pads over to him. “What’s wrong, Ro?”
“Nothing,” he snaps. “Mind your own business.”
“How dare you speak to me like that?” Ardruna growls. “Mind your manners, child.”
He grunts something unintelligible and turning, he walks away.
I frown after him. “Where is he going?”
