“Why are you following me?”
I was fuming to the tips of my ears, trying not to let my voice rise, trying not to kick something—a wall, a door. March’s crotch.
A shrug. “I have nothing better to do.”
Really, Time must have chosen him specifically to destroy every ounce of patience my body was capable of harnessing.
No,I whispered to myself.
I wasnotgoing to fall prey to his silly games. I was not going to let him get to me.
So, I said nothing, only turned around and walked away. As fast as my legs could carry me, hoping,prayinghe didn’t follow.
He did. And his legs were way longer than mine, so he had no trouble sticking right behind me all the way to our dormitory. Which wouldn’t have been a problem, really, but he alsospoke.
“Why were you at the workshop?”
I didn’t answer.
“Were you hoping to steal something?”
Nope. I will not take the bait.
“Were you hoping to make deals with the Timekeeper?”
Keep moving, keep moving, keep moving…
“What’s your favorite color?”
My door. It was in the beginning of the hallway, and I’d never been more thankful for it. I stopped in front of it, turned around, wanted to slam my fist onto that grinning face just slightly less than I wanted to kiss it.
Which took me by surprise, so I paused for a second. Breathed.
“Ora.”
Time’s Teeth, the way he said my name.
All that frustration, all that anger was just…not there anymore.
“I’m joking.”
He’s joking.
“Jokes are supposed to be funny,” I said.
“It was plenty funny for me.”
Why do I want to smile?
Becausehewas smiling. Because he was grinning. Because his eyes shone a certain way when he smiled like that, and I liked it.Ugh.
“I’m not going to try to run away again, Heartling. I won’tdoom the world,like you said.”
“Hmm.” He turned his head to the side as he analyzed me. “So why were you at the workshop?”
I crossed my arms in front of my chest. “To try to figure out how the Labyrinth works.” No harm in telling him that.
“So, you werenotmaking deals with the old Timekeeper?”
