“You crushed on him, didn’t you?”
My brows creased, not sure how to respond.
“Please. You totally did. Do you still love him?” She scooped up another spoonful, sucking it down. “Seems a bit pampered for you.”
“Pampered?”
“He’s a total pretty boy.” She shoved a piece of roll into her mouth, barely swallowing. “I’m meanreallypretty. More muscles than I thought he would have, but probably not much upstairs or down, though he is easy on the eyes. Not that I like guys like that.”
My head tilted.
“I don’t! Far too prim for me.” She shook her head, eyes darting to the side. “I’m just saying he seems like the typical spoiled human boy. Entitled. All ego and a very tiny dick.”
We may never have had sex, but I had slept next to him and touched him enough to know. Caden certainly wasn’t small by most standards. Far from it. But after Warwick, it was hard to compare anyone to a normal measurement.
Gods . . . that man.
“Wait.” Her eyes widened at my heating cheeks. “Is his dick actually big? A secret freak in bed?” She barely took a breath. “He looks vanilla, but sometimes those guys can shock you.”
“You and Kek would really get along,” I muttered, kneading my head.
“Okay, tell me about Killian then.”
“Nothing to tell.”
She pursed her lips, not believing me. “Well, italsoseems Scorpion has a bit of a thing for you. Anytime your name is mentioned, he perks up.” A slight annoyance flickered over her bruised eye.
“It’s not like that.” How could I explain to anyone what my connection was to Scorpion or Warwick?Yeah, so, I went back in time through a fae book and saved their lives, even though technically I had just been born, and now we were linked in this strange way that shouldn’t exist. As in, we can see, touch, and feel each other no matter where our physical bodies are.
My mind flickered to Warwick, wondering where he was, but I felt nothing in our link except that he was alive. He was still shutting me out.
“Oh shit.” Birdie’s spoon fell noisily into her empty soup bowl. “Speaking of, I have to relieve pretty boy’s watch. Wes needs a few hours of sleep before heading out tonight.”
“What’s tonight?”
“A few are staking out some factories tied to Markos and the elite in Leopold. We’re looking for the location where they’re harboring fae.” Andris assumed one or more of the factories were operating more as a fae murder plant than an actual factory. It was a great cover, but there was a possibility they were looking in the wrong places. “The moment your pretty boy is awake, I will get it out of him.” She stood up, lifting her pierced brow.
“Caden doesn’t know anything.”
She huffed derisively. “Please, he’s the son of a powerful general and is being groomed to take over.”
“I know him. He doesn’t know.”
“How do youreallyknow anyone?” She shook her head at me like I was naïve. “Everyone keeps secrets. Even from those they love.”
Her statement felt full of meaning, but it scraped at the doubt building in my gut. Since I left HDF this last time, turning my back on everything I knew, even the boy I loved, so much could have changed. Istvan would certainly use Caden’s anger to turn him even more on me. Maybe Caden couldn’t kill me, but he’d be fine with testing and killing fae.
My stomach twisted, not sure how to handle the fact that Caden was here as a prisoner. A situation I forced on him, but the other way was not an option for me, though he might disagree. I had to try and show both Hanna and Caden the truth—everything we were taught was wrong.
“I want to come tonight,” I stated. “Who knows, I might have insight I don’t know about.”
“That’s up to the lieutenant.” She started to turn. “Though if you do, I’d bring the legend. He seems good when you need a distraction.” She winked at me.
“Have you seen him?”
“I saw him storm out of here this morning. Haven’t seen him since. And he’s not someone you can miss down here.” She twisted, glancing over her shoulder. “Or anywhere.”
Birdie dashed out of the room, her long white-blonde hair swishing down her back. She was like being around a hummingbird. A murderous one. She fluttered in and out of your life at transient speed, but you couldn’t help feeling awed and a little fortunate you got that time.
