“So are you,” I pointed out, my gaze falling across his beautiful face.
His expression shifted. A quirk on his full lips, mischief in his eyes. “Reckless witch.”
“Terrible influence!”
The moment stretched between us, weighing us down with everything we weren’t saying, what we’d never say. Then Silas’s low growl reminded us we were still exposed in the shadows, still in danger.
Wickett looked away first. “We should move.”
As he turned away from me, I noticed something I’d never seen before.
A rune, twisted into his hair.
Hair that was always pulled back and likely hid the magical stone. But that was?—
Why would Wickett have neededthatrune specifically? Unless...
Someone darted across the open ground, catching my attention. I stared long enough to figure out it was Riot withhis massive build. What was the Guardian doing out here? And specificallynotwith his charge.
He paused mid-stride, turned and walked straight toward us.
I stepped away from Wickett, and hissed toward Riot, who had almost reached us, “What are you doing sneaking out?”
“The Oracle sensed you might be in trouble. She sent me.”
Too smooth? Too convenient?
“How’d you find us?” I asked as casually as I could muster.
“Aureth sees many things.” His gaze moved between us, difficult to read. “What did you find?”
Wickett tensed. I felt his hesitation. We didn’t know Riot’s true loyalties. And I was carrying weapons meant to kill the Oracle. Supposedly.
“Records. Financial discrepancies,” I said carefully. “Nothing conclusive points toward the Phoenix. No hits on DEC.”
Riot’s eyes narrowed, and for a heartbeat I thought he’d press. Demand details. Reveal himself as whatever he really was, ally or enemy.
Instead, his expression shifted. Softened. As if he remembered what he was here to do. “The Oracle asked me to tell you something. She said you’d understand. The spider was a test you passed, and that trust is a bridge built from both sides.”
My breath caught. There was no way he could know about the spider unless?—
“She saw it,” I whispered. “Before it happened?”
“She sees many things,” Riot repeated, but this time it felt like the truth instead of a deflection. “And she wanted you to know she’s not your enemy. Neither am I, but we should return before someone notices us. Separately would be wiser.”
“Fastest would be wisest,” Wickett corrected, grabbing my hand as he yanked me toward the House.
The hallways were blessedly empty. We split without a word, Riot heading toward the Oracle’s quarters, me toward my ownroom, exhaustion pulling back every step. Though the thought was there, I didn’t look back at the Ripper as I walked away.
I pushed open my door and froze.
Calder sat in my chair, eating an apple, looking entirely too comfortable for someone who’d broken into my room.“Silentii,” I whispered, and closed the door. “How long have you been here?”
“Long enough.” He took another bite, chewing thoughtfully. “Wickett’s room was... educational.”
Was I prepared for the bad news? I’d lured Wickett to me in the yard before I broke in, but in the aftermath of the night’s events, I’d forgotten Calder’s part of our plan.
He gestured with the apple. “Our favorite hunter isn’t playing both sides. Turns out his room is full of training manuals and studies on Phoenix lore. Volumes of the stuff. But nothing suggests he’s working against us.”
