He’d raised them by default to catch me.
I backed up so fast that I tripped.
He pulled me upright before I could fall, swinging me right back into his arms. This time they curled around me, holding me in place.
“I was coming to check on you,” he said in a low tone, his face inches from mine, “when I remembered that I always close this door.”
Crap.
“What were you doing in my room?”
“I was... looking for you?” I said weakly.
SOREN’S FROWN MADEit clear he wasn’t buying it.
But instead of calling me out, he stepped back, putting distance between us, and moved around me to push the door to his room shut with a sharp click.
“This way,” he said, waving for me to follow him across the balcony. Under the bright sun, the shadow of his wings faded away, nearly invisible unless I was looking for it.
It didn’t feel like I had a choice. Where else could I go? Last night, I’d let my guard down, but the morning light—and that note—reminded me I couldn’t trust any of them. At least we were headed toward the front door, if I needed to make a run for it. But I didn’t have my coat, boots, or makeshift weapons, or any idea where Lore had put them.
When we’d climbed down the ladder, his friends all turned. Lore cheerfully said, “Good morning,” and the others joined her, though Gwen’s was grumpy, Julian just winked, and Peregrin ducked his head after waving.
Lowering myself into a chair, I expected Soren to chastise me in front of them.
But he didn’t bring up where he’d found me at all, launching into business instead as he stood beside the fireplace. “Cosmo’s Winter Solstice Ball is this evening. While there’s no guarantee you’ll find your family there, after discussing it, we’ve decided to help you get into the ball to look for them, if you help us with our task.”
“We’re going to pull off our biggest con yet,” Julian stage-whispered from where he sat on the couch.
I narrowed my eyes. “How do you con someone if you can’t lie?”
“You should probably be aware of something going forward.” Soren pulled my attention away from the others. “When it comes to the folk, always watch for misdirection.” He looked at a spot on the floor as he spoke, like he couldn’t be bothered to meet my eyes. “Fae lie in every possible way except with words.”
I blinked at him.
“Why...would you tell me that?” I asked finally, frowning. “Or... is this a misdirection also?”
