“Itisnice knowing you,” Marin corrected. Her pale face forced a tight smile. “I’m sorry. My head has been pounding all day. I really do need to rest, or I’ll hear an earful from my father.”
Bridget searched Marin’s gaze for a lie. Her dark eyesweretired and hazy. Still, unease lingered in her bones. Throat tight, she forced herself over the threshold. The icy air of the hallway sent a shiver up her spine.
Marin gripped the side of the dark brown oak panel that was about to separate them. “When the time comes, don’t blame yourself, Bridget.”
The door closed before Bridget had a chance to ask whether she meant her inevitable surrender to the price of magic or something else entirely.
Chapter twenty-two
“So this is where you lived while you were competing in the tournament?” Nylah asked, pulling on Bridget’s sleeve as they entered the contestant apartments on the east end of the palace. It was exactly as she remembered. The rustic staircase hadn’t changed and the scent of chocolate muffins still lingered in the air.
“Yeah, my room was right up those stairs and to the left,” Bridget said, eyeing the closed door beside her old room. Months before, Quinn had slept there. She wondered if anyone had been inside since then and if any of her belongings were left.
“What a thrilling tour. What’s next, a patch of grass where you saw a flower that reminded you of Cade?”
Alexia’s deadpanned voice behind them tensed her muscles. For a moment, Nylah’s excitement had almost made Bridget forget the other girl followed behind them. Upon her sister’s insistence, of course. Apparently, she’d made it her personal responsibility to supervise Alexia at all times.
Nylah scowled at her. “No one asked for your opinion. I like hearing about what I missed. But maybe that’s because I actually have people that I—”
“Speaking of things you’re missing,” Bridget said, cutting her off. She grabbed Nylah by the shoulders and pushed her toward the gym. “Are you okay?”
“What do you mean?” Nylah frowned. “Of course, I am.”
The pure ignorance in her sister’s gaze tore at Bridget’s chest. Taking her on a tour of the palace was the last thing she ever expected to do with her. “Don’t you miss school?”
“Are you crazy? Reading about magic and forcing this one to follow me everywhere definitely beats sitting behind a kid who hasn’t discovered deodorant while trying to learn pre-algebra,” Nylah said, wrinkling her nose.
“What about your friends?”
Nylah shrugged. “I can make friends anywhere. It’s not that difficult. It starts with hello and then you keep asking questions until you eventually get to know them.”
“But it’s not the same.”
Elyriawasn’tManhattan or Boston. She’d hardly seen any other kids around the palace. And when they did, Nylah ignored them. Since they’d arrived, she’d spent most of her time withAlexia. The last person she needed to get to know.
Nylah whirled on her. “Why are you trying to convince me that I shouldn’t be happy to be here? We’re finally all together again. And we’re about to go on aboat. Stop worrying about me. I’mfine.”
Her tight, dark curls bounced as she shoved the door to the gym open. Bridget gaped at her. Those pre-teen years were coming on quick.
“Looks like I did you a favor,” Alexia whispered in her ear. “She actuallywantsto be here.”
“Shut the hell up.”
Bridget pushed her into the gym. The clang of weights smashing together echoed through the room. In the corner, Delphine pressed her legs against a black sheet of metal. Sweat dripped down her face as she scrunched her eyes in concentration.
“Delly!” Nylah squealed, zig zagging through the machines to reach her.
Delphine dropped her legs and twisted around on the seat. She wrapped her arms around Nylah, who’d thrust herself on top of her. “You’re still sticking with that nickname, huh?”
“Bridget’s taking me on a tour of all the places she used to go.”
“Is that right? Then this is the perfect place. I actually taught her how to use this machine.”
Nylah grinned. “I think I read that in her notebook.”
“What are you doing here?” Bridget asked. Delphine raised a brow. “Well, besides the obvious.”
Delphine stood up and wiped her forehead with her sleeve. “I like coming in here. It’s peaceful and no one ever bothers me.”
