“I’m to meet with a scroll master in the archives in an hour,” Jorrar said, sipping Caelestia’s abysmal version of tea. “Quinn, I’d like you to come with me.”
“Of course. And you two?” Quinn asked Casimir.
He glanced at Ava, her chin in her hand as she tried not to nod off at the table. “If she can stay awake, I believe we're going to attempt to talk to Seraphina today.” Casimir placed a hand on her back. “Why are you so tired? Did you not sleep?”
She and Quinn were gallivanting around the castle in the middle of the night, stealing food,Aro said.
Casimir whipped his head to Quinn. “Please tell me Aro is lying.”
Quinn crossed her arms. “What did he tell you?”
“That the two of you stole food last night?”
Ava cringed. “Well…”
“Are you two out of your minds?” Casimir admonished. “Doyou have any idea what my father would have done if you were caught?”
Jorrar blew out a breath.
“It’s a good thing we weren’t caught then,” Quinn said.
Casimir gave them both a hard look.
“The food here is terrible.” Ava gestured at the porridge on the table. “I couldn’t sleep and we were starving and I know how to cook and we just thought we’d make something real quick. In and out,” she rambled, like a child caught in the act. It would actually be quite endearing if he wasn’t so concerned about his father’s wrath.
Casimir shook his head. “You’re lucky you weren’t caught.”
Ava placed her hand on his arm. “Are you angry?”
“No. I’m…terrified.”
“Of what your father would have done?”
He nodded. Orion didn’t take kindly to theft or anything that might be considered disrespectful. And though Casimir didn’t see it as much of an issue, his father would be wholly offended should he find out.
“It’s a good thing he doesn’t know then, huh?” Ava asked.
“Well, now I do.” Jareth’s voice came from the doorway.
Casimir was out of his seat without a moment’s hesitation, his chair crashing to the ground. He wrapped vines around his brother’s wrists, preventing him from using his magic as he rushed toward him.
“And you will keep your mouth shut,” he growled in his face.
Jareth sneered. “Why would I do that? I think it might be fun to see how father reacts when he learns of the mess they left last night.”
“You didn’t even clean it up?” Casimir called over his shoulder.
“We didn’t have time,” Quinn said. “Someone was coming.”
Casimir glared at his brother. “You will not tell father about this.”
“What do I get in return?”
“Me sparing your life.”
Moments later Ava was standing next to the two of them. “You’re not going to kill your brother for tattling on me like some immature child.”
Casimir turned to her, brow raised.
