Page 67 of Tears of Gold

“Like someone has rolled a fire-poker through m-my insides and twisted . . . which is immeasurably b-better than I felt over the past few days.”

He winces at my description. “I’ve heard it’s the most painful punishment in existence. Is that true?”

I lift a brow. “When I have had . . . every possible torture in existence, I will r-rate them all for you. But yes, it is w-worse than dying.”

He rolls his eyes, but his lips twitch with a half-smile. “Skye said it was your brother. Did you have to stand there and take it?”

“Yes.”

Harper shakes his head, and I feel a flash of concern he will think me a coward. “But I did b-boot his head pretty hard . . . when he tried more.”

He laughs in the back of his throat. “Good.”

“Not really.” I stare out his window, watching the afternoon sunlight play across his glass which is surprisingly clean for a guy’s room. Crystal clear, like Anik’s hatred. “He will never . . . forgive it. I know he’ll t-try to get back at me.”

Harper studies me. “Through your friends?”

I nod. “Through any way he can.”

He taps his knuckles against his chin, lost in thought. “You’re worried I’ll be picked up the moment I leave this district?”

Studying the wall, I answer slowly. “The thought did c-cross my mind. Even though you are resourceful, the Royal Guard patrols have been doubled and more of the gates are being watched.” Slowly I add, “Anik would hear of it before me if a half-human from the academy ended up in the dungeons.”

“I’d never willingly give up your secrets,” he growls.

“I know t-that!” I hiss. We’re both surprised by the force of my answer. I wave a hand through the air, trying to convey I’m more worried about the methods for the unwilling part. “Will you consider . . . my request?”

Harper crosses his hands behind his head and thumps against the wall several times. “I told my dad I’d check in after twelve months. I didn’t think I’d end up staying so long, but I’ve been gone about eighteen months already. And Ava’s family will be suffering.”

That wasn’t the problem I was expecting. “Maybe we can get a m-message through. Let me . . . consider.”

He purses his lips, turning brown eyes full on me, and I feel an odd squirm deep inside. “It’s tough to be around you all, you know. Especially her. Put yourself in my shoes.”

“You love h-her?” I ask quietly.

He turns away, his answer barely a whisper. “Yes.”

“Stay two weeks. Spend the . . . class break with us, then let us r-reassess.”

After a pause, he nods. He looks back, opens his mouth, then squints at me. “Dude, you’re sweating.”

I swallow hard as the edges of the room pinch in toward me. “This is my first time . . . out of my room. If you don’t mind . . . I’ll go now.”

He shakes his head. “So stubborn. You could have called for me.”

Using his desk, I lever myself up. “It did not s-seem right.”

As I head for the door, I get an idea. “Harper, would you . . . like to move to a better room? One with a b-bathroom, at least?”

He shrugs. “As you said, let’s talk after two weeks.

I nod, the motion making me lose my balance. Harper jumps off the bed and reaches out a hand to steady me. I don’t mean to read him as I lean on him, but I’m swamped by a sensation that catches me off-guard. Seeing my look, Harper snatches his hands away. When I stand blinking at him, he opens the door for me.

“Um, you’ll be okay getting back?” He won’t meet my eyes.

“Yeah.” I lurch out the door, and it closes with a click behind me. What exactly was that? A smile teases my lips. Maybe Harper doesn’t hate me after all.

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