Liora waved for us to turn toward the arena, and we set off at a gentle pace. She was quiet as she went on. “I’ve lived among the fae my whole life. I still find it difficult to understand their behavior. All I can say is that many fae despise Diana. Maybe more so than Morgan.”
I slowed to a snail’s pace, and a confused mutter rolled out of me. “Why?”
“True friendship is almost sacred among the fae. And Diana and Sefra were close. Diana’s refusal to help was a betrayal of that connection. I imagine Frazer probably feels that even more keenly. You’re his kin,” she added simply. “That makes Sati and Sefra his family too.”
I glanced sidelong at her. She wouldn’t judge. “If I’d have known how complicated our bond would make things …”
Liora flashed me a smile as sweet as honey in summer. “You’d still have done it.”
“Mm.” My not-convinced sound.
Liora continued. “Because, you know he’ll always guard your back. Just like Cai, and just like me. That’s why you don’t even have to ask …” She looked around, checking for earwigging fae. A whisper followed. “We’ll get the ingredients. We’ll go to Ewa, together.”
My heart expanded so rapidly and thoroughly, I could only mumble, “Are you sure?”
“Yes.”
Absolute confidence resonated, warming me.
Liora halted to watch the horizon.
“What is it?” I asked, coming to a standstill.
Eyes twinkling, she pointed with her chin.
My head cut to one of the larger buildings in the camp. It stood above the row of barracks, next to the arena. All the recruits knew it housed the staff quarters. I threw her a questioning glance; she held up four fingers.
Four … Fourth quest.
“We should do it now,” Liora murmured. “While the camp doesn’t have as many people around.”
“But we haven’t planned anything.”
She shrugged, causing her curls to bounce. “We’ll do what Adi did. Think of an excuse to visit them in their rooms and take something when they’re not looking.”
I looked toward the staff building again and considered how to play it. “I guess if Goldwyn isn’t bothered by us going to her with questions, that’s what I’ll do.”
Liora began carefully. “Actually, I was thinking it might be an idea for you to try with Wilder.”
“Why?” Cold infused my voice with a snap. I instantly regretted it.
Liora’s head tilted slightly at the tone; however, her voice was even as she replied. “Because they might not even be in. And if they haven’t locked their internal doors, then you’re the only recruit who could be found in his rooms and not be bitten to death.”
My body went rigid. “I wouldn’t be so sure.”
Liora said nothing, but the words played across her face. You know it’s true.
My mind was whirring with thoughts that all had one thing in common: Wilder, Wilder, Wilder.
Silently, we moved toward the staff building side by side. Upon arriving at the door, Liora gave me a look. Ready? she seemed to say.
I nodded reluctantly, and she opened the door oh-so-quietly. I barely heard the click as she shut it behind us.
A corridor with six doors, three on each side, greeted us. Liora went straight to the first room on the left, which, thanks to Adrianna, we knew belonged to Goldwyn. She peeked over her shoulder, her eyes traveling from me to Wilder’s door and back to me, as if to say, You know you want to.
Liora flashed me a bracing smile and spun to tap on Goldwyn’s door. Six anxious heartbeats passed before an answer came from within. “Come in.” Liora tried the handle. It clicked open, and she walked through. My heart raced, watching her disappear into Goldwyn’s quarters.
Jittery sparks set my gut fizzing. Not wanting to be found loitering, I took the three paces to Wilder’s rooms and dithered.
Did I really want to steal from Wilder?
Yes and no.
Did I want to see him?
Maybe … definitely.
Should I knock?
I copied Liora and tapped at the door. My nerves meant that I held out for a mere second before letting myself in. I realized a moment too late that I hadn’t thought of an excuse.
I was going to need one.
Shit.
I’d walked straight into his living room: a large space with bare wooden floors and few embellishments or furnishings. A divan and three armchairs faced a brick hearth. On the opposite wall, a bay window looked out onto the gate and the rolling hills in the distance. Six or seven bookcases filled the space, but the actual books were scattered around the room in columns and piles. There were also four separate stands that held weapons. Like Utem?s, broadswords, daggers, and gods, was that a mace?
In the next blink, everything melted away. There was Wilder, standing next to the mantlepiece, a glass of amber liquid in one hand and a book in the other. He was now staring at me, open-mouthed.
“Serena?”
He snapped the book closed, and I shut the door behind me.
“Is everything okay?” he asked with a furrowed brow.
He seemed more concerned than angry.
Right. Think!
You really should’ve thought of an excuse before you barged in, Auntie said, clearly amused.
I leaned against the door, murmuring, “You’re not helping.”
Wilder cocked his head. Great, now he’ll think I’m rude and crazy.
“Sorry.” My voice came out calm, even. A surprise, given how my body was reacting. “Adi told me that this was Goldwyn’s room.”
Auntie groaned.
Wilder didn’t look convinced. He chucked the book onto the divan, set his glass above the hearth, and faced me again. “So barging into Goldwyn’s rooms would’ve been acceptable?”
“I knocked.”
“Yes, I heard a tiny tap. I assumed it was a mouse scratching in the walls.”
A flush of embarrassment flooded my cheeks. “I wasn’t thinking.”
“Clearly. Is something wrong?”
He sounded impatient, eager to be rid of me. It hurt, and maybe that’s why words just spilled from my tongue. Words that ought not to be said. “I needed to talk to someone about the third trial.”
Heat pricked my eyes; my voice broke. Oh, crap.
I hated myself for coming undone. And Liora for suggesting this.
But I couldn’t find it in myself to leave. Then, his blurry outline moved, and his hand slipped around my wrist. Tears rolled from relief and real grief.
Wilder led me to an armchair. His touch was firm but not unkind as he pressed his hands on both shoulders and pushed me into a seated position. He vanished from my side.
I wiped the water from my eyes and looked around.
A door to the right of the fireplace was open. I heard clinking, and before a thought could form to steal, he reappeared, a glass of water in one hand and a handkerchief in the other, presumably for my face.
I took both from him and stared down at the white linen. Carefully stitched into the corner in red thread were the initials “WT”. I wondered what the “T” stood for and whether this would count as stealing.
Wilder sat in the chair angled toward mine, his legs crossed. “So, what’s this about?”
There was nothing calculated, but also little gentleness.
I had the handkerchief. There was no reason to stay and say something I’d regret. “It’s not your problem. I’ll go find Goldwyn.”
I brazenly tucked the linen up my sleeve and put the glass down on the floor in preparation to leave.
Wilder spoke. “You’re here now … I’d like to hear what’s wrong.”
Interesting.
“You would?” I asked, straightening up.
Wilder’s jaw tightened. “Well, I certainly can’t send you on your way when you’ve just broken down in my living quarters.”
It felt like being squashed underfoot. “I didn’t plan on it.”
Wilder’s voice melted. “I know.”
That warmed me a little.
He continued. “Are you upset about the korgan you killed?”
I blinked. “How did you hear about that?”
“Bert has to inform the instructors the minute their recruits return, and Goldwyn told me. She couldn’t resist gloating about the fact you’d taken on a devos. She always was a talker,” he said as his mouth quirked.
I almost laughed in relief at the sight.
He went on, more seriously. “I, on the other hand, am not. You can trust whatever you have to say will never go beyond these walls.”