You’re overthinking things, Gilly, I tell myself. They’ll understand.
As Maxine heads off to get my dinner and Ollie goes back for seconds, Jax moves his chair closer to mine. I can smell the lavender hand soap he must have washed up with. I’ve never been so happy to see him. “You okay?” he asks. “Ollie was just joking.”
“I’m a little tired,” I lie. Now I’m lying to Jax too, and that makes me feel the worst of all. “Where’s Kayla, by the way?”
Jax’s face clouds over. “I’ve barely seen her since Royal Day. Maxine tried to get her to visit you, but Kayla said she was sick. Something is definitely going on with that girl. Have you talked to her?”
I shake my head. “She wasn’t in our room when I got back there this afternoon.” She didn’t even leave a “welcome back” message or a note on our magic chalkboard. I guess Kayla won’t miss me when I’m gone.
“So I owe you again, thief,” Jax says with a smile. “Thanks for keeping me from getting killed.”
“Well, I couldn’t leave you hanging out all day in a bubble, even if it looked like you were trying to save the royals,” I tease. Jax doesn’t say anything. I lean in so no one can hear me. “I feel kind of bad that I’m getting the rock star treatment though. Everyone is acting like I saved the school when really I was just trying to save you! Even Professor Harlow thanked me.” Jax’s eyebrows go up. “She gave me early dismissal for my bravery. I’m out of here on Friday.”
“You’ve been sprung?” he whispers, taking a bite of his fig pudding before he tucks in to the roast pheasant we’re having tonight. Fairy bus girls fly between tables bringing extra napkins and condiments and clearing dirty dishes. Everyone is smiling at me, except Jax. “How? You’ve only been here for three weeks.”
My chest tightens. “Professor Harlow says I’ve proven myself.”
“You don’t find anything strange about that?” Jax asks. “In my whole year here, the Evil Queen has never let anyone leave early for good behavior. Now she picks you, a girl who’s fought with her sister, to let go home before the ball? Why?”
I close my eyes to block out the laughter in the room and the sound of tinkling silverware hitting copper plates. “I don’t want to think about her reasons,” I snap. “I don’t care what happens here. I just want to go home. My family needs me.” I open my eyes and look at Jax’s serious face.
“Did you ever think this family needs you too?” Jax asks quietly.
“I don’t want to listen to this.” I push my chair back from the table and stride out of the room. I hear Jax calling me, but I don’t turn around. When I reach the hallway, he catches up and grabs my arm.
“You and me? We’ve got to talk,” he says gruffly and starts pulling me by the arm down a new hallway that appears in front of us.
“I don’t care what you have to say,” I protest, wincing as he touches one of my bandages by accident. “I’ve got to go pack!”
“You own three things. It won’t take long.” I’ve never heard him talk to me like this before. I’m so dumbfounded that I let him walk me straight to a bookcase, and I watch as he feels around for something among the self-help tomes. Witchy No More, The Only Spell You Need Is Love, A Warlock’s Guide to Bettering Yourself, and Anna’s favorite book, No One Keeps Me in a Tower, a guide to breaking out by Rapunzel herself. Jax pulls Life Lessons from the Bog forward slightly, and the whole bookcase moves back to reveal a garden courtyard in the middle of the castle.
“Whoa,” I say as Jax pulls me inside. This must be where the cafeteria grows fresh herbs and vegetables. I’m not surprised they’ve kept it hidden. Some of my classmates have an insatiable appetite. He closes the bookcase behind us. My nose smells basil and mint growing among the radishes, tomatoes, and cabbage.
Jax turns toward me. “I brought you here so we can talk without anyone overhearing.” He takes a deep breath. “There’s something you need to know before you bail, and I’m only telling you because I know I can trust you.” His violet eyes glow in the dimming light. “I tried to keep you out of this, but you’re too smart not to see what’s going on right in front of you. You’re a fighter, Gilly, and I could use someone like you on my side.”
“On your side? What are you talking about?” He sounds crazy.
“That day we met, when I was breaking out of here—didn’t you ever wonder why I didn’t succeed? Why I made such an obvious mistake with the alarm?”
My smile vanishes.
“I needed it to look like I was trying to escape, but the truth is, I have reasons to stick around.” Jax suddenly sounds much wiser. “I’m undercover.”
I laugh so hard my belly hurts. “No, you’re not.” Jax doesn’t crack a smile. I stop laughing. “You are?”