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I hold my breath, listening for any hint that he's retracing his steps, heading back toward me. Seconds tick by. A full minute.
I risk a peek down the hall.
He disappears around the corner.
Crap.
I hurry my steps, practically racing down the hall to ensure I don't lose sight of him. The hall lets out into the main room of the warehouse. From there, he could go anywhere. Outside. The courtyard. The kitchen. Upstairs. Down any number of hallways.
I pop my head around the corner just in time to see his boot hit the bottom step. He's going upstairs. What is he doing? He glances around as if checking to ensure no one is watching him. He doesn't see me, though.
I stay hidden in the shadows until he's nearly at the top of the steps, only creeping out when I'm sure he can no longer see me. I hurry to the bottom of the staircase, peering up. The warriors all have rooms on the west end of the hall, on the left side of the staircase. He turns right, toward the rooms where me and Reaper, Rissa and Dax, Abigail, and then Damrion, Adriel, and Malachi are staying.
If I thought he was up to something before, I'm certain he is now. There's no reason for him to be anywhere near our rooms. Reaper and Dax would lose their minds if they knew. No one is allowed near our rooms, not without their permission.
My feet fly up the staircase, my heart hammering. The man turns toward the room where Abigail has been staying across the hall from Damrion, Adriel, and Malachi. My heart freezes and I creep closer, pressed against the cool wooden panels of the corridor.
"Tori, there you are."
I nearly jump out of my skin as Rissa calls my name from her room. I don't spare the man a second glance, I scurry into her room as if that was my destination all along. My heart is in my throat, fear choking me.
Rissa notices.
"Are you okay?"
"F-fine," I lie.
She gives me a skeptical look but doesn't press further, instead poking her head out into the hall.
"Kenton," she says as soon as she spots the man I followed up here, her voice sharp. "What are you doing down here?"
"I was looking for Damrion, Valkyrie."
"He's out with the warriors." Rissa speaks firmly, a cold edge to her voice that I've never heard from her. She doesn't like this man, either.
"Of course," he says with a slight smile. "I'll leave you in peace, then."
He turns and heads down the hall toward one of the rooms on the far end. Rissa and I watch until he disappears inside. As soon as he does, Rissa steps back into her room.
"You were following him, weren't you?"
"I don't trust him," I admit quietly. "Every time I see him, he's watching me."
She frowns, leaning against the wall. "I don't trust him, either. He makes my skin crawl."
"He was going into Abigail's room when you called my name."
Worry flares in Rissa's eyes. Without a word, she steps out into the hall, hurrying toward Abigail's room. I follow behind her, only to exhale a relieved breath when we realize Abigail isn't inside.
Rissa pulls her phone from her pocket, dialing Adriel. He stayed behind to babysit us today. Ever since they ran into the Forsaken at the church, one of them has been staying behind to keep an eye on us. I'm not sure why, but it doesn't bode well.
"Is Abigail with you?" Rissa demands as soon as Adriel answers.
"Ja. We're in the kitchen. Why?"
I'm sure Rissa's relieved expression is a perfect match for my own.
"Just checking. Tori and I will be down in a minute," she tells Adriel before disconnecting.
