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“What the hell is going on down here? I’m trying to take a nap,” he growls.
Grayson is back in the kitchen, acting like nothing happened. We both say, “Nothing.”
Levi pushes away from the table, his chair scraping over the floorboards. “They’re both liars.” He tattles like Bastian’s our father, which is ridiculous. He’s five years younger than Grayson. “Mari’s a naughty girl.”
“Is she now?” Bastian raises an eyebrow, and my heart pounds.
“Grayson hit me with the spatula. All I wanted to do was retaliate. I don’t think that’s naughty, it’s practical. If my older brother hits me, I’m going to get my revenge.” I cross my arms, weapon in hand. “I won’t let my three brothers gang up on me.” As an only child growing up, I longed for an older brother or sister—someone to confide in. Grayson’s playfulness allowed me to act like a child, and I realize for the first time, I can breathe. I tap the spatula against my hand. “Do you need a spanking, Bastian?”
Adrenaline rips through my body with the thought of chasing the commander, but he shuts it down with a glare. “One of our comrades is being held by the enemy. I don’t have time for games as tempting as they sound.” He turns and stomps up the stairs to the room, slamming his door.
I toss the spatula onto the counter, determined to act nonchalant. Bastian gets under my skin in the worst and best ways possible, but I don’t want the other two guys to know this. It’s a secret hidden in our heated glances, our causal brushes of skin, and in the way he says my name.
“I better get rest too.” Grayson climbs the stairs to his room, leaving me alone with Levi.
“Do they always treat you this way? The babysitter?” I flop down on the couch, not ready for a week of boredom locked in the cabin.
He sits on the couch beside me, his shoulder touching mine. “Just because they’re leaving doesn’t mean we can’t have our own fun.”
“Whatever do you mean?” I elbow him, excited he’s up for getting out of the cabin. “Do you plan to defy the commander’s orders?”
He shakes his head and chuckles. “I do it all the time. The secret’s not to get caught. Have you ever been to Mafekadi?” His fingers spell out the name of the town.
“The only places I’ve ever been to are Avren, this cabin, and the Grove. So, no.” The name of the town sounds inviting and adventurous, so whatever he has planned is a big fat yes for me.
“It’s a fae stronghold in the foothills of the Elmridden Range. As long as we can avoid the tricks of the residents, it’s a great place to spend a day.” He drums his fingers on his leg. “We’ll have to overnight in Rumsford along the way.”
A secret couple of days away with Levi sounds like heaven. And although I’ve never seen him kill a vampire or werewolf, I know between the two of us, we can protect ourselves.
That night, I go to bed feeling better about the others leaving us behind. They can go off, save Lyden, and feel good about themselves. I hope to find the material I want in Mafekadi to work on new fighting gear for my family. If I’m nowhere near their expectations of usefulness as a fighter, I want to prove my worth in another way. My expert skills as a tailor are the one thing I can give them.
In the morning, I wake to noises in the main room of the cabin. Levi’s bed is empty, so I throw on a coat to block out the chill in the air and walk into the living room. The other four are sitting around the table, laughing and eating. It doesn’t look like a crew about to embark on a dangerous mission.
It feels as if I’m a stranger intruding on this perfect scene, but then I see an empty chair with a plate set in front of it. “Good morning.”
“Mari, you’re awake.” Grayson jumps up to give me a hug. “We thought we’d miss you.”
The three leaving for the Ringlet Forest wear their fighting gear, which has seen better times. Empty plates sit in front of them. Weapons rest against the wall by the door. My gut twists thinking about them being gone for a week and not knowing if they’ll all make it back.
“Come here.” Bastian scrapes his chair back and leans over to lift my pant leg. He pulls a knife from his belt and works on removing the tracking device from my ankle. When it snaps open, he stuffs it into his pocket. “I’ll hide this along the way.”
“Why am I working if it’s that easy?” I glance at Evie, who purses her lips. “I thought Arazian was the only Citizen who successfully removed an anklet.”
“The only one who successfully removed one without consequences. Somehow, the soldiers always find the offenders. When they find you, you’ll face longer work hours and possibly harsher conditions.” Bastian shrugs. “But it’s your first offense, and we can’t have Levi taking you to work. You’ll both be dead the second you step foot outside the cabin.”
I glance at Levi. His head is down, the tips of his ears turning red. This is one moment when I really hate Bastian.
“You trust him enough to protect me at night while the three of you sleep in your own bedrooms.” I square my shoulders, ready to defend my bunkmate. “If you were so worried about his effectiveness, one of you would sleep on the mattress beside me.”
“Maybe we don’t care enough to worry about your life, princess.” Bastian scrapes back in his chair and stands, stretching his arms over his head. “Gray’s the only Citizen I’ve ever met besides soldiers. So far, with you, I’m not impressed.”
I glare at him. The hatred electrifies my skin with pinpricks. “It goes both ways, phaloc.”
“Enough!” Levi yells. He pushes back in his chair so hard that when he stands, it falls to the floor. He storms off to our bedroom, leaving silence in his wake.
“We were fine until you showed up.” Bastian rakes his fingers through his hair, then rests his hands against the table. “I know you’re on your whole save the orphans kick, Gray, but you need to know where to draw the line. She’s in the way of our mission, and I don’t care who you think she may or may not be… she’s a pain in my ass.”
As much as I want to defend myself, I’m tired of wasting words on Bastian. He’s made his mind up about me, and it seems literally impossible to change. “I’m going to see if Levi’s alright.”
