Page 142 of Wings of Destruction

“Go back then. I’m busy.”

The reprimand bounces off of Astrid.

Here, candle wicks have eaten away at wax until only nubs remain instead of tapers. The lack of illumination doesn’t matter. Only the worker bees matter and how they have to stay out of view of the general populace.

If they trip over their feet, so what?

Just make sure the toilets are scrubbed.

Footsteps pound ahead and I take the staircase down and to the left, exhaling in frustration.

“This place is vile.”

I glance back at Astrid who glides her fingers along the seam of rock. The scent of mold is strong enough for the tips of her fingers to come back stained with green.

“We’re probably near the springs that run through the dens.”

Morgan will certainly find somewhere to hide if I don’t hurry. Can I live with myself or with her if that servant with the regal bearing gets me kicked out of the academy?

I’ve never been in this part of the castle before. Any of my jaunts through the hidden corridors generally lead further into the mountain, not down.

Astrid moves swiftly but barely disguises a gag.

“No one asked you to come.”

“I’m trying to figure out if what you’re doing is jeopardizing us all,” she snaps.

Yes. It absolutely is.

I cluck my tongue. “You know me better.”

My father would have remarked on her gall and whipped her to remind everyone who held the handle. I don’t operate the same and Astrid’s cool head has made the difference in many situations. A man holding a knife to her throat? No problem.

Mold, mildew, and dust? Her mortal enemies.

“I know how you lose yourself when you get an idea. I saw the way you looked at that girl. I’ve seen every look you’ve given her and none of them are going to help the cause.”

“You’re wrong.”

Where is Morgan? I stop, bracing my hand against the wall, waiting for Astrid to do the same to sense the tremors of other footsteps. “I know exactly what I’m doing.”

“Any other time, I’d believe you. Your current behavior indicates otherwise.”

Mozi’s presence stretches inside of me like a cat yawning in the sun. The girl’s taken off?

He doesn’t sound surprised, only watchful and self-satisfied.

If you’re planning to mock me too, spare me. I’m begging you, I throw back.

Harbi will do whatever it takes to maneuver people where she needs them like pieces on a Grim board. You should have understood that before you agreed to her terms.

I startle, then, You were listening.

I had a feeling things were not going to go your way. I saw the girl through your eyes, remember? I see more than you think.

Mozi also knows exactly how much I want Morgan. Not for the plans alone but for me, personally, in a world where it’s dangerous to want anything for myself.

It seems much more likely that Harbi had been counting on me doing something unprecedented. She’ll use whatever opportunity presents itself to get one up on my father, and I threw myself in her lap.