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“I can get it out of him,” I say finally.
“I would love to know how you’re going to do that,” Falon says.
“You have to let me go back. I can claim I was kidnapped and escaped.”
“He’s not going to believe that,” Jost says.
“I don’t care if he believes it,” I say. “I only need to get close to him.”
Cormac might be eager enough to continue the wedding charade to go along with my lie, and I’d only need a little time to get him alone.
“No way.” It’s Erik who speaks, which surprises me, considering the distance he’s kept since I arrived. But one look at his face and I know he’s serious. I’m not sure how I feel about that.
I open my mouth to argue with him, but Dante raises his hand. “It has been a long day. Adelice should rest. We should all rest.”
As soon as he says it, I realize I am tired. More tired than I’ve been in weeks. I can’t quite stifle a yawn.
“We need a plan,” Falon says.
“And we can come up with one eight hours from now. But we aren’t going to come up with anything if we’re tired and arguing,” Dante says in a gentle tone.
“I believe you should all spend the evening with those you love,” Albert advises. “Our time here is growing short.”
I don’t want to ask him what he means—whether our time in Arras is growing short, or our time in general.
“I’m going to see to Sebrina.” Jost looks at me and then at his brother. The two share a very serious nod. Have they perfected an entire secret code while we’ve been apart?
“We created some bunkers in abandoned offices. You can sleep there,” Dante says to me.
Dante leads me up a narrow flight of stairs and Erik trails behind us. Dante stops at a door and gives Erik and me an appraising look as he opens it. “I think I’m supposed to give you a lecture or something. As your father.”
“About?” I ask, moving inside the room.
He laughs at me, and it hits me.
“Oh.”
“You two should talk.” Dante turns to leave, looking back once but finally throwing his hands up in the air, and mumbling to himself as he leaves Erik and me alone.
The door shuts too slowly behind him. Erik’s arms are around me immediately, pulling me in to him. The distance I felt before is gone, replaced by urgency.
“I thought—” Then his lips cover mine.
Erik breaks away, his hands cradling my back. “You thought I’d changed my mind?” he guesses.
I nod, suddenly overcome by emotion that creeps hot up my throat, moving toward my eyes. I can’t hold it back and it spills onto my cheeks. Erik brushes away my tears, kissing my cheeks where the tears fell.
“Never,” he says in a quiet voice. “I was trying to be … professional.”
“Professional? That’s new,” I say a bit too coldly.
“When my brother is around, I don’t want to upset him. He’s lost a lot. I had to focus on helping him rescue Sebrina. I owed him that.”
“You’re being thoughtful,” I realize out loud. Of course our feelings for each other would threaten whatever peace Erik and Jost have found in my absence.
“But I hurt you.” Erik’s hands fall away from me, and I miss his touch immediately.
“No, I understand,” I say, shaking my head as the petty anger I felt minutes before releases me. “I should have known what you were trying to do.”
