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In the aftermath, our bodies lay intertwined, a tapestry of sweat-slicked skin and heaving chests. We bask in it. In each other. Our breaths mingling as we gradually come down from the high. And I finally manage to find the words.
“She’s spying for us,” I murmur. “Maddie, I mean. I told her she wasn’t going to be chosen, and she accepted it, but then she offered to be our eyes and ears on the inside.”
“In exchange?” Wolf asks, thoughtful but not surprised.
I sigh. “Compensation in the way of a stable job for her father and someplace for her family to live.”
“She could’ve just asked for money,” Tai points out cautiously. “Cold, hard cash to make their troubles go away. It says something about her character that she only asked for a job and a stable roof over their heads.”
“I know,” I admit. “I was expecting it to be money. And look, I know you’re both hesitant, but this is exactly what she asked for. She’s being compensated, and with her help, it’ll all work out in the end.”
Even as I say it though, I know they’re not convinced. Frankly? Neither am I. I don’t believe this bullshit I’m peddling right now, but I need to peddle it.
For our sake as much as for hers, I need to start believing it’ll all be all right. It’s only the rest of our lives on the line.
No fucking pressure or anything.
TWELVE
—
M A D D I E
After a few hours of deliberation,I decide Kaz needs to know what happened between Rachel and Antonio earlier. I promised him information. The sooner I solidify my role as his mole, the easier it will be to remember it’s nothing more than that.
Plus, my parents really need this to happen. Like, yesterday.
Although I haven’t told him how dire their situation is, I need him to hold up his end of the bargain as fast as possible. Whether he even has the power to make something like this happen overnight, I don’t know.
I’m hoping it doesn’t take months to get it through theproper channels. Either way, I made a promise and I intend to follow through. I’ve been pacing up and down for at least an hour because of all this. Enough is enough. Mind made up, I march to my bed and pick up my phone.
As far as I know, our communications aren’t being monitored, but considering how many legal documents I signed, it’s not impossible that we’re being watched. Although I’m tempted to type it all up and send it to him, I keep it simple in the end.
Me: HRH, I have a report.
Within seconds, the dancing dots tell me he’s typing a response and then, it appears.
PK: Excellent. Meet?
Me: Yes
PK: Hang tight. Sending reinforcements.
A few long, torturous minutes later, there’s a very quiet knock at my door. I crack it open to find a surly-faced man on the other side. He doesn’t speak, simply looking into my eyes and canting his head to the left.
I nod, tiptoeing out of my room and shutting the door as quietly as I can behind me. The man walks down the corridor and doesn’t stop to check if I’m following. If I didn’t know any better, I’d say he was on patrol and I was simply up to get a glass of water or something.
But I suppose that’s exactly what it’s supposed to look like. I follow him to a staircase at the bottom end of the hall, then we take it three flights up before he turns right. A few short paces down another corridor, and we take another staircase, only to climb one flight down before we turn left into—surprisingly—yet another stairwell.
Pretty soon, I’m so lost I’m sure I’ll end up in the queen’s private chambers if I try to make it back myself, but I pray that won’t happen. Eventually, at least a dozen corridors, halls, and stairwells later, we enter through what appears to be the back door of the pack quarters.
I know it’s got to be that because I’m suddenly overwhelmed by their scents. In the past few days, I’ve gotten to know those quite well. I’m immediately struck by Taiyo’s bright, warm smell. It’s all spicy nettle and bergamot, like Earl Grey Tea, with cardamom, and sage. The intensity increases as we pass an ornate door I’m sure leads to his chambers.
Uniquely mingled with that scent is Wolf’s more outdoorsy smell. To me, he smells like a peaceful meadow—birch, heather, and oakmoss with an undercurrent of crisp mountain air.
Their scents are heavy on this side of the corridor, telling me they spend a lot of time going to and from each other’s chambers. Wolf’s warm wood and Tai’s warmeverythingfollow me into what I suspect is Kaz’s territory.
The others’ scents are fainter here. They’re still around, but they’re not nearly as infused into the very walls as they are on the other side of the corridor. When the scent of smooth bourbon, musk, and caramel grows stronger, I know we’re getting close to Kaz’s chambers.
