Her stare fell to where Lucas held her hand. His did too; he grinned.

“Fine then. Come with me, but don’t get in my way, Lucas Leutenski. Helen has a plan, and we need this crown.” Kaley tugged her hand free, blushing a pinch.

“Yes, yes, yes. Helen’s merry plan.” Lucas dragged his Patrol staff from the reindeer’s back and led the way into the woods. “Steal the sacred crown off a blood-hungry monarch’s head. For Helen.”

Kaley’s jaw stiffened.

“Let me see if I’ve got this right. You’re to distract Eliot Gray, steal a heavily guarded trophy, and then…?” He waited, and Kaley glared.

“It’s none of your business what comes next.”

“Oh, but it is.” Lucas shook a finger. “I’ve muddled up a thing or three in seasons past by not asking questions. Which is why I’ll help you help Helen on one condition: You need to tell me everything, even the naughty little secret you’re hiding from your sister.”

Kaley’s wide doe-eyes flickered back to him. “I don’t have secrets from Helen.”

“Rubbish. It’s been all over your face since we left the brew room. I’ll not take another step until you tell me.”

Kaley opened her mouth and closed it again. She huffed, and for a moment, she almost spoke but…nothing.

Lucas sighed. “Your beloved sister was flimsy and hungry all the time when she arrived here—a real peg out of its shell, you know. But you’re different.” He tapped a finger against his Patrol staff, caramel gaze flickering over her legs, her posture, her shoulders. “You’re fearless. So, I’m inclined to believe you’re either more of a daredevil than I am, or you’re just terribly stupid.”

“What? I’m not stupid. And I am just like Helen.” Kaley stabbed her forefinger against Lucas’s chest, and he winced.

“Well, I suppose. You’re both mean for no reason,” he muttered, rubbing the spot.

Kaley moved for the curtain of crisp vines again, but she paused when she realized Lucas had not followed. He cast her a forced smile.

She released a heavy breath and tossed her hands. “Fine! I told Helen what happened to me in the time pocket, and it changed her. It’s my fault Helen is on this mission in the first place. That’s why I’m here. Because I have to help her finish this to repair what I did.”

Her heavy breaths steamed the forest, and the soft hums of birds flitted through the branches above. A crystal bug scurried up a trunk.

Without a word, Lucas sauntered forward and used his Patrol staff to part the pine curtain.

“Let’s go steal a crown,” he said.