“Maybe we need to do some trust exercises, then. Let’s plan on it.” Giving me a quick squeeze, he opens the door. “See you tomorrow, partner.” White light briefly slices the room in two as he disappears into the forest, leaving me in the dark, my stomach flip-flopping with dread.

And excitement.

“I can’t believe he picked you!” Rayelle yells when she sees me, her voice echoing across the Acropolis. She’s waiting among the stone columns and marble statues with Stewart and Sophia.

“I can.” Stewart grins. “He’s a smart guy. Of course he picked the best.”

“Did you see the look on Chloe’s face?” Sophia asks as they huddle around me. Today she’s transformed herself into Chloe, having gone so far as to pad her uniform to give her curves where none usually exist. She knits her eyebrows together, her lip trembling before affecting a haughty stare, in a perfect Chloe imitation. I squint to make sure it’s Sophia I’m standing next to. “She was pissed. It was fantastic.”

“Is your heist really hard?” Rayelle asks.

“She’s not allowed to talk about it,” Stewart silences her.

“But maybe you’ll go undercover as his girlfriend,” Rayelle says.

“I hope not.” My traitor heart thumps at the possibility, and I pretend I hadn’t considered that myself. “But knowing him, he’ll purposely make me as uncomfortable as possible, so maybe.”

“That would be so much fun.” Rayelle sighs.

“What about you? Who did you guys end up with?” I ask. “As his highness was dragging me out through the fireplace, I thought I heard you were paired with Kyran?”

She flushes bright red. “Somehow my dream came true, though he doesn’t say much… I’m not sure how he feels about me being his partner, but I’m so excited we’re going to San Francisco together—”

Stewart claps his hand over her mouth. “Shhh. We’re not supposed to talk about it. He’s going to hate being your partner if you slip like that during the heist.”

He lowers his hand, and she bites her lip.

“Is everyone going to San Francisco?” I whisper.

They all nod.

“I’m sure Ophelia and I will have a fabulous time,” Sophia says, breaking the silence.

“Garrett’s cousin?” I ask.

“Yeah. She’s not so bad,” she says. “It could be worse. I could have ended up with—”

“Liam.” Stewart groans, raising his hand. “I win.”

“At least we know we’ll have friends nearby,” Rayelle says.

“Yeah. Thank God for you guys,” Stewart says. “I’ll feel a lot better knowing you’re close. No matter what, if any of you needs help, send out a signal, and I’ll come running.” He puts a hand in the center of the circle.

“Me, too,” Sophia says, placing her hand on top of his.

“I’m in.” Rayelle joins the pile.

They look to me expectantly, and I hesitate.