“I just find it curious that you got all bent out of shape that I talked to Matteo. If it wasn’t for a logical reason, then it had to be an emotional one,” he says, and scans my face. “You feel some ownership over me.”

My eyes widen. “Wrong. I do not want to own you. You’re more trouble than you’re worth.”

“Uh-huh,” he says. “I buy that. That’s why you said ‘do not want to own’ when I merely said ‘feel some ownership.’ Sounds like a classic Freudian slip, if you ask me.” He’s enjoying this way too much, and if I thought I could push him off my bed without hurting his arm, I would.

Instead I settle for giving him a withering look.

He laughs. “It’s been a crazy day, and we could all stand to get out of our heads for a minute. How about I show you some moves before I have to go back to my room? We really don’t need a repeat of this morning.”

“I really am sorry about that knife,” I say, looking at the bandage on his arm.

“The knife is only part of a bigger problem—the message. This isn’t ending with Charles. Nyx named you as an enemy. And if you’re Nyx’s enemy, you’re also Brendan’s, and thus the Lions in general, plus everyone who has an alliance with them. You need to prove that you have a place here and establish yourself or they’ll crush you. Like Layla said, you can’t let them think you have weaknesses.”

“I’ll work for it,” I say, and I mean it. If things get any worse, I worry he and Layla will abandon me. “I’ve got a lot of energy. I’ll read about history and deception in my downtime and do tutoring with Layla, if you can teach me sparring, poisons, mind games, and anything else you think I’m missing. I can practice as much as you’re willing to teach me. I’m great with knives, trees, and fencing…although I’ve only ever used a wooden sword.”

He looks at me in a way that tells me I said something odd again.

“What?”

“You’re just so…trusting, I guess would be the word. So open,” he says, and he almost looks sad about it.

I shrug. “But you’re you. You’re my friend. How are you supposed to help me if I don’t tell you what I need help with? I’m not going to advertise my weaknesses to the rest of the school…just to you.”

He smiles a small smile. “It’s not that. It’s just…” He shakes his head. “Never mind.”