“I was waiting.” Quanta tilted her head and a piece of hair fell forward, a knotted mess, still partly damp. She wore canary yellow pajama bottoms, a loose pink waffle shirt, and fuzzy slipper socks; nothing could be less threatening, but she’d gotten me, and the smug little quirk of her lips said she knew it.

“After you.” I stepped aside, giving her space to move.

She glided out, ignoring the guards and heading down the corridor to the gaming suite.

“You knew I was coming?” I stepped to her side and followed.

“Didn’t they warn you? I know everything.” Quanta’s voice was light—distracted. Her gaze flicked from spot to spot as we walked along the white corridor, but she clearly saw things I couldn’t as her eyes slipped in and out of focus. I drank in the rest of the details, trying to figure out what made Quanta tick.

Charcoal smudged the circles of her nail beds and darkened the tips of her bitten-down nails. Her fingers twitched every few seconds, almost as if she was pulling invisible strings. As we walked, the damp mass of her hair gave off the scent of clean soap. My fingers ached to run a comb through Quanta’s tangles.

I didn’t have to ask to know she wouldn’t let me. I could tell she didn’t trust me by the way she angled her shoulders.

Did Quanta not care how she looked, or was she using it as a shield? If the former, the tangles did nothing to hide her even complexion and elegant cheekbones. With thick dark lashes, deep gray eyes, and full lips, Quanta could’ve passed for Seligo. I couldn’t imagine any laser, surgery, powder, or gloss that could improve on what she’d been born with.

“Well?” She’d paused in front of the gaming room, waiting. I hadn’t even realized we’d arrived.

And now I’m staring. I hurriedly pressed my finger to the mechanism.

Observing her could be a full-time job. I hadn’t found the key to understanding her yet, but I was confident I could if watched her long enough. I had to keep reminding myself she wasn’t the reason I was here, but I did want to help her, and I hoped she could help me.

Assuming our goals were still the same. It was time to find that out.

Quanta rubbed her hands against her arms as we stepped into the room. Two guards followed us in while the other pair took up stations outside, but none would be able to follow our conversation once we logged in.