He made things personal and he wasn’t going to like the play I was about to star in with Tair. I wasn’t sure I liked it, but I couldn’t see another way. My choices were too limited on my own.

I picked up the bow I’d tossed to the ground. When I drew the string tight, an arrow appeared in my fingers. I shot it, but it hit a stump instead of the target I’d been aiming for. I tried again, using the excuse to keep myself from looking back at Tair.

“We’re going to do some shooting because we both know they’re watching our readings and we already look suspicious for sitting around. Just say I gave you the third degree before I’d practice. Later, I’ll go back to my room and pretend to be extra happy. Tell Darren I’m opening up and I agreed to more shooting. We’ll meet in the sim room where Darren can watch. I’ll smile. Then we’ll go from there and I’ll start feeding you information. The more they think I trust you, the higher your clearance goes. Then Darren will either let you in, or we’ll find the place ourselves.” I gripped the bow so hard my knuckles whitened. “We can’t let him get any more names.”

I needed to stop Darren badly enough that I’d risk relying on Tair.

“This is all pretending?” Tair picked up his bow and shot, scoring a bull’s-eye on the first try.

I hope it is. But I might not have to put up much of a front. “You’re a great actor. You can handle it.”

“Can you?” Another shot, another arrow buried in the center of his target.

I ignored the question and the goose bumps that pebbled my arms when he threw out that kind of challenge. “And no more bows and arrows. Gun games are better.”

“I can teach you the technique,” he said as another one of my arrows flew rogue.

“I’d rather learn something practical.” I squinted, trying to find a target in some space that didn’t have ghostly Tairs flicking in and out. They’d all started popping back after taking their little break. “Maybe calligraphy.”

“You know I studied that, don’t you.” Not a question. Almost an accusation.

Crap.

Why did my mouth keep moving? I’d never had this problem with Nagi or Darren or any of the others—I would’ve been dead so long ago if I slipped like this in front of them. My next arrow flew into a shrub. “Yes.”

“What else do you know?” Tair gazed at me, his eyes golden brown and piercing.

I didn’t like that look. Like he saw me as a normal person. Just having a conversation.