“I—No. I’m fine. Anthia, right?” His eyes fell on me. His lilted Ambriellan accent turned my name into a song, and I half considered letting him call me by my full name just to hear it.

“Just Thia.” I jerked my head to the side. “This is Kiva. Don’t mind her. She wouldn’t trust a chair to stay still long enough to sit in it.”

Caylus blinked, his head tilting, the puzzled look on his face suggesting he hadn’t noticed Kiva’s insinuations at all.

“Do you know who I am, Caylus?” I asked. “What it is you’re involved in?”

“Unfortunately.”

I glanced at Kiva, but a small smile tugged at Caylus’s lips. He was joking.

Kiva hooked her arm through mine. “Right. See you tomorrow,” she said.

I waved as she jerked me toward the exit, closing the door behind us. As we descended the stairs, I heard the locks click.

We waved to the woman behind the counter and left the shop, the two Vykryn mounting as we climbed into the carriage.

The moment the door shut, Kiva said, “He’s weird.”

“I think he’s cute.”

“I don’t trust him.”

I rolled my eyes. “You don’t trust anyone.”

“There’s something not right about him. He gets this look in his eye like he’s planning something. I’ve seen it in criminals.”

“He’s an inventor. He probably thinks a lot.”

She leveled me with a flat stare, and I sighed, leaning forward. “He’s in a difficult spot, Kiva. He’s in enemy territory, helping to facilitate an alliance against them. Give him a break.”

“I’ll give him more than a break if he screws us over,” she muttered.

Sixteen

Our carriage pulled along the circular drive of the castle, but when the door opened, it wasn’t the driver standing alongside it. It was Ericen. He stepped aside as we climbed out.

“Did you enjoy your trip to the city?” he asked. The wound on his face had scabbed over, the bruising on the edges starting to fade.

“It would have been a lot better if I didn’t feel like a prisoner,” I replied, glancing at the two Vykryn.

“More like an honored guest.”

“Who can’t leave.”

He smirked. “Right. Could I borrow you?”

Kiva interjected before I could reply. “I think the words you’re looking for are ‘I’m sorry I’m such an ass.’”

A muscle feathered in his jaw. “Yes. I was getting to that.”

She raised an expectant eyebrow, and Ericen sighed. “I’m sorry for the way I acted last night.”

“Close enough.” Kiva stepped toward the castle. “I’ll meet you inside.”

I nodded, trying to hide the smile threatening my lips. “I’m assuming you didn’t come down here just for that?”

“To be scolded like a child? Surprisingly, no.” He smiled. “Come with me. I want to show you something.”