The conversation continues as we approach the entrance to the water tower, but I find my attention drifting. The Crucible looms like a storm on the horizon, but so does the realization that I'm in way too deep with Raith. Three years ago, a storm of my own making took three people I loved from me. A storm I couldn't control.

I'm not the same person I was back then, and yet I feel just as out of control now. Just as in over my head. I know I shouldn't fall for Raith, but I'm doing it anyway. And I know the Crucible could mean the end of me and all the people I care about, but there's no avoiding it.

The air shifts as we enter the tower, making the fine hairs on my forearms stand on end.

Raith is there, waiting with his strong arms folded across his broad chest.

Mireen startles, hand flying to her chest. "Gods, Hollow, you need to stop doing that," she hisses. "You could just approach with a friendly 'hello' like a normal person."

Raith's gaze is fixed on me. "Hello."

"Password?" Ambrose asks.

"Thistlewood," Raith says, voice completely flat.

Beck sighs to my left. “You guys pick the most boring passwords. You should really put me back in charge of password creation.”

"Let me guess," I say, folding my arms across my chest. "You're here at the water tower because you’re going to stand guard outside my door all night like some kind of overly dramatic sentinel?"

The corner of his mouth lifts in what might almost be a smile. "Something like that."

Mireen glances between us, eyes narrowing with suspicion. "You need sleep too, Hollow."

"I'm fine," he replies, his tone making it clear the subject isn't up for debate.

Beck clears his throat. "Right then. We should all probably get some rest. Big day tomorrow and all that."

"Rest?" Brunhild asks. "Sexy bear asked me to do thing he likes with tongue and dagger. I even brought the rope."

Beck's cheeks go red. "Uh. I'm not even going to try to make something up. Yeah. We're gonna go do some weird shit," He takes Brunhild's hand, leading her up the stairs.

"See you in the morning," Ambrose says, offering a mock salute before heading up the stairs as well.

Mireen gives me a lewd wiggle of her eyebrows, then leaves me alone in the corridor with Raith.

"Come on. You need to get to bed." Raith starts ahead of me, taking the stairs by two as if he's determined to travel in front in case some danger is waiting.

He's waits at the landing for me to catch up, hand resting on the hilt of his newly stolen military-grade sword that he wears across his back. He gives a jerk of his head, indicating he has deemed the empty hallway safe.

I roll my eyes but grin as I follow him toward my room. "You're not seriously planning to stand guard all night, are you?"