Jember’s brows lowered—the opposite reaction I was expecting. “That’s your optimism talking. You want this to happen. It’s not going to happen.”

“Why not?”

He got up with a groan. “Because I don’t want it to.”

“But you love her, don’t you?”

“I don’t know.”

“You don’t know?”

He shrugged. “It’s been a long time, Andi. I don’t think I know how to love in that way anymore.”

Finally, some honesty, even if it sounded like agony coming out.

He opened my bedroom door, swinging it wide, and left. Ending the conversation just like that. No more plans could be made. No more secrets could be said.

Not without consequences.

When I peeked out into the hall, Jember was out there talking to Saba, and I saw him gesture to his knee. She nodded and hurried to the closet down at the end of the hall. I froze, bracing myself as she opened it, but it had been rearranged to block any proof of what had happened.

“Andromeda!” Magnus called, and I heard pounding on the stairs. When I went to the top I saw him jumping them three by three. “Do you want to play a game with me?”

“Well, Jember wants to observe the house tonight, so I’m actually going to get a couple hours’ sleep before the Waking.”

His expression dropped. “You’ll be up and about during the Waking? Whose idea was that?” But he was leveling a glare at Jember before I could even respond. “Look, there are rules in this house, Jember. And I’m not comfortable having Andromeda out in the halls during the Waking.”

Jember gave Magnus a look that seemed to assess whether or not he had the energy to bother explaining our job. “If you have any more stupid comments, just write them down so I can more easily ignore them.”

“Why, because you can’t read?” Magnus countered, with far more intensity than necessary—but it was Magnus, after all.

I would’ve laughed, but now really wasn’t the time. Jember had been on his feet all day. He needed more painkillers. By this time of day his patience was thin, which is why we normally slept. And I could tell Magnus didn’t like Jember even before he’d entered the house. So, part of me wanted to step in between them in case a fight broke out—though the other part knew better than to step between two people about to fight.

Then again, Magnus would maybe get in a few hits but would ultimately lose horribly—knowing Jember, by way of death. I liked him too much to let that happen.

“The spirits are more active in the evening,” I said quickly. “Remember, Magnus? Besides, there’s nothing out there but wind.”