Page 17 of The Princess of Portals

Ophira folded her arms across her chest and hit him with a solid no-nonsense stare. “What do you suggest?”

“Come with me. The Rebels have hideouts all over the city. Invisible hideouts, protected by magic. The Nightingale will never find you. She won’t even know you’re here.”

“She already knows we’re here,” Ophira pointed out.

“It won’t take much to make her believe you’ve fled. A clue here. A witness there. The trail will lead her and her army of evil back through the Spirit Tree.”

Ophira looked at him, and I could see it, even past that seasoned battle mask. She was seriously considering his offer. I didn’t blame her. It was a good offer. Conner was a master of misdirection and subterfuge. He knew how to hide, and he knew it well. He’d evaded the Watchers for months, and they knew with one hundred percent certainty that he was here. Every day, they actively searched the Fortress for him and the other Rebels.

If Conner convinced Yara that Ren and Ophira had left Gaia—which I had no doubt he could do—they would not find them. It was the best option there was, and Ophira knew it. We all knew it.

“What do you want in exchange?” Ophira eyed the Rebel leader, her expression decidedly wary.

“Nothing.”

“Nothing?” Ophira’s face went from cautious wariness to all-out paranoia.

“I mean, you could help out with the dishes once in a while if you’re up for it, but I won’t insist.”

“Dishes?” And just like that, her paranoia gave way to confusion.

“We Rebels move around a lot, running all around the city. Exercise leads to hunger, which leads to lots of eating, which leads to lots of dirty dishes.”

I watched Ophira try to size him up—and fail. Something about Conner baffled her heightened battle senses. It must have been all the irreverent commentary.

“I will bring your offer to Tyren.” Ophira threw Conner a final perplexed glance, then she disappeared into the house. I waited until the door had closed behind her, waited another five seconds, then turned toward Conner.

“This was your plan all along, wasn’t it? From the moment I contacted you, asking for your help, this was your plan.”

He casually ran his hand through his hair and radiated innocence. Which only confirmed my suspicions. Sensing my annoyance, he smiled at me. I did my best not to growl.

“I don’t see why you’re so upset, Red. I told you it would all work out, and it has. Ren needs a place to hide. I have a place he can hide. You should be happy. I helped you solve your problem.”

I arched a brow at him.

He lifted his hands in the air in partial surrender. “Ok, ok, so I might have helped me too, but can you honestly blame me? I saw a chance to bring the legendary Tyren, Master Alchemist, to one of my hideouts. You can’t possibly expect me to pass that up.”

“You can’t make him build you stuff, Conner.”

“I know.”

“Because then you’d be no better than Dellondré and all of those other people who tried to kidnap him.”

“I know, Red. And I won’t make him do anything. But if he decides to help us, which I hope he will, think of all the good we can do together.”

“Hmmm.”

“So you forgive me?”

“For not telling me what you were planning? Or for using me to get to Ren?”

“Uh…both?”

“You really need to be straight with me, Conner. No secrets. No lies. No games. That’s the way healthy, functional relationships work.”

“Ok. I’ll try to do better. I promise.” He gave me a tentative smile.

I smiled back. “And speaking of healthy, functional relationships⁠—”