Page 515 of Axis of Fire

An idea struck me.

A brilliant one.

Or so it seemed.

I leaned closer to Kaeron and whispered,

"Help me steal one of their maps."

His eyes widened.

"Have you lost your mind?"

"It's for a good reason. Come on."

"When exactly did I become your partner in crime?" he scoffed, meeting my gaze.

"You know exactly when."

It was a secret known only to the two of us.

And that worked in my favor.

Because it gave me leverage.

Not that I would have used it...

If I hadn't wanted the truth so badly.

"I'm not digging through those girls' pockets," he said quietly but firmly.

"Then distract them while I do it."

"No."

"You know..." I began.

But I was interrupted by Ria's voice as she walked up beside us.

"What are you two arguing about?" Ria asked.

I looked at her and blurted out,

"Please don't tell me we were talking loudly enough for you to figure out we were arguing."

"I figured it out from your faces," she said. "You were practically whispering. So... what was it about?"

I stepped closer, leaning down slightly because of the difference in our heights.

"We need to steal one of those girls' maps."

Ria gave me the exact same look Kaeron had a few minutes earlier.

"Have you decided to take up a new hobby?" she arched a brow. "I don't think kleptomania suits you."

"There's something really important on it." I pressed my lips together.

She studied me in silence for a couple of seconds before saying something I hadn't expected.