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Jaden is in a noticeable muck of his own. He wasn’t just out for a casual stroll. But he also wasn’t purposely eavesdropping on our conversation. I sense he’s here on a mini mission of sorts—looking specifically for me. The observation gives me the encouragement I need to change course with Hecate and Circe.
“Maybe you’re right,” I admit. “Holding off on the rest of this will give me something to anticipate for tomorrow.”
Circe’s grin is radiant. “Another winning point!”
Hecate pushes off her boulder and takes me into a hug that should be patented for its warmth and comfort. “You’re remarkable, sweet one, even for how far you got today.” When she pulls back, her gaze is as happy as her second-in-command’s. She runs a gentle palm along my cheek. “We’ll see you at the midday meal. And Jaden?” She gives him a tender wink. “I’ll ask the lunch crew if they have materials for whipping up a quick pizza.”
“Yesss.”
My brother doesn’t drag out the fist pump for long. As soon as Hecate and Circe stroll off toward the sala, he’s gamboling toward the boulder chat area. “Hey, this is all pretty cool. Beats a stuffy classroom, yes?”
I fold my arms and wait for him to turn. “Chitchat is only effective on first dates and morning news shows. You should already know that, little brother.”
“And big sisters shouldn’t be so damn right all the time.” In spite of the grouse, he cocks a casual hip to one of the big stones.
“Of course.” I try to accent it with a laugh but get another long study of his profile. “Butrightdoesn’t mean omniscient, and the last time you looked this serious was when your gecko died. Jaden? What’s going on?”
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
MAXIMUS
Alameda’s research library has always felt like a sanctum for me, but never more so than this afternoon. Probably because the place is quieter than usual as Arden and I enter through the sliding glass doors on the ground level. The university is only four days into McCarthy’s two weeks of canceled classes, meaning even the most diligent students won’t start trickling back in for another week.
The only signs of life we spot are a quick smile and wave from one of the research specialists at the desk and some soft coughs from the three national guardsmen who’ve found their way to the library’s chess theory section. One of them plunks a curious gaze onto Arden and me on our way to the main stairwell, but he’s the visitor inmystomping grounds, so I move on.
Arden scoffs with barely tamped disdain. “Ill manners certainly wait under anyrock in the forest, hmmm?”
“Spoken like a guy who’s only been on this campus for the fancy fundraisers.”
A new grumble leaves him. “Do you think that churl’s tendons will emulsify as quickly as Rerek’s door hinges?”
I double my pace up the stairs, forcing him to keep up. “We’ve got bigger questions to address.”
With answers more elusive than splinters in snow.
It’s a gigantic risk, and I admit it. Leaving so fast from Iremia, without even telling Kara, was either really smart or really stupid. But I’m banking on the former over the latter. That I’ll be able to return before Kara even knows I’m gone. That Hecate stays just as clueless. That I’ll sneak back in and claim a long hike for aiding my trip on the perimeter alarms. Better yet, that I’ll return after learning a totally innocuous reason for the goddess’s secret hissing sessions with Circe. That I’ll be making up for the melodrama tonight by pleasuring Kara under the stars, in the private area next to our little stream.
Thoughts I don’t have any more time to indulge.Game facehas never been a more applicable idiom for a situation: a conclusion I never thought I’d be embracing on this campus outside of orientation week. Few things can turn a roomful of students into a shiver of sharks faster than a professor who’s off their game, and something tells me that Arden’s instincts are even sharper right now. He’ll get no blood in this water if I can help it.
I just wish that wasn’t such a bigif.
With perfect timing, the elevatorbing-bongsas soon as we reach the landing. Before the doors are done opening, I’m smiling. “What do we have here? No telling what the lift will drag up these days.”
“Mmmph,” Jesse flings back. “Missed you too, honey.”
The sarcasm already gives him away. He means it more than he wants to admit, same way I secretly concede the same thing. The last five days have felt like a century for many reasons, but the top of that list definitely contains the sacrifice of barely seeing this guy. More confessions that have to be tossed aside. I settle for leaning in and clapping the guy’s shoulder with brotherly brutality.
“Nice togs. Did you go to an early Halloween soiree and decide Miami-bound Davy Crockett was a good look?”
He chuckles. “Sorry not sorry. I picked up whatever was near. I think the shirt might be Misty’s dress. Miss Marais is into some interesting role play.”
“Marais?” I don’t hide my double take. “She has a last name now?”
“Bigger questions to address, Professor Kane?”
I swivel and give Arden a thankful nod. “Touché, antiquities guy.”
Slipping in the subtle respect gets me a matching mien from Arden—for the two seconds prior to Jesse’s new comment.
