Page 112 of The Puppet Master
“You’re sweaty.”
“I know. I had to check on the girl first, so I jogged here.”
“You were checking on the girl.” She nods once—curt.
“Yeah… Thorne had already gotten to her, though.”
“Mmm.” Her chin lifts, face visibly stiff. “Poor luck.”
My eyes draw toward Luna. Poor luck indeed.
“Hey, you okay?” I nudge Zephyr’s shoulder. She doesn’t respond.
My front teeth tap while my eyes once find Luna. As if sensing my gaze, she turns her head. The moment she registers me, her eyes widen, lips parting. I lift my hand in a little wave. She doesn’t wave back.
Zephyr arches onto her toes to follow my gaze and tenses when she sees who I’m looking at. She clasps her hands behind her back and slowly wanders away. I shuffle my feet but don’t outright follow her. Yet. “Zephyr,” I hiss. She doesn’t turn around.
I look at Luna, still with her eyes squarely on me. Thorne bends to say something to her, but she doesn’t acknowledge him. It kills me to walk away now that I’m this close, but this isn’t the time to leave anyway. Prince Charming-ish’s arms are currently the safest place to be.
I follow after Zephyr. “Hey,” I whisper call. “Where are you going?”
She roots her feet to the ground, teeth grinding. “It isn’t safe for me to be talking to you.”
I open my mouth but don’t argue. She’s right. If they knew she was helping me, they’d kill her. Or enslave her.
But we’ve been careful up to this point. She’s Aurelius’s daughter—it isn’t hard to construct reasons for speaking to me.
“There isn’t a rule saying we can’t be friends, right?”
She rolls her eyes and leans close. “If you’re worried about the cameras in the mines, I shut them off already. If you’re worried about something else, well … you probably should be. I can’t help you.”
With that, she searches across the crowd where Luna is and pointedly walks away.
She shut off the cameras. She had the foresight to do that.
I frown at her retreating form. It’s insensible that I hate the idea of her feeling used, when… Duh.
But I do hate it. Because I do feel badly for her; Idocare for her.
Even if she isn’t the person I’m risking my life for.
As the ceremony—or whatever it is—comes to a close, I stride toward Luna while the crowd cheers for the little, dancing girls. She doesn’t look at me as I approach, and I don’t think it’s because she’s unaware. She’s avoiding my eyes.
“Hey,” I say as the crowd starts to disperse. Aurelius is shouting from the stage, wishing them a joyous evening while Luna, Thorne, and I stand like statues.
“Hello, Sawyer,” she says, her voice low. Formal. Different.
Finally, she turns toward me, but it’s Thorne who holds my attention. His eyes are narrowed, the arm around Luna tightening. As ifI’mthe person she needs saved from.
“Could you give us a minute?” I ask him, but his response becomes irrelevant as Aurelius approaches.
I try to smile a greeting at Aurelius instead of grimace. “Aurelius.” I tip my head. He just stares at me, then at Luna, then at me. He has awhat the fuck are you doing herelook on his face that I try to ignore.
Calm. River of calm.
I clear my throat of any lingering panic. “Aurelius, I’m afraid I have some bad news… The girl,” I tilt my head at Luna. “She isn’t quite ready. I’ve considered it, and I believe one last session will?—”
“What are you talking about?” He lets out a dry laugh and waves to Luna. “Of course she’s ready. You had three weeks. You’re done.”
