Page 114 of The Serpent’s Shadow

He glanced at me like he wanted me to sayIhad been looking for him. But I didn’t want to lie to the deceitful man.

“So?” I asked. “Any news? I heard you’d left campus.”

“Sven tell you that, too?” He said it with some oomph, accusatory.

“He did, actually.”

His frown deepened. “I was on a proper adventure, little fox. You would have loved it.”

I didn’t correct him on calling me “little fox,” like I had in the past after his betrayal. I’d let him have this one, because I was too curious about where he’d been and what he’d discovered.

“Found your pointy-eared friend,” he said.

My heart leapt to my throat, wedging there. “Corym?!”

Arne rolled his eyes. “No, Rav. Legolas.” He snorted. “Of course Corym, girl, damn! Don’t act too excited.”

I smiled, shaking my head. “Someone’s jealous.”

“Damn right I’m jealous. That you’re attracted to a man wholookslike me, albeit not quite as pretty? What am I supposed to think?”

“I guess you’ll think whatever you want, iceshaper.” I bobbed my eyebrows.

Arne seemed . . . different. Less forlorn and lost. More like his old self, if I was being honest. Flamboyant, cunning, and dare I say funny. The man I had initially been attracted too before everything went to shit. The man I hadtrustedbecause of his good qualities, which allowed me to take his lead to Elayina and entrap myself.

“I wouldn’t get too starry-eyed,” he continued. “He was caught trying to escape the Lepers.”

A knot formed in my belly, making me nauseous.Escape? From the Lepers Who Leapt? Where would he escape to . . .

Arne watched as the cogs turned in my head. He sighed and scratched his forehead. “Don’t worry, girl, I’m sure he was just trying to escape so he could find you.”

“And the Lepers didn’t let him?” I was still confused. “Wait. Is he theirprisoner?” The accusation came out forceful, incredulous. “Tell me everything, Arne.”

I pulled his arm, bringing him deeper around the side of the cafeteria, so we’d be out of earshot of anyone walking in through the front door.

“I found the Lepers’ hideout,” he said, “and stayed with them for a few days.”

“How did you find them?”

“My sister is part of their ranks, fox. Did you forget?”

My brow furrowed. “Yeah, well, my brother stays on the same campus I do, and he doesn’t know where the hell I am ninety-percent of the time. So what does that mean?”

Kind of creepy, honestly. Did you put GPS tracking on Frida or something, Arne?

I raised a hand as he opened his mouth to explain himself. “You know what? It’s not important. Just carry on with your story.”

He pouted, shrugging. “I talked with Corym. He’s fine. Dashing as ever. Elven as always. And . . . he misses you. Of course.”

Arne’s clipped sentences clued me in he was awkward speaking about Corym to me, after seeing us kiss and knowing we cared for each other.

A darker part of me spoke in the back of my head, telling me not to believe a word Arne was saying.He could be trying to lead me into another trap. Dammit. I hate that I can’t trust him still.

If only he hadn’t fucked everything up the first time.

Iwantedto give him another chance. But I had to be sure he was truthful this time.

“He asked how you’ve been,” Arne said, “and what you’ve been doing with your time.”

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