Page 108 of House of Lilith

“I would,” I say, though not without hesitation, simply because of the tone of her voice suggesting it might not be the case after all. “There haven’t been any major incidents,” I continue in my reporting voice, “the two groups seem to only be getting closer, and not even this thing with the Box has upset that. As for the Games, we’re still ahead.”

She gives a few slow nods. “And what aboutyou?” she asks as she looks up at me.

“I’m sorry?” I ask.

“You’re staying focused?” she rephrases, looking deeper into my eyes and squinting a little as she does.

For a second, the question leaves me dumbfounded, an image of a pair of dark eyes flicking through my mind. “Why would you even ask that?”

She waves her hand in dismissal and starts getting up, making me follow suit. “Just a couple of things that stuck with me,” she blows out as she looks at me again, this time with a little smile. “You being late for the Second Game, that little spat of yours with Prince Aalders…”

I let out a nervous laugh, running my hand through my hair and feeling like a pup being scolded, as I still sometimes do in front of the all-powerful Brogan.

“What?” she demands, looking at me with kindness in her eyes. “You think I didn’t have to listen to the kids go on about it?”

“It was harmless, really,” I start, but she cuts me off.

“It’s fine,” she says as she comes to stand a little closer, pressing her lips tight. “I just wanted to check in with you because there’ll be changes happening.” She pauses for a second, making me think there’s something bad happening after all. “I’ll need you more focused than ever because I won’t be able to be there for you all as much.”

Now, that makes me frown. But she doesn’t give me the chance to ask what’s happened.

“Our two Academies have appointed me as the next Guardian of the Obscura,” she just says.

There’s a moment of silence before I let out a scoff. “But that’s a good thing, right?” I ask. “Sure, it’s an obligation, but it’s an honor.”

And I try to gauge how she feels about it, but she just gives me another smile and a pat on the back and says, “So it is.”

And with that, she walks out of the tent, the cold winter air managing to worm its way in despite having only a second before the flap falls back into place again.

For a second, I just remain standing there, my mind buzzing.

Then I turn off the lights and I throw myself on the bed, putting my arms behind my head and fixing my eyes on the tent canopy above.

There was something off there,my fox’s voice booms inside my head.

“No shit,” I tell him, but the reply’s not snappy. It’s just… pensive.

No,he protests, making my ears prick up,something was off abouther.

I frown. “She was tired. And she didn’t look pleased she was getting thehonor.”

For a second, he stays silent, but I can sense him shaking his head.It was something else. Like a smell.

I let out a scoff. “She came here in the middle of the night,” I start, “obviously straight from the meeting where the decision was made. You sure it couldn’t have been all the other Originals’ scents on her?”

He thinks for a second.I guess you’re right.

“Grand,” I say, my mind already rushing back to the top of Lilith Tower, “then you won’t mind if I say goodnight.”

He scoffs to show he doesn’t care.

And just like that, I find myself thinking about it again. The restraint I found in her eyes when I told her to look at me. And I’m feeling good about it, because I now know for sure she’s enjoying herself. But I’m no closer to making her come than I was before, and it’s so little time, what she’s giving me. Not to mention zero options. Whenever I tried to stop her from pushingmeover the edge, she only doubled her efforts in the opposite direction, I think with a squint. And once I did, when I tried to shift the focus back onto her, she turned cold and started getting dressed again.

It’s then that I hear my fox again.Why did you lie about being focused when you’re clearly not?

“Iamfocused.”

Even if you are now…

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