Page 95 of The Court of Truth

Wow.

It’s on the tip of my tongue to tease the hell out of him, but when his dark gaze meets mine and his nostrils flare, I opt to keep my mouth shut.

“Why don’t we run through the plan one more time while we wait,” Cassian offers as my father approaches.

He hums in acknowledgment, a knowing look in his eyes. “You’ll only have to repeat yourself in a minute when Addi shows.”

I roll my eyes, biting back a smile as everyone murmurs their agreement with his statement, but I keep my mouth shut as I press my back flush to the wall beside the door. The smaller I am, the less likely he is to see me. I just need Addi to hurry up and get down here so I can sneak out with them already.

As if sensing my internal plea, my sister appears at the top of the stairs. Her eyes cast over each of us, assessing the room. The storm I expect in her eyes isn’t there, but there’s a curl to her lips.

Maybe that moment alone served her well. Maybe she’s got the confidence she needs to see this through.

Maybe.

She descends the stairs, one step at a time, as she breathes in through her nose, exhaling just as slowly, acutely aware that she has all of our attention.

“Alpha, let’s go through the plan one more time,” Cassian states as she reaches the bottom, and she immediately shakes her head.

“No need. There’s a change of plan.” The air shifts as everyone frowns at her.

“What do you mean by a change of plan?” Arlo hollers, taking a step toward her as his arms fold over her chest. “There are no changes to the plan,” he reiterates, and she waves him off, not even bothering to look in his direction. Instead, she steps up to my father’s side, rocking back on her heels as her smile grows.

“Really, Arlo, catch up. There could be spies in our ranks. That could be why they haven’t made a move yet. Let’s change it up without anyone else knowing.” She nods at her decision as everyone else glances at one another with a hint of hesitancy sizzling in the room.

“Adrianna, I don’t think?—“

“It’s decided,” she insists, sauntering toward the door like she didn’t just cut Raiden’s words up along with a nick of his pride.

I see the pain in his eyes before it’s gone in a flash as he wordlessly follows after her.

It’s nothing to do with me, I decide, slipping through the door with everyone else. With the sunlight on my skin, I’m buzzing with adrenaline that I’ve pulled it off when delicate fingers wrap around my upper arm.

“Don’t do this, Flora,” I plead, giving her my best puppy dog eyes, but she rolls her eyes at me before hollering my sister's name.

Addi turns with a sigh, a frown etched between her eyes as she looks at her friend. She doesn’t say a word, just waits expectant and annoyed, for Flora to speak.

“Is it safe for Nora to be with us?”

My heart ricochets in my chest as I stare at Addi’s face, noting every crinkle, every emotion, every single thing until she shrugs.

“It’s her life. She can do what she wants.”

No hesitation.

No cause for concern.

No gnawing on her bottom lip with worry.

Nothing.

I scoff in disbelief as she steps toward the waiting carriage and Flora releases her hold on me.

“Is she okay?”

Her question is valid as she nods at my sister, but I shrug. There’s no way in Hell I’m rocking the boat on this thing. If I’m allowed to go, I’m going.

There’s an extra bounce in my step as I follow after everyone else and Flora hurries over to Arlo, the two of them whispering about Addi’s decision to change the plan, but my eavesdropping is cut short when my father appears at my side.

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