Page 86 of The Art of Exiley

“I don’t know where she is,” I admit. “But I can try to find out if I have your help. I care about Hypatia too. We can get her back if we work together.”

Rafe stands and begins pacing the room, talking as if to himself. “For hundreds of years, the Guard has protected the Makers from discovery by the Inquisitors. Now, for the first time in centuries, our enemy is taking risks, working with traitors in our society, and doing things that might finally lead us to them.”

He stalks toward me, staring, as if my eyes hold the answer to a riddle. “Then you come out of nowhere claiming to be able to bridge the gap.” He scratches the stubble on his jaw, still staring. “I need to think about thismore. Leave me.” He begins pacing again as if I’m already gone. No indication of what he’s planning, no assurance that he won’t turn me in to the Guard. All I can do is hope that taking this risk was the right move.

I realize only after I’m halfway to my own room that I’m still wearing his jacket.

It’s difficult to focus during my classes when I know Rafe could decide to blow my cover—or plot my murder—at any moment. In Alchemical Arts Studio, I completely miss the instructions for how to mix a pigment so black that it swallows the light. In Testaments, I’m too agitated to follow the analysis of the history and family tree of Chorus’s mother, Psalm.

When I get to the Sire lab, Rafe is conspicuously absent, which only heightens my anxiety. It doesn’t help that Gloria—the recruit who always monopolizes Michael during Foundations—is apparently the other Sire who was captured last night, and she’s recounting the tale of her rescue by a heroic masked stranger to a rapt audience.

Mbali must have heard about my own Carnevale adventure, because she hugs me and utters something that sounds like a prayer in a foreign language. Today her long locs are wrapped into a large bun on the top of her head, and she’s wearing a jumpsuit in a patterned fabric of royal blue and sunshine yellow. She notices my attire too, eyeing my jacket, which she clearly recognizes. Why, oh why, have I not taken this gravdamn thing off already?

Rafe barges into the room and grabs my arm. “Come with me.”

“Hey!” Mbali exclaims sharply. She grasps his wrist and squeezes gently until he loosens his grip on me, though he doesn’t let go. “You need rest,” she whispers to him. Clearly, I’m not the only one who’s noticed he looks like compost.

“I will when I can,” he replies.

“Has there been any news about Hypatia?” she asks. He shakes his head gravely, and she leans in to give him a quick embrace, pressing a kiss to his cheek. Rafe closes his eyes and momentarily rests his forehead against hers. I wonder again about the nature of their relationship.

“I have reached out to the Matriarch to see if she can help in any way,” Mbali says. Her snake necklace slithers with the vibrations of her voice. I’ve seen it move many times, but now I realize, for the first time, that it’s a real living snake. Goose bumps break out over my skin.

“Thank you,” Rafe says with sincerity. Then, to me, less aggressively than before, “Let’s go. We need to talk.”

He practically drags me out of the lab and through the halls to the Summer wing, his fingers burning hot on my skin, the buzz of our contact never diminishing. I feel the metal of his rings pressing into my wrist––his Sire diamond and the bone ring that reminds me that above all else, he is a Guard, sworn to protect the Makers from people like me. My heart beats fast with trepidation. I have no idea how this conversation will go, and I know it could mean the end of the line for my mission.

When we arrive at his room, he finally releases me and lets the door swing shut behind us. I slept peacefully in this room last night, yet now I feel like I’m trapped in a cage with a wild animal. I shiver as I recall the helpless feeling of him pressing me against the wall, and I stay close to the door.

Rafe starts talking, his words clipped and precise.

“I questioned the other Sire who was rescued, and she had no useful details about her captors or even about her rescuer beyond him wearing a full-face harlequin mask and no guild stones. I just finished with Bram and Yvette, and they’re clearly just pawns who know nothing. With this ridiculous lockdown, I can’t properly deal with Leo. I need todosomething, and right now you’re my only option.” He does not sound happy to admit this. “We’re bound to the island until the perceived threat has receded, so we’regoing to have to sneak off. I’ll plan our departure for after May Day, which will give us some time to prepare.” He paces the room, his gate matching the intensity of his voice. “The Beltane bonfire after the hoverjoust opening games will be the perfect distraction for me to steal the supplies we need, and we can leave the next morning while everyone is still too hungover from the festivities to take notice.” He stops his pacing to glare at me. “You will use the time between now and then to find out where Hypatia is being kept so that we can retrieve her. Are you sure you can do that?”

I nod, though I’m not at all sure. I’m still not even one hundred percent sure the Families have her, but that, at least, I can probably get Mom to look into, if nothing else.

He continues. “You’re also going to need training. You need to learn how to defend yourself from those who should be weaker than you. To at least be able to put up a fight, even if it’s just from me having a tantrum. You’ll train with me daily until you’re more useful than a frightened bird.”

“Metrain withyoufor weeks? Sure, us spending time together won’t make anyone suspicious,” I say, my voice dripping with sarcasm.

He grins coldly. “No one has ever questioned me spending quality time with a pretty girl.”

“No way,” I retort. “I’m not pretending to be one of your sex bunnies.”

He makes a sound that might be a laugh. “Don’t be so sensitive. You think people will be suspicious if we spend time together, and I’m providing a perfectly adequate explanation.”

“I’m not the fling type.”

He rolls his eyes. “Fine. Would pretending it was something more serious make you feel better about your misplaced morals?”

I cough in surprise, and once I gain control of my vocal cords, I say, “You don’t really seem like a fan of monogamy.” There’s a bit too much squeak in my voice.

“I’m not.”

“It’s a terrible idea,” I say. “Everyone knows you hate me; it will just draw unnecessary attention.”

“We’re surrounded by virile youth. The easiest part of this entire plan would be suffering through pretending to be… better acquainted. Anyway, people already saw us arrive back from Carnevale together, and I’m sure they noticed you spent the night.” He smirks, but it’s really more of a sneer, and I can tell he dislikes this idea as much as I do. “Not to mention, the fact that you’ve come back to my room twice since then, after spending an entire day wearing my jacket.”

I blush and start to remove the offending garment.

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