Page 51 of Wanted: A Roommate Who Isn't Evil

Two Hours Ago

The timing was the least suspicious thing about Dranian’s phone call. It wasn’t exactly the fairy’s tone—more like a deep sense of panic seeping through his conversation. Mor should have gone back to bed, but he sat in his office, tapping a pencil against the top of the desk. Of all the fairies, Dranian was the last one Mor wanted to be feelingpanic.

Mor had learned the hard way that dealing with things alone only made matters worse. And Cress hadn’t let him forget it. Every once in a while, Cress made sure to mention,“that time he saved Mor from the humiliation of being defeated by his old foe,”even though“thattime”was not that long ago.

But now, Dranian was hiding something. And truthfully, Mor couldn’t take it.

First Lily, now Dranian?

And even him.

Had the entire High Court turned into a band of teenage gossip queenes?

A yawn stole him from his thoughts. Violet came in, dragging her feet over the floor in his/Kate’s fluffy slippers. She plunked into Jase’s desk chair. “Why are you still up?” The human looked half asleep as she waited for an answer. He could have asked her whyshewas still here. It was almost the morning hours, and she was still working instead of sleeping at home in her comfortable bed.

Mor chose his words carefully. “I think…” He adjusted himself in his seat and reassessed how to ask. “Do you think it’s possible for everyone in a close-knit group to be hiding something from each other?”

Violet blinked as though she didn’t register what he’d said, and he huffed.

“Are you sleeping with your eyes open?” he accused in a dull voice. “Go home, Violet. You’re the one always preaching that you need your beauty sleep—”

“Youareall hiding something,” she said. “It’s super obvious.”

Mor frowned. He leaned back in his chair and folded his arms. “I’m not hiding anything.”

Violet was too pretty when she smiled. It was both adorableand annoying.

“Yes, you are, Mor. You’re hiding something. Lily is hiding something. Dranian is hiding something. The only one not hiding something around here is Cress, and that’s because he’s a blabber mouth—”

“What is Dranian hiding? Wait—” Mor shook his head. “—what isLilyhiding? Do you know?!”

Violet shrugged. “I have no idea.” She reached over and dragged her journal from the shelf. “But the reason you all haven’t caught on to each other yet is probably because you’re each focussed on the thingyou’rehiding.”

Mor blinked. “Are you…” He studied her journal, then her. “…reportingon us?”

Violet laughed like he was being absurd. She quickly slapped the journal shut and slid it back onto the shelf where it belonged. But Mor wasn’t convinced. When she noticed his unbelieving face, Violet stretched her arms and completely faked another yawn.

“You’re right, I should head home and go to bed.” She patted a hand over her not-really-yawning mouth. “I’ll see you in the morning.” Violet Miller transformed into her former escape-artist-self as she left the room just as quickly as she’d arrived.

Mor sighed began tapping the pencil again.

“Oh, and if you want a really fast, really easy way to solve this problem—” Violet stuck her head back into the office, making Mor jump. “—then just get everyonetogether and oust them all at once. That’ll get everyone talking.” She flashed another pretty smile and disappeared again.

Mor tossed the pencil down. He felt like cleaning, even though the cathedral was spotless. He felt like doingsomething.

“Oh—” Mor leapt out of his chair when Violet popped back this time, his hand flying to his pounding faeborn heart. “—but go easy on Lily. I think she has more than one secret.” Violet snorted a laugh.

“Leave or stay, Violet. Pick one,” Mor said calmly through his teeth. His nerves couldn’t take it.

Violet lifted a hand in apology and took off down the hall, her slippers slapping the hardwood the whole way.

Mor’s face changed and he leapt for the doorway. “Wait!” he whispered after her in his low voice. He wasn’t sure if everyone had gone home, or if Remi or Jase had fallen asleep on the furniture in the living space. Violet was already halfway down the emerald carpet, but he called after her anyway: “Queensbane, what do you mean about Lily hiding more than one thing? Violet? Violet?” He cleared his throat and tried again, “Violet?”

Violet waved back at him as she slipped out of sight, and Mor exhaled. He turned back and eyed her journal on the shelf. She wouldn’t be offended if he flipped through it a little, would she?

As outrageous as Violet’s idea was, Mor had to admit, it would probably work. If he dragged his brothers and their humans together, they could have all this sorted out in one evening. Shaynewould have to come home, but it would be worth it to have everything set right. Maybe he could get Cress to plan a party.

Mor shook the last idea from his mind. If he brought Cress in on this plan, Cress would probably secretly poison a batch of cherry turnovers, make everyone eat them, and then only give the antidote to whoever confessed all their secrets.

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