He will gladly interfere with others, but to do it to him? That’s a recipe for a broken nose, at best.
I plead with him. “I won’t tell. I swear, I am better at keeping secrets than you might think. Just… please, get me out of here. I’m freezing.”
That severe set of his mouth tilts, a look that says, ‘sorry’ before he starts for the path up the Green Carpet.
“Wait, Landon!”
He doesn’t.
His steps carry him to the edge of the path, too far from the fountain, and my heart decides to pound against my ribcage.
“I know about you and James!”
That freezes him.
Planted in place, he is as motionless as the statues dotted all over these lovely gardens. But there is tension in him, bolting his shoulders, and—as he slowly turns to look over at me—my insides writhe.
I almost shrink back, deeper into the water, under the dark, threatening stare he lands on me.
The bass of his voice drops so low that it becomes a growl, “What did you just say?”
“I know.” My breath shudders with my body. “I have known for a while. I didn’t say anything. I didn’t tell anyone. And I won’t—if you get me out of here.”
“James?” Landon turns to take a step towards me, and it is as threatening as his dark glare. “Your weaselly little friend? What’s that made one been saying about me?”
I shake my head. “Nothing, I—”
“You better be very fucking careful about what you say next, waif. Dray put you in the water—I will hold your head under.”
My shoulders curve inwards.
I should scoot back, away from his slow, advancing steps.
I swallow, hard. “He didn’t tell me anything. I saw in the maze at the academy. I saw ages ago, and I told no one. I swear I will keep your secret if you just get me out of here. That’s it. That’s all I want.”
His pace quickens, his steps bringing him too close to me, too quick.
I shrink in on myself, a cringe away from him.
Landon snatches out for me.
A wince cuts through my blue lips.
Then I am hoisted out of the water.
I stagger into him.
His hands are firm on my arms to steady me.
Then he takes a step back and looks me over.
“You need to dry off.” Landon’s jaw is tight, but the defeat in his eyes is something I am all too familiar with in myself. He jerks his chin to the direction he came from. “I know a spot.”
I guess we have a deal.
I pace the border of the heat bubble.
The invisible wall of warmth should be coldest here, right at the edge, but Landon is teaching me a trick.