Page 72 of The Tree of Spirits
“Yeah, because that’smuchbetter.” Conner cracked a smile that definitely wasn’t jovial. “We are Rebels, guys,notbarbarians. I didn’t give you those invisibility suits so you could sneak into the Black Obelisk and kidnap Apprentices,” Conner said in a voice so calm and level, it was scary. “Especially notthatApprentice.”
The mystery Rebel shot Conner an amused smirk. “Youlikeher, don’t you?”
Conner opened his mouth to respond, but then his gaze found mine. And for once, he looked like he didn’t know what to say. “Leave us,” he told the Rebels with a wave of his hand.
“But—”
“You threatened to set Savannah on fire, Cedar,” Conner cut him off. “I’m not sure how I’m supposed to react to that, but I can tell you that I’m awfully tempted to freeze your fingers off.”
Cedar paled.
“So, please, get lost until I’ve talked myself out of it,” Conner said with a wolfish smile. “In fact, all of you should go. I need to speak to Savannah alone.”
Cedar and Angel left immediately, but the third Rebel remained for a moment, her smirk ever-persistent as her eyes darted between me and Conner. “Of course you do.”
“Not now, Vivi,” he sighed.
When she’d left, Conner crossed the room to me. Very, very slowly.
“You,” I hissed, meeting his beautiful, deceitful eyes with a glare.
“Very scary, Red,” he chuckled.
“Now I know what my mom meant when she warned me about wolves in sheep clothing,” I muttered.
“You should know.” His smile widened. “You hang out with wolves.”
“Wolf is not a wolf,” I replied. “She’s a husky.”
He leaned in closer and smiled. “Of course. My mistake.”
“Stop it.”
“Stop what?”
“Stop being all nice and charming and pretending that things are ok between us,” I snapped. “Because things are definitelynotok between us!”
His smile cracked, revealing something raw and vulnerable underneath. “I’m sorry, Red. I really am. I didn’t mean to hide who I am—whatI am—but I…”
“Yes?”
“I didn’t want you to look at me the way you are right now.” He took a deep breath. “With such disappointment in your eyes.”
“I’m not disappointed that you’re a Rebel, Conner. I’m disappointed that you lied to me about it.”
“Technically, I didn’t lie. I just omitted. And I know that’s just as bad, and I really wanted to tell you. But we were getting along so well, and I really, really didn’t want to ruin that.”
The pitiful look in his eyes quelled some of my anger—but onlysomeof it. “You told me to stay away from the Rebels. Is that because you were afraid I’d mess up your Rebellion’s grand plans?”
“Mess up my plans?” He expelled a short burst of air, like a balloon deflating. “No, Red, I didn’t ask you to stay away because I was afraid you’d ruin our plans. I told you to stay away because I knew the General was watching you, just waiting for a reason to arrest you.”
“But staying away from the Rebels,” I said quietly, “you realize that also means staying away from you.”
“Yeah.” His laugh was tired and a bit forced. “You’d probably be better off if you’d done that too. And I should have told you everything, Red. I should have told you to stay away from me.”
“If you had, I wouldn’t have listened, you know.”
He snorted. “Yeah, I guess you’re just as much of a rebel as I am. Maybe that’s why we get along so well.” He hit me with a charming, lopsided smile.
