Page 54 of Love, Nemesis
“Not as fun when there aren’t any secrets you can exploit, is it?” she said. “Go back to camp and talk to Cal.” She crossed her arms, facing forward again. “I think he’ll be a lot more interesting to you.”
Lethe sank down against the tree, Ana glancing to his right. He looked over to see he’d sat right next to the mushrooms. Strangely enough, he understood her focus about not killing things. Of course, for her, he realized, it seemed like she actually liked plants. For him, it was a good rule of thumb to practice being overly conscientious. If he could avoid hurting plants, maybe he could be better about not hurting anything else. At least, that’s what Manaj had hammered into him.
He removed his cigarettes, more out of habit than anything. They still had his knife that also served as his lighter.
“I’m enjoying the air,” she said.
“It’s like Manaj all over again,” he mumbled, putting them away. He tilted his head back against the tree as he yawned, sliding a leg out through the grass.
She watched his feet extend out behind her. He scanned the woods, ignoring the intensity of her stare.
“I’m sure you were enjoying your solitude too, but I want to stay here,” he said.
She glanced back at camp like she was considering leaving him there. As if thinking better of it, she faced forward again.
He stared up at the tree branches, bored that she was neither interested nor appalled by his meddling. He slid farther down the tree until he was lying flat-backed in the grass, crossing an ankle over his knee.
Ana glanced back at him a couple of times as he shifted around, clearly distracted by his movements behind her.
“I’m not going to stab you in the back,” he announced after a while.
He smiled at her as she glanced over her shoulder at him.
“You’re on edge about my conversation with Evira,” he pointed out. “Before we left on this trip.”
“Among other things,” she said, facing him now.
“An old nemesis isn’t much different than family,” he said, resting up on his elbows. “At the end of the day, there’s stuff I haven’t been able to talk about for a while, and it felt good talking about it with her. Is that a good enough answer?”
“You aren’t turning in a test.”
“I am. The only answer that matters is the one you like. What’s my prize?”
“I disagree,” she said.
He lifted his chin to her in a nod. “Of course, you do. You’re still riding the morality train. Tell me, what did you do so wrongthat you now have to do everything right just to make up for it?” When she didn’t reply, he added, “Come down to my level for a bit.” He glanced down at her foot, and she drew it away from him.
Her brows furrowed as she inspected his hand and then his face. “Were you just planning to trip me?”
For a second, he’d wanted to. It would have certainly demonstrated his point. It had, however, earned him her surprise, and he could work with that.
Pull.
“I realize I come on a bit strong,” he said.
“A bit,” Ana replied.
Push.
“At least I come on at all. You’re like a walking tombstone. I have to put in so much effort just to get anything more than a name. You—”
He snatched her other foot and yanked it.
She fell back on her reflexes, rolling back as he released her leg. Sitting in the grass, it was clear her mind hadn’t caught up with her body.
She stared in disbelief.
“What do you think you’re doing?” she said, raising her voice.
