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“That’s high,” Skyla said shakily.

“You can do it,” Alex encouraged her. “We’ll stop halfway, and I’ll be with you the entire time.”

Skyla wasn’t burdened by a backpack like Alex was, but she still had more trouble climbing up the vines. Alex whispered reassurances to her, and when they made it to the second-floor balcony, she and Skyla looked into the ballroom.

“See that guy?” Alex said, pointing to Sir Oswald. “That’s him. He’s the host.”

Skyla’s eyes travelled over him, looking more focused than Alex had ever seen. “Got it.”

Alex had to trust Skyla knew what she was talking about. After more struggling upwards in the dark, they reached the fourth-floor window.

The room was dark, which was perfect cover for them. Without being able to see anything inside, Alex pulled herself over the ledge, reaching out to help Skyla climb in. The moment both of them were inside, the overhead light flicked on.

“What’re you doing in my room?”

?9;.

Seventeen

Alex held her breath as she staredat the little boy holding a teddy bear and standing in the doorway of what was evidently his bedroom, judging by the toys scattered all about the place.

“Oh, aren’t you just adorable?” Skyla cooed, walking towards the child. “Would you look at him, Alex? I just want to wrap him up and take him home.”

Alex hissed out a low warning, trying to get Skyla to keep her distance from the wide-eyed boy, but it was no use.

“Hello, there,” Skyla said, kneeling a few feet away from him. “My name is Skyla but tonight I’m Samantha. Who are you?”

So much for our fake identities, Alex thought with a mental sigh.

The boy looked uncertainly from Alex to Skyla before he whispered, “I’m not supposed to talk to strangers.”

“Are you allowed to talk to friends?” Skyla asked. “Because I’d like to be your friend.”

Alex inwardly winced at Skyla’s creepy-sounding words, but her intent sounded genuine—and innocent. Regardless, the boy looked confused and Alex was worried he’d make a run for it. She took an anxious step forward, heaving her bag into a better position on her shoulder. Her eyes widened as an absolutely ridiculous idea came to her. Maybe Hunter’s cryptic note had been instructive after all.

“Do you like stories?” Alex asked the boy, and the answer was obvious when his eyes lit up.

She knelt to the floor and, holding her breath to avoid the relaxant fumes, opened her pack and reached to the very bottom to dig out the massive book of children’s stories.

“Would you like Skyla to read to you?” Alex asked, holding the book out to him.

Seeing the item in her hands, he took a step forward, then another one. When he arrived at Skyla’s side, he looked up at her with owlish eyes and said, “I’m Benjamin. We can be friends if you read to me.”

“Oh, Benny, you’resocute!” Skyla said in a voice so high-pitched that Alex feared someone would hear. “Let’s tuck you in while Aunty Alex brings us the storybook.”

Aunty Alex? Wow, Skyla really was a kid person.

Alex zipped up her pack and stood up to find that Skyla had snuggled into Benjamin’s bed with him. “Here you go,” she said, handing over the heavy book. “Happy reading.”

“Look, Benny! There are pictures!” Skyla said. She seemed more excited than Benjamin at the discovery.

“I’ll leave you both to it,” Alex said. “I’ll see you downstairs, right, Skyla?”

“Ten minutes, Alex,” Skyla said, tearing her eyes from the book. “I promise I’ll be there.”

“See you then,” Alex said, hoping that would be true.

“Hey, Alex,” Skyla called just before Alex reached the door. “You need to swap your shoes. And it’ll probably be a good idea to untuck your dress unless you’re trying to make a new fashion statement.”