Page 33

“Okay…” Silla trails off, eyes on her screen. Leaning over, I see a chat box opened up. “I got a message. We appear to have been invited to a masquerade party by the leader of the Underground.”

“It’s smart,” Ayden says, scowling as he comes through with boxes. “Sidney, food! Bring some plates, please, and drinks.”

Andrya moves to help Sidney, and Silla continues to stare at the screen. “What do I say? The little green light is on, which means he or she is waiting for me to respond.”

“You wanted to meet them,” Grayson chimes in helpfully. “This is a controlled environment, we’re relatively safe, and we can leave whenever you want.”

“Yep,” I agree. “We’re going to have issues not having eyes on you at all times, so we’re all going.”

Silla doesn’t seem bothered by my response, instead shrugging as she types out a response.

“They want to know how many of us there will be?” she says, her fingers twitching, as if anticipating her next move. “Well, Noa and Wilheim saw Sidney and I mentioned you all, so that’s not a stretch of the imagination to ask how many.”

Silla’s talking to herself is adorable, and my lips twitch.

Going back to rubbing her thigh, I wait for her to respond. Slowly, she types as she thinks, hitting enter.

“Okay,” she blows out, as if she ran a marathon. Her anxiety is still something she struggles with, and it makes me want to tell her that I’ll help her slay all of her terrors and monsters. Even the biggest one: her step-sister.

Nodding, she types another response before putting her computer on the end table.

“Looks like we’re going to a party in three days at the Heights quarter,” Silla says, smiling tightly. “Gives us just enough time to find appropriate clothing, and get this research done. No pressure.”

“You handle pressure beautifully,” Sidney counters, handing out plates and drinks with Andrya. “Keep a level head, the masquerade ball is held under the stars, so that means you’re going to be in your happy place. Find your way the best way you know how: intrigue, knowing when to speak, and when to listen. Those qualities make the best spies.”

“I’m not a spy,” Silla says, shaking her head.

“You’ve been a spy longer than you think, Little Love. Do what feels right and natural. Remember that your eyes still say volumes, even if you’ve found a way to train them to say less,” Sidney explains.

“You mean all of my maneuvers through the royal balls and eavesdropping is going to come in handy?” Silla teases as she begins to open the pizza boxes now on the coffee table. Helping her, soon they’re all opened, and she’s pulling pineapple and pepperoni pizza onto her plate. My mouth waters as I serve myself some as well, listening to the conversation.

“Yes, that’s exactly what I mean. You’re perfectly equipped for this mission, so just roll with it. Tonight do some research and recon, eat, and rest. Not in that order,” Sidney chuckles. “Be yourself, Little Love, because you have everything you need inside of you.”

Taking a deep breath, she nods as she takes a bite of her pizza, moaning as the flavors hit her tongue. Based on the slight shift and adjustment the guys all make as we watch Silla, I’m pretty sure we were all affected.

It’s nice to know our dicks aren’t broken, but damn poor timing to pop a boner right now. Dinner is shaping up to be an exercise in pain and patience.

Nine

ANDRYA

Ican’t keep my eyes off Silla tonight. Even something as simple as watching her eat or watching her code on the computer draws me in, because she’s here. Silla is alive, and though she’s been hurt in unimaginable ways, she’s with us all now.

It may be temporary in her eyes, but we’re determined to set her free from her step-sister. One day she or Lana will go too far and kill her, and a world without Silla Tremaine in it is unfathomable. We all walked around thinking it was true, and it was devastating.

“Andrya, do I have something on my face, Love?” Silla asks, arching her brow as she glances.

Flushing, I shake my head. We’ve all been a little creepy, but I don’t know how else to be.

“No, Silla. I think I’m afraid to blink and find you’re not actually here.” I sigh. Patting the seat next to her, she signals me to sit by her.

It’s been hours since dinner, and the guys moved to the kitchen to drink coffee and work. Embarrassed, I walk slowly over to her. It’s not her fault for calling me out, I was being slightly rude.

“I am here though. I don’t know for how long, I just want to enjoy my so-called freedom for a bit,” she says softly as I sit next to her.

“You sound so… without hope,” I tell her helplessly. “I’ve heard little parts that you’ve let drop, I saw your back, you’re still in pain…”

“It’s not that bad.” She shrugs. I can hear the unspoken “anymore”, and my fingers twitch. If I could drop poison into the water at the castle and walk away, I would. I’m feeling pretty homicidal at the moment. Let’s just throw them all away.