Page 102 of Glorious Rivals

Rohan stood.There was a rustle in the woods about twenty yards away.Thanks to the spotlight, he was able to make out the full outline of Lyra Kane’s silhouette as she made way toward him, toward the tree.She lifted her gaze to the sky, taking in the word that appeared there.

LIE.

“Some lies are beautiful,” Rohan told his opponent, “for a time.”

Lyra knelt next to the plaque, her gaze on the dart in Rohan’s hand, leaving Rohan to wonder if she still had her own.Wasting no time, Lyra ran her hand around the edge of the plaque and found the hole, and then Rohan got his answer about the dart as Lyra withdrew hers from her jacket pocket.

Raindrops began to fall as she made use of it.

Soon enough, she’d signed the ledger and returned it to the compartment, and it occurred to Rohan that there was one more thing he could do to put distance between Lyra Kane and Grayson Hawthorne, between Savannah and himself.Perhaps he’d already pushed Lyra too far.

But perhaps not.

Lyra stood, and Rohan allowed his body to list toward hers.“If you find yourself in need someone todespise, Ms.Kane…” Rohan wielded his rogue’s smile like a blade.“I assure you that I am most despicable.”

Often, it was those who pushed the world away who had the strongest underlying need to be anything other than alone.

“I don’t need your assurances,” Lyra bit out.“I don’t need anything from anybody.”

That was, of course, a lie, and as Rohan considered his next move, the part of his brain that was always listening registered that they were about to have company.Long strides, weight to the balls of the feet.

Hello, Savvy.

Rohan let his eyes settle on Lyra’s—brown, not that palest of blues and grays.After a long moment, he lifted his gaze to the clue in the sky, offering his face up to the rain as he did.“We’re all liars, Ms.Kane.”

“Knowing that…” Savannah announced her presence like he was not already well aware of it, making her way toward them.“Living it…” Savannah crouched next to the still-raised plaque and retrieved the ledger for herself, and then she looked up at Rohan and Lyra both.“That’s the grandest game of all.”

Chapter 73

GIGI

It had been hours since the Woman in Red had walked out the door, locking them in once more.How many hours, Gigi wasn’t sure.Ominous words rang in her ears.

The time forwatchingis done.

For probably the hundredth time, Gigi tried to rouse Slate—and this time, he groaned.

“What happened?”His voice was gravelly and low.Golden hair, darker with sweat, hung in his face all the way down to his cheekbones.Through his hair, Gigi saw his dark eyes open—and focus.

On her.

“Do you want the extended version or the really extended version?”Gigi asked.“I also offer reenactments.”

Eve rolled her eyes, thoroughly pretending that she hadn’t been keeping vigil over Slate this entire time.“You got knocked out,” Eve told him flatly.“And someone took the bait.”

“Not in that order,” Gigi added helpfully.“The person who knocked you out wanted to know about the Grandest Game.She called herself the Watcher.”

The Lily.Calla.The Woman in Red.

Eve narrowed her eyes at Gigi.“You knew her.”Eve sounded like she’d been biting back that accusation for hours.

“I knew of her,” Gigi corrected.“She’s supposed to be missing or dead or… something.”

“I’m going withsomething,” Eve replied.

Slate straightened, pulling against his bindings, his hair falling back out of his face, his posture almost leonine.“Will one of youpleaseget this tape off me?”

“For the record,” Eve told Gigi with another roll of her eyes, “thatpleasewas for you.”