Page 95 of The Dragon's Gambit

“Reiya. I know you. I know when you’re holding something inside. I’ve been waiting for you to bring it up, but it seems like you intend to keep it a secret.” Lee was studying her face, waiting for her to fess up.

Just then, the door at the top of the stairs opened. Chelsie peeked her head down and looked at them. “What’s taking you guys so long?”

“Oh … nothing. Reiya is about to tell me what she’s been keeping secret from me.”

“Oh, she was … well, umm … okay,” Chelsie said in a very unsmooth manner.

“So, you know what it is, too?” Lee turned his accusing gaze at the water horse.

Chelsie shrugged and smiled before she backed out from the door.

Lee turned his gaze back to Reiya. “So?”

“I’m sorry, Lee. I can’t tell you,” Reiya said quietly.

“Why not?” His voice softened as he asked her.

“Because …” Reiya bit her lip and frowned. She wanted to talk to him about it, but if he knew what she had planned if things failed with the deities, he would stop it. “I’ll tell you about it later.”

“Reiya.”

“I can’t tell you right now, Lee. I’m sorry. I don’t want to keep secrets from you. And I will tell you. Just not now.”

Lee sighed and frowned. “Well, as long as it isn’t anything dangerous, then … wait, what’s that look? It is dangerous, isn’t it? Reiya ...” He began to growl lowly, trying to make her spill her secret.

Guess the honeymoon is over,Reiya thought wryly.

“You guys are still on the stairs? What were you two doing that took this long?” Xander asked as he came up from behind them.

Reiya took that moment to hop out of Lee’s arms and dash toward the top. She quickly fled to Chelsie and Brody. “He wants to know. How did he know I was hiding something?”

Brody looked at Reiya with a half smile. “You are the worst secret keeper in history, that’s why.”

Lee came up from the stairs, with Xander right behind him. His eyes were locked onto her, his gaze dark. “Tell me what it is you’re planning.”

Chapter 63 Truth Time

I think he’s mad.Brody mindlinked with a smirk.

No shit, Brody. Now what?Reiya sighed and squeezed herself between her two guardians.

It’s not like he has truth serum. Let the bastard fret over it. He can’t force it out of you. Don’t tell him. Better for him to be mad than stop you from doing what you need to,Chelsie snorted. How dare he look at Reiya like that? What Reiya was planning was for his own damn good.

Or he puts her on lockdown anyway because he’s suspicious of what she’s planning to do,Brody sighed.

“Man, I can’t keep up with your guys’ mood swings.” Xander rubbed his temples as he looked between Levi and Reiya.

“We don’t need a public audience for this. Reiya, let’s go talk.” Lee walked to his room and waited for her inside. This did not need to be a public affair, nor did it need to turn into a shouting match or an argument. He just wanted her honesty. She’d been holding something back for a while now. He could feel it, since she’d never been good at keeping secrets. He’d hoped she would tell him whatever it was. At first, he was nervous. He thought maybe she had feelings for Xander, but once he realized that wasn’t the case, he finally decided to ask her about it.

Reiya looked toward Lee’s room and sighed. “What should I do here?”

“You already know, Reiya. It’s what you’ve wanted to do since you knew. You’ve been looking for his answer over a certain question anyway.” Brody smiled down at her. “No matter what, if it’s something that has to get done, it will. I promise, no one will stop us.”

“It’s fine, guys. It’s fine. Everyone knows what’s going on but me. It’s fine, though.” Xander kicked at the ground a bit, frowning.

“Xander, if there was something I might have to do that was really important but could be dangerous, you wouldn’t stop me, would you?” Reiya asked him quietly.

Xander looked at her thoughtfully, then smiled. “No, I wouldn’t stop you, but I would go with you.”