I feel his grip on the chair tighten and hear him suck in a deep breath.
“It was lovely meeting you all,” I say to the table, and stand up on the other side of Brendan. I immediately start walking toward Ash and Layla, grateful that I got past him without a physical altercation.
“It’s a shame what’s going to happen to your father,” he says, and I stop dead in my tracks. “I would tell you, but I guess you’ll know soon enough.”
My heart jumps into my throat. I whip around. The look Brendan and I share is pure anger.
Before I take a step in his direction, Ines stands up and blocks my path. Her red braid hangs down her back and her eyes are determined.
“He wants you to attack him,” she says, and it’s literally the second time I’ve ever heard her speak. “And if you do, you won’t be leaving here anytime soon. He will win.” She watches me closely, as though she’s looking for a sign that I understand.
I take a breath and unclench my fists. And just like that Ines sits back down and returns to her meal like none of it ever happened.
“Thanks,” I say, but she doesn’t respond. Both Felix and Aarya stare at her, clearly as surprised that she spoke to me as I am.
I don’t waste any time; I walk to my usual spot and sit down across from Ash and Layla, my heart rate elevated. It takes a couple of long breaths before I can relax my rigid posture and lean back in my chair.
Ash smiles at me. “I can’t leave you alone for two minutes. Good thing I don’t intend to.”
Layla raises her eyebrows. “Are you flirting right now? That could have turned into a fight.”
“But it didn’t,” he says, as unfazed as usual. “November handled it beautifully. Sitting in Brendan’s chair was genius.”
Layla frowns. “I seriously don’t know what to think about you two. One’s more reckless than the other.” She pauses. “You’re going to be completely lost without me.”
Ash nudges her with his shoulder and grins at her in a way that gives me a clear window into what they must have been like as kids. “Is this you looking for an invite? Am I sensing a bit of, I don’t know, jealousy?”
Layla gives him a hard look. “Jealousy? Not even close. I’m just looking forward to the moment when I can read a book in peace without having to save one of you from your own stupidity.”
Ash laughs, but I don’t have a laugh in me. “He seemed so certain that I would fail,” I say, concern leaking into my voice. They both look at me.
Ash’s smile fades, but he doesn’t appear worried. “Retaliation against the Lions is no small feat. From Brendan’s perspective, it’s unthinkable.”
There is that word again, retaliation. Truth is, I haven’t even thought about retaliating. “I just want to find my dad,” I say.
“Finding your father will not solve the problem,” Layla says as she refills her water glass. “The Lions will not stop hunting you both.”
I know she’s right, that I haven’t properly considered the big picture. “I can’t stop thinking about what Brendan said about my dad,” I say, looking at them both for reassurance. “Could Brendan actually know something about what’s going on with him?”
Ash’s lips subtly and momentarily tighten, which I recognize as one of the microexpressions Gupta taught us in deception class. Gupta said that when someone presses their lips together it’s often a sign that they’re holding back information or refraining from saying something.
“Like I said, communication to and from the Academy is monitored and often delayed,” Ash says. “Brendan was probably just toying with you.”
Layla remains silent, which tells me everything I need to know. Brendan might have been toying with me, but that doesn’t mean he wasn’t also telling the truth.
* * *
The furniture in the common room of our suite, which once seemed lavish and formal, now feels familiar and cozy. I scan every detail, trying to catalogue them all in my mind—the couch where Ash kissed me, the breakfast table near the arched window where Layla coached me for hours on end, and the fireplace, which I often sat in front of contemplating whatever my current mess was. I thought I hated this school, but when faced with leaving it, I realize I’ve felt more alive here than I ever have.
Layla’s bedroom door opens and she joins me in the common room, glancing at the clock. “Almost time,” she says with a smile.
I wish I could smile back. “I hate that we’re leaving you.”
She brushes off my comment. “You’ll see me again soon.”
“I know, but…”
“You’ll be fine, November,” she says with such assurance that I almost believe her. “Watch out for each other, don’t let my brother do anything outrageous, and keep your eyes open. Danger always shows up when you least expect it.”
Her words remind me of our lesson in poisons class today and I find myself agreeing with her warning. It reminds me how often Layla called me naïve when I first arrived, how right she probably was, and how much I’ve changed since I was last in Pembrook. “I’ll keep an eye on him. I promise.”
Layla gives me a no-nonsense glare. “Now I’m going to give you something, but I swear if you get emotional I will take it right back.”
“Okay,” I say in a cautious tone.
She pulls something black and shiny out of her pocket and holds it before me.
My eyes widen. “A lock of your hair?” I say, and my voice falters. We’ve been through some harrowing experiences together over these past few weeks and it’s fair to say that we’ve bonded, but it’s also always been clear that I’ve liked her more than she’s liked me.
She holds up the braided lock, which is tied with a piece of thread. “In the Wolf Family we give a lock of hair to someone going on an important journey. It’s a show of faith, to tell you that I’m there with you in spirit and to wish you luck-filled travels and a quick trip home.” She sighs. “So I expect that you’ll bring this back when you both return safely.”
I nod at her, at a loss for words.
“Are you crying?” she says, and points a slender finger at me. “You better not be crying.”
“Not crying,” I say, but my voice cracks.
“Here, turn around,” she says, and I do. She tucks the lock of her hair up into my French braid near my scalp. “So they don’t take it away from you before you leave.”