“Maybe,” said Lottie.
“What’s real?”
Feather-soft words settled on Lottie’s ears, almost making her shiver. Haru leaned over the desk, his face so close to Lottie’s that she could detect a faint scent of soap, but she didn’t even start at his abrupt appearance; something about him was oddly calming.
Lola grinned up at him, clearly charmed by his smile. “We’re just reading up on the mystery of Takeshin’s hidden treasure.”
“Have you found anything interesting?” he asked.
His brown eyes came to rest on Lottie. She couldn’t help thinking that maybe Haru would be good for Jamie.
“Not really,” she admitted. “Do you know anything more about it?”
The Partizan smiled so wide it made him look like a grinning fox. “I am afraid I do not know much more than you. Though I have heard some people think the treasure is Kou Fujiwara’s lost sword.”
With his long index finger, Haru pointed to the sword in the painting, and once more Lottie thought of Liliana and the painting, which depicted her with a sword just as fierce. “Others think it’s a secret passed down through each generation.”
“Haru, there you are!” As if summoned by his words, Sayuri appeared behind them, between bookshelves filled with Japanese history. “We need some help with filing in my grandfather’s office.” She looked around. “What’s going on here?”
“We’re looking up the school’s secret treasure,” Lottie said happily, but her enthusiasm didn’t seem to reach the queen of the school, and all eyes in the library turned on them like she’d just uttered a curse.
The smallest frown creased Sayuri’s brow. “I’m a little confused. Could you enlighten me?” She edged toward them, her eyes fluttering in a strangely menacing show of sweetness. “I’m not sure how things are done at Rosewood. Are you given special treatment simply because you are a princess?”
Lottie nearly choked. “Um, no.”
“Good. Then I’m sure you understand that you should be using your free periods to work toward your final project, not entertaining a silly myth.” Sayuri’s smile was so tranquil it was almost impossible to believe such words had just come from her lips. Then she added, “We wouldn’t want you to leave here without the grades you need, would we?”
With a quick flick of her hand, Sayuri shut the book with a loud thud, before turning swiftly, leaving Lottie completely speechless.
Shrugging an apology, Haru followed her. As Lottie watched them leave, she couldn’t help wondering how such a sharp girl could have such a gentle Partizan. It looked like their research was over.
8
HARU WAS . . . WEIRD. IT WAS the only word Jamie could think of. He was an incredible mentor, but he’d never met a Partizan like him. Partizans were calculating, serious, deadly, all the things that Haru was not, and it was hard to believe this boy was actually older than him. So when Haru asked Jamie to join him in the hot springs after training he should have said no, that it was a frivolous luxury, and chastised him for being such a lackadaisical Partizan. But he hadn’t. He was here.
The two of them alone in the baths, Jamie watched Haru with fascination. The smooth way he moved in the steam, the sharp curve of his jaw, which bloomed like a flower when he smiled. All so relaxed, so easy. It reminded him a little of Raphael, minus the ego. His hair had turned into a remarkably silly-looking fluffy ball.
“What do you think of the Pink Demon?” Haru asked suddenly, cutting off his train of thought and making him look away, embarrassed that he’d been staring.
“I think you should always be cautious of things you don’t know, especially when there’s a known threat.”
Three days had passed since the frenzy in the hall, and there had been no further sightings of the mysterious motorbike rider. Personally Jamie didn’t see what the big fuss was about.
Haru laughed, making fun of the serious answer. “Whoever she and her gang are, they’re causing lots of excitement with the youth of Japan.”
Jamie liked how he spoke, simple, straightforward, and how his voice made all his words sound like a pillow, as if you could lie down on them.
His jaw tensed at the thought. Partizans were not supposed to be pillowy.
“I hear it is your birthday soon,” Haru stated, casually leaning back against the stone side of the bath, unaware of the uncomfortable territory they’d just entered.
“I don’t celebrate my birthday,” Jamie said frankly, hoping to cut off the discussion, only it did not have the desired effect.
Haru’s expression turned quizzical. “Why not?”
Not wanting to get into the story of his mother’s passing, Jamie felt it better he should go. “I need to check on my master.”
There was another laugh, softer this time, and it almost sounded like pity. “Lottie is with Miko. She’s working.”
Jamie tensed even more, unable to tell him that Lottie was not the “master” he needed to check on.
“She is a sweet girl, your princess,” continued Haru. “You two don’t talk very much.”
It was not a question, but the statement caught him off guard.
“We . . .” he began. But his head turned cloudy with the heat and steam, blurry memories materializing in the misty air.
Your fault, your fault!
He’d failed, and Leviathan had taken the Hamelin Formula, and nearly Lottie and him too—and all because he hadn’t been paying attention. He’d been too caught up in Lottie and Ellie and what he’d seen them do. Too caught up in Lottie the Portman, who’d insisted that she’d chosen her role and that he was the one who was lost.
They’ll all leave you behind and you’ll be obsolete.
“Are you okay?” Haru pressed the back of his hand to Jamie’s forehead, making him flinch. “I think this bath might be too hot for you.” His chocolate-brown eyes showed genuine concern, and it made Jamie’s chest ache in a way he resented.
“We’re fine,” he said at last. “What about you and Sayuri? You seem very happy to let her disappear off
