“I don’t want to disappoint—”
“No, Saskia.” These were the words everyone needed to hear. “We love you, Saskia, no matter what.”
Lottie scooped her up in an embrace, and the Partizan melted into it, her warm honey scent mingling with Lottie’s rose scent. Every muscle melded against her, a map of Saskia’s powerful Partizan body. A body that reminded her of Jamie.
“Okay, you can get off me now,” Saskia mumbled, but Lottie could hear a lingering crack of emotion, even if she wouldn’t show it. The Partizan pulled away. “We should go and check if you’re allowed to see Jamie yet,” she added, uncharacteristically bashful.
The sun was full and plump in the sky now, beating down on Saskia and turning her into a golden statue. Lottie caught sight of Ellie again. She looked twisted in an unnatural way like rotten tree roots.
“Thanks, Lottie,” Anastacia whispered.
Lottie smiled over at her, but again all she could think was that it wasn’t enough, that she needed to help Jamie and Ellie before it was too late.
They made their way into the infirmary, the scent of lemons becoming more intense with each step down the corridor to Jamie’s room, where Sayuri was waiting, only her face was strained, her mask of patience slipping just enough for Lottie to notice.
“Sayuri, what’s wrong?” Lottie asked as she approached Jamie’s door, which was slid open. From beyond it voices drifted out. Voices she recognized.
She rushed so fast that she nearly slammed into the doorframe. And there he was, propped up, half awake, his still-foggy gaze illuminated by the stripes of sunlight through the blinds. She wanted to run to him and throw her arms around his injured body, but there was no hope of that. Beside him was a sneaking bird of prey, waiting like a vulture to retrieve its pickings.
Haru was back.
22
“HARU.” HIS NAME WAS LIKE poison on Lottie’s lips. “I’m so glad you’re okay. What . . . what happened?”
“I got back last night.” He looked away, as if embarrassed, and she so easily could have believed him, if she hadn’t known better. “I don’t remember what happened.”
How stupid did Leviathan think they were? It was pathetic.
“What happened to you guys?” Haru asked, and she could almost have believed he was genuinely concerned.
“We were rescued by strangers, but we never saw their faces.” Lottie didn’t falter as the lie rolled off her tongue. Sayuri had told her to keep the story simple, leave Haru frustrated, and, by the way his lip twitched, it looked like it had worked.
“We’re glad you’re safe.” Jamie’s voice was low, barely audible through his labored breathing. But even in his weary, confused state, there was a hint of a smile, a smile of relief for Haru.
She was so angry and frustrated. And sad. Sad for Jamie, to see how much it meant to him that Haru had returned unharmed, and to know that she couldn’t tell him for fear of putting them all in danger. Jamie was too fragile; it was impossible to tell what he’d do if he found out, and, most importantly, they’d promised Sayuri not to say anything.
“Haru, I would like a moment alone with my Partizan.” She didn’t ask. She was telling him to get out. To her relief he didn’t protest but sent one of his fake summer-breeze smiles to Jamie before making his way out.
They all stared at Haru. Anastacia, Ellie, Saskia, Lottie, and Sayuri—five girls in a blockade against this creature who was sneaking around Takeshin.
“I’ll see you guys in a minute,” Lottie said, sliding the door shut behind her. She caught Sayuri’s eye, and this time she was sure of it. Sayuri was definitely worried.
Lottie took a seat, not daring to touch Jamie in case he recoiled. “How are you feeling?”
Closing his eyes, Jamie turned a little, the pink flush still strong in his cheeks. “Not good. Could you pass me some water?”
She picked up the plastic cup on the bedside table, holding it out to him, and his hands trembled as they went to take it. His fingers brushed against hers, feather soft and too warm, a furnace of sickness under his copper skin.
His sips were small, mouselike, a strange juxtaposition with his huge body.
“Jamie . . . do you remember anything about last night?”
Slowly, with no indication that he’d heard her, he handed back the cup, but as she went to take it he dropped it, his fingers curling around hers instead, squeezing tight.
“I remember it all,” he said at last, not letting go. “How did you find me?”
Lottie gulped, knowing it would be impossible to explain, to tell him that she’d been led to him by the school, that Takeshin had saved him. It was absurd, and the thought made her want to check her phone again to see if there was any word from Binah, until she remembered that she’d smashed it in a fit of fury.
“You said . . .” she began, “that you met him. You called him the Goat Man, the Master of Leviathan.”
Finally he let go of her hand. “Yes, I did. He was wearing a mask. Ingrid was there . . . I think I took one of her knives . . .”
Lottie nodded. They’d found it in his robes when they got him to the infirmary. That black spider curling around the handle of the blade, an evil little thing.
The door slid open, a nurse appearing with an extra pillow and a thermometer.
“I’ll be back later, Jamie,” Lottie whispered, standing up. He needed to rest. “I promise.” And she meant it.
Stepping out of the room, she was confronted by three faces. “Guys!” She pushed them back, closing the door behind her gently. “What are you doing?”
“So it’s really true?” Ellie began, chewing her cheek. “The Master really made a move on him?”
“Yes . . .”
