“So we can, right?” I knew the answer. I’d seen it in his face as soon as I suggested it. Pride and pain. Mostly pain.

“The Cabals would never allow that, Maya. The risk of telling your parents, after they’ve buried you . . .” He shook his head.

“And after they paid good money for us.”

“It wasn’t money. It was a trade of resources and intelligence.”

I gave him a look. “Do you really think that matters? We’re bought and paid for, whatever the currency. They say they want us happy, but they really just want us compliant.” I looked at him. “I don’t do compliant.”

TWENTY-SIX

IF IT WASN’T FOR the light coming through my window, I’d have been certain it was night by now. It had to be, after everything that had happened.

I’d been in my room for about an hour, just lying on the bed, thinking. No, not thinking. Worrying. About Daniel. I couldn’t see a way out of this prison, so there was nothing to think about except a very general, incredibly unhelpful I need to get out and find him. And, while I was getting out, I needed to take Rafe and Annie and Sam and Hayley and Kenjii and how the hell was I going to manage that, short of having an armored minivan break through the gates and rescue us?

A staccato rap at the door broke my reverie.

The door cracked open. “Decent?” Rafe asked.

“Yep.”

“Damn.” He pushed it open.

“If you’re hoping to see something, the trick is to not knock first.”

“That would be wrong,” he said as he walked in. “The trick is to hope you say ‘no, but come in anyway.’”

“Ah.”

I patted the bed. He waggled his brows. I shook my head and he murmured another “Damn.” I laughed and watched him cross the room and I felt . . . lighter. Like the weight lifted, not completely but enough for me to function again.

He didn’t sit, but just reached over to pet Kenjii. “I was hoping to talk you into coming up on the roof with me.”

“Lockdown is lifted?”

“My door was open. Your door was open. I take it that means we can wander and, if it doesn’t, we’ll just get on the roof fast, before they notice.”

“Good plan.”

I glanced at Kenjii and was about to ask if she could come when he patted his leg, and she jumped up and followed us to the door. When he motioned for her to wait, she sat.

“I do believe you’ve stolen my dog,” I said.

“Not quite. But we have been roomies for the last couple of days. They wanted to kennel her. I said ‘like hell.’ She’s a smart dog. She knew her choices were to behave or sleep on a cement floor.”

“Thank you.”

He shrugged and opened the door.

I caught it in my hand. “No, really. Thank you.” I leaned over and kissed him.

When I pulled back, he was grinning. “See, I’m not as dumb as I look. Most girls like flowers, candy, walks on the beach. But the way to your heart is through your pets.” He paused. “And your friends, but I’m not doing so well with that part of my master plan.”

We walked into the hall, Kenjii trailing.

“Are Sam and Hayley giving you a hard time?” I asked as he led me the other way down the hall.

“Sam, always. Hayley’s not exactly chatty. I can’t blame her. I was a real jerk to her, leading her on. I was trying to make inroads with Nicole and that seemed to be going better, until . . .”

“I’m sorry I didn’t tell you.”

“No way you could have. I’m just . . . shocked. Disgusted. I keep telling myself she must be mentally ill or something, but that doesn’t make it better, you know? I don’t see how anyone could do that, crazy or not.” He looked over. “I’m sorry you had to go through this. Finding out. It must have been hell.” He paused. “At least you had Daniel.”

“He doesn’t know.”

We’d reached the door at the hall’s end. He stopped and looked over, frowning.

“How can I tell him?” I said. “She killed Serena over him.”

And, worse, he’d been about to break it off, and if he’d only done that a little faster . . .

“Then she went after you,” he murmured.

I nodded. “I don’t get that. There’s never been anything between Daniel and me. I guess it’s only proof she’s crazy.”

He hit the buzzer for someone to open the door. It clicked open. On the other side were stairs heading up to another door.

He waved me forward. “You’re right about Daniel. That’s a shitty thing to pile on anyone. He doesn’t deserve it. He’s a good guy.”

“He is.” I glanced back. “And thank you for saying that. I know he hasn’t always been a ‘good guy’ to you.”

“Hey, like I said, the way to your heart is through your friends—furred and otherwise. He’s had reason to be wary of me. I’m hoping I’ll get the chance to change his mind.”

“You will.”

We climbed the steps, Kenjii following. At the top, I opened the door and we found ourselves walking onto a roof.

If I’d hoped for a huge flat roof with plenty of room to roam, I was disappointed. I suppose, being the daughter of an architect, I should have known better. Putting a flat roof on a house is not only problematic, but would give it an odd, industrial look. So we only had one flat section, maybe five meters by seven. And with high walls on all sides, the patch of late-day sun was barely enough to bask in.

“Looks like a prison exercise yard, doesn’t it?” He waved at the basketball net and weight deck. “Even got the cameras. There and there.” He pointed them out. “Not quite what you were hoping for, I’m sure,” he said. “But these are cool.” He walked to a set of balance beams and swung up.

I took a running leap and landed in a crouch. Then I sat straddling the beam.

“Show-off.”

I grinned. “If I was showing off, I’d have landed standing up.”

“If you could, I’m sure you would have.”

“Is that a challenge?”

I swung my leg over to jump off, but he caught a handful of my shirt.

“Not yet. Up first.”

He let go of my shirt and rose, one foot in front of the other, standing as easily as if he was on solid ground. I joined him and when I did, I let out a gasp.