“I did always find that strange,” Mother said, stirring the porridge she was cooking. “So, what, you plan on following him, then?”
“Yes. After we finish my lessons.”
“But that’s at 10:00 a.m.—the Inner Ring will be closed off.”
“Doesn’t matter if I’m invisible.”
She sighed. “What if something happens?”
“Like what?”
“I don’t know,” she huffed while throwing her arms up. “What if they’re a family of murderers or involved in gang activity or something?”
I rolled my eyes. “I highly doubt it’s that. But regardless, I have to see for myself what he’s hiding. I have to know.”
I spent the week learning the invisibility elixir and making more healing ones. I actually was having an easier time grasping illusion magic than stamina, though my invisibility potion only lasted fifteen seconds.
“I need more than just seconds,” I grumbled after ingesting the mixture and witnessing it fail.
“The longest I can get you is maybe thirty minutes,” Mother groaned. “And I’m still nervous about it. I haven’t made many of these. If I knew how to conjure up a familiar, I would make a bird to spy on him or something.” She rubbed the back of her neck. “I suppose my suppression has kept me from learning a lot, too.”
By Wednesday, we finally got it to the full thirty minutes. Mother and I had cheered, but to be safe, I stayed in our home the entire duration of it. I wouldn’t want to become visible out in the open suddenly.
“I will make three for you, just in case.” She sighed. “I’m going to be worried sick.”
“I will be fine. Quill wouldn’t hurt me.” I looked to the ground in introspection. “I just don’t know what he’s hiding. That’s what scares me.”
Thursday came around, and everything was normal; Quill helped deliver our orders, and we trained and did our usual flirting. I was beginning to get decent at wielding my greatsword and was skilled with my dagger. At least, I felt like I was. The whole time I had been with him, my chest felt…weird.
I would be betraying his trust, but what did he expect?
“You okay?”
“Yeah, why?” I asked, winded from the set of movements I did.
He frowned, his lips pulling to the side. “You’ve just been quieter today than usual.”
“Really? I don’t think so.”
It was hard to focus, knowing I was going to be following him, and also because the second I saw him, I started thinking about Saturday night.
Gods, I wanted to go to bed with him right now. But I wouldn’t give in to him again. Not until I knew what was going on.
“Are you angry with me?” he asked quietly.
I lowered my sword. “Why would I be?”
His frown deepened, and I froze as he unsheathed his sword.
“Try to hit me,” he ordered.
“What?” I stepped back. “Are you crazy?”
“You said weeks ago that you wished to battle one on one.” He looked me up and down. “So, try to hit me.”
He was right, but still, the thought intimidated me. “What if I hurt you?”
He snorted, and his cockiness had me raising my sword and getting into a fighting stance.
