“Very good,” he praised.
I swung my weapon without wasting more time, and Quill clashed his with mine. Vibrations went up my arm, and I struggled to keep hold of the blade.
“That isn’t even at my full strength,” he taunted, but his grin was pleasant. “Again.”
I backed away, readied myself, and tried again. I swung, this time lower, and Quill blocked it with ease. Before he could order me, I swung repeatedly, him blocking every move with little effort.
Frustration built up in me, and I yelled as I swung and swung.
“Lena—” Quill started, but I kept going until our swords clashed, our faces inches apart. My head was craned upwards to glare at him while he examined me with a mix of worry and concern.
I pushed away with a grunt and sheathed the sword behind my back. I hated that I was angry. I hated that he didn’t trust me enough even to know where his fucking house was!
“I know you’re upset with me,” he said carefully.
I turned to face him and put a hand on my hip.
“Just please know I am…” He considered his following words, then exhaled. “I’ll tell you more soon, I promise.”
“Right…”
“I mean it.”
His tone and the intensity of his expression almost made me believe him. He pulled me in and kissed me, then hugged me tightly. I hesitated, then hugged him back just as hard.
“I love you, Lena. I love you,” he murmured into my hair.
“I love you, too,” I whispered
Please forgive me, Quill.
I stepped inside and closed the door to my home after Quill departed, then waited a few moments before I opened it again, making sure he was a safe distance away. Mother gave me words of encouragement and apprehension before I chugged one of the invisibility elixirs. She confirmed it worked, and then I opened the door to leave.
Pulling the hood of my cloak over my head, I began following discreetly behind. Gods forbid my potion failed; this would hopefully conceal my identity enough.
I kept a tasteful distance as Quill wove his way through the Outer Ring and up the steps into the Inner Ring. I made sure to avoid accidentally running into anyone, thus blowing my cover.
I wondered what his house would look like. Maybe I’d even see his parents. He told me he had no siblings, but that could be a lie.
I held in my sigh.
Why? Why so many secrets?
I expected him to walk up to one of the homes around the clock tower or perhaps one of the more elegant homes nestled near the Center. Instead, he went down an alleyway.
Strange.
He went down further, and he angled his head in my direction. My heart stopped, but he looked straight through me before continuing.
I might be invisible, but I should play it safe, just in case.
The alleyway was a dead end, nothing but lush, overgrown hedges boarding the white fence that enclosed it. My brows drew together as I watched him go to the right and move through one of the bushes.
What the hell?
I waited a moment, then made my way through the same plants, finding a secret path behind one of the bushes. Quill twisted at the rustling noise I made going through the brush, and I froze. He scanned around, then continued.
Invisibility elixir, you are my best friend.
