Suddenly, Alina stops. “I have an idea.”
I arch a brow at her while reaching for one of my boots. “What’s that?”
She whirls to face me. “Take Raelan with you.”
I narrow my eyes. “Why?”
Alina tips her head at me. “Because he’s a shifter. He’s got impeccable hearing, and he’ll be able to get you to Cairn’s place without anyone seeing you.”
“Can he bring her back?” Poppy asks. “Don’t forget, you still have to get backinwithout being spotted.” She taps her fingernails against her teacup. “Goddess, I don’t know about this, Lyra. What if you’re seen?”
Pulling my boot on with a huff, I reach for my other one. They’ve all got a point. And it might be annoying having to sneak around with Raelan, but if it means protecting Cairn from more faculty gossip, then I’ve got to at least try.
“All right.” I yank my other boot on, then pull up my hood. “Get your dragon,” I tell Alina. “It’s time to go.”
AND THAT’S HOW I FIND myself shuffling quietly through the empty halls of the academy, Raelan one stride ahead of me. Despite his size, he’s able to move silently, andhe’s already saved metwicefrom being spotted by a professor walking through the halls.
I admit to myself, begrudgingly, that this was a great idea on Alina’s part, and Raelan is actuallyreallyhelpful.
We’re coming up at a hallway junction, and Raelan pauses, holding an arm out to stop me. He’s carrying a bundle of fabric in his other arm, though I’m not sure what it is. He tips his head, listening, then ushers me back into the shadows between a broad-leafed potted plant and a tapestry depicting the academy’s moon-phases crest. His body puts off heat as he stands near me, and I wonder if it’s the dragon inside him, keeping him warm. My fire magic is not so different, though lately, it’s been erratic again, not listening to me and behaving badly, like a child who’s had too much candy and refuses to be put to bed.
In the hallway, I finally hear boots on stone; Raelan’s hearing reallyisamazing. I wonder how far away they were when he first picked up on the sound of their footsteps.
Whoever it is, they don’t bother to pause or investigate our hallway; they just walk right by, humming a little as they go.
Once they’re gone, I let out a breath. “Okay, dragon, let’s get on with it. I don’t have all night.”
When Raelan glances down at me, there’s a bit of gold glowing in his eyes.
His dragon again?
“You’re welcome to go on without me,” he says, sweeping his arm out in a mocking gesture.
I roll my eyes and cross my arms beneath my heavy cloak. “No. You’re actually kind of helpful.”
“Kind of?” Raelan asks as he resumes our brisk walk through the castle. He doesn’t even stop to look either way down the halls before we cross through them, I assume because his hearing—and maybe his smell?—is so strong that he already knows no one is there.
Candles burn in sconces along the walls, making our shadows dance as we make our way slowly toward the castle’s garden exit. Before leaving the north tower, we decided that going through the main entrance into Coven Crest would be too risky; so, instead, we’re opting for the doors that lead into the garden.
When we get there, the hall is quiet, and Raelan has to slowly unlock the heavy door before pushing it open. Immediately, a burst of cold air sweeps in, making my cloak flutter around my calves. We step out into the night, our boots crackling the crust of frozen snow.
The moon is mostly obscured by clouds, which makes it easier to move across the garden undetected. Raelan still has us move cautiously around the outskirts of the courtyard, then under the barbican, which has another locked gate he has to open from the inside. Once I’m finally on the outside of the castle walls, I breathe a sigh of relief.
I’m so close now.
Raelan knows which direction to go to Cairn’s hut, and I glance up at him and arch a brow as we walk. “You know where he lives?” I ask.
A small sideways smile pulls on Raelan’s mouth. “I was here last year. Ended up... borrowing some clothes.” He holds up the bundle of fabric, as if that explains everything.
I narrow my eyes. “What?”
But Raelan doesn’t answer, just presses ahead through the snowy field.
When we arrive at Cairn’s hut, the windows are glowing softly, candlelight illuminating the curtains drawn over the glass. I step up to the door, then hesitate, glancing at Raelan.
“Do you . . . ?” I point toward the closed door.
He shakes his head. “No. I’ll wait out here. But will you give these to him?” He hands me the bundle of fabric, then slips his hands into his pockets and leans against the side of the thatched hut. “The cold doesn’t bother me much. And I’ll keep an eye out, just in case.”
