Page 114 of The Prince of Broken Crowns

River stiffens but shakes his head. “I don’t think so.” But then he hesitates. “Maybe, and please don’t get the wrong idea about this”—he looks me straight in my eyes as we continue to slowly make our way to my room—“but maybe you should stay at my place tonight.”

I instantly shake my head. “Do you know what’d happen if anyone saw me either going into your room this late or leaving in the morning? Besides, you can’t protect me forever.”

He sweeps his fingers through his hair. “I know that. But if you stay tonight, you’ll be safe long enough for us to get more info from Finn.”

“What if he won’t tell us anything?”

“He will.”

“How can you be so sure?” I question. “I already tried to ask him a few questions about this library incident, and he shut it down every time.”

“Because he was being cautious.” He glimpses around then leans toward me. “He’s well aware of what I told you tonight. Plus …” He trails off, his attention shifting ahead. Not that there’s anything there but an empty hallway lit up by faint lighting and a few glittering chandeliers.

“Plus what?” I hedge with my arms crossed.

He exhaustedly sighs. “I’ll tell you later, when we’re in my room.”

“Who said I was going?” I question as we stop in front of my dorm room door. “I never agreed to that.”

“Maddy,” he starts, leaning against the wall beside my door with his arms folded across his lean chest. “Please consider doing it. At least until we talk to Finn. We can wait up for him, if you want, and then if he tells us it’s nothing, I can walk you back to your dorm.”

I want to deny his offer—this is the sort of stuff that starts rumors. But what if I stay the night in my room and I’m woken up by a group of guys hazing me? I could report what we overheard, but I know firsthand how well that stuff goes down—more than likely, I’ll be called a liar.

“Fine,” I agree with annoyance not directed at him but at this crazy-ass society who thinks I’m worth targeting for their weird hazing.

I dig my phone out of my pocket and unlock the door, highly aware that my compliance has alleviated some of River’s nervousness.

“Thank you,” he tells me quietly as I push open the door.

“Don’t thank me.” I step over the threshold. “You didn’t do anything but try to help me out.”

He follows me into the room, shutting and locking the door behind him. I strip off my jacket as I walk into the living quarters. A lamp is on, offering a trickle of light, and I set my jacket on the arm of the sofa.

The place is quiet, making me wonder if Lily’s asleep or out.

I twist to River. “What about Lily?”

He’s sending someone a text and doesn’t glance up. “What about her?”

When his gaze raises to mine, I give him a pressing look. “What if this society shows up and I’m not here but Lily is?”

The corners of his lips sink into a deeper frown, and then his gaze strays to Lily’s door. “Do you know if she’s here?”

“Let’s find out.” I approach the door and lift my hand to knock but pause. “Wait—if she’s asleep and I wake her up, on a scale of one to ten, how pissed off will she be?”

“Let me.” He knocks before I can, answering my question that Lily doesn’t like being woken up.

He waits a moment before knocking again. When she doesn’t answer, he sends her a message. About a second later, his phone buzzes.

“She’s out, apparently,” he informs me. “I’ll give her a heads-up of what’s going on and tell her to stay at Wren’s place.”

“Okay, I’ll get into my pajamas and grab some extra clothes and stuff.” I cross the room, step into my bedroom, and turn the light on. The moment I do, I’m overwhelmed with an unsettling feeling that someone is watching me.

I cautiously endeavor further into my room while meticulously taking note of my surroundings. Nothing appears out of place, but I still check underneath my bed, in the closet, and then search the bathroom. By the time I return to the bedroom area, River is standing in the doorway.

“Everything okay?” he asks with his shoulder propped against the doorframe.

“I think so.” I stand in the center of my room with my hands on my hips. “I just can’t shake this feeling that someone is watching me. But no one’s here, so …” I chew on my bottom lip. “I guess I’m just being paranoid.”

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