Page 128 of The Stone Secret
“If Lionel even shows.”
“Carter said he would,” Orix reminds me.
The door swings open and Prasan enters carrying a ring bind folder. “What are you two doing awake?”
“Waiting on you,” Orix says. “How did it go? All set for tomorrow?”
“Willowman and I have everything set up. If the traitor makes a move, we’ll catch him. Willowman even set up a shut-down on the wards if we get a hit.”
“So the traitor won’t be able to escape?”
“Exactly.” Prasan grins. “I have it all under control.” He crosses to the computers and settles in his seat.
“I thought everything was set up?” Orix says.
“It is. I’m going to run a diagnostic on our system, make sure all channels are clear and operational.”
“Didn’t you do that last week?” Orix asks.
A flash of annoyance crosses Prasan’s usually amiable features. “Do I tell you how to do your job?”
Taz hisses at Prasan.
“Hey, I was just asking.”
Prasan sighs. “Sorry, I’m just tired. Planting the transmitters took a lot out of me. But Willowman looked about ready to drop.” He taps away at the keyboard. “Is Serath back yet?”
“Not yet,” Orix says.
Taz wanders over to the door and stares at it.
“It’s weird having Serath dropping in and out like this,” Prasan says. “I honestly think he should just tell Cameron the truth about what happened at Outpost Ten, that he only kissed Jana so she wouldn’t get suspicious and start digging into why he suddenly didn’t want to sleep with her any longer. She needs to know he isn’t sleeping with anyone.”
“We’ve been over this,” Orix says. “It’s best if Cam hates Serath.”
I snort. “He’s her fated mate. She can’t hate him.”
“Dislike then.”
Taz claws at the door and meows.
Orix crosses the room and opens the door for him, but Taz isn’t interested in leaving.
Orix and I exchange glances.
“Do you think there was someone there?” Orix whispers.
My heart sinks because the only other person in the tower except us is Cameron.
CHAPTER52
CAM
Iwasn’t an eavesdropper. Not usually, but this time I was glad I’d snooped.
There was a sense of peace inside me now. The awful clawing was gone. I waited for an hour until I heard Selas come to bed and then an hour after that until the tower was silent, then I took the stairs down to Serath’s floor.
My beast sensed that he was back, and we needed to talk.
