Page 101 of By the Moonbeam and the Mist
My mouth fell open. Was Steeler actually asking me to pluck a perfect, glistening hair off of our Good Council leader’sscalp?
I’d do it myself,he said casually,but even if I could Walk straight into that prison—which I can’t—I think it would be a bit problematic if I just appeared right in front of her face, don’t you?
My heart sank a notch. He was right. If Dyonisia found out about his Walking power, then it put our entire situation injeopardy. It was our one secret from her, the only thing that gave us the upper hand.
Plus, for some reason, I didn’t really like the idea of him anywhere near someone who wanted him dead—especially someone who would wrap him up in a web of her antipower as soon as she saw him.
Steeler’s eyebrows shot up.I’m aroundyouall the time, andyouwant me dead.
That’s different, I snapped, annoyed that he’d heard that little slip-up in my thoughts.
Oh? His lips quirked.How so?
I can want you dead, alright? But nobody else can.
The declaration was as ridiculous as it sounded, but Steeler nodded with those damned lips of his still twitching.
I’myourprey, no one else’s. Got it.
“Are you two done with your silent conversation now?” Dazmine asked. “Or are you going to sit here and suckle each other’s eyes for another few minutes? Because if so, we can give you privacy…”
Garvis choked on his bite of dumpling. I stomped on Dazmine’s foot beneath the table.
Smirking, she stomped back.
“Women,” Terrin muttered.
“Are fabulous,” Felicity sang even though he couldn’t understand her. She put her hand over her mouth and whispered to Dazmine and me through hairy fingers, “He’s just jealous because he’s not the one touching Dazmine’s feet.”
A laugh bubbled out of me even as Dazmine rolled her eyes, but it was short-lived when Steeler propped up an eyebrow and I remembered whatI’dtouched in his mind merely an hour ago.
It didn’t count,I tried to convince myself.It was technically just our imaginations running a little wild together, that’s all. Almost like a dream.
If that’s the case, it was the best wet dreamI’veever had,Steeler joked in my head.
I scowled at him.
Are you always eavesdropping on people’s most intimate thoughts and feelings, or just mine?
Just yours. They happen to be unnaturally interesting, after all.
Dazmine was right. I definitely needed to shove Steeler out of my head before my hackles actually rose like a hissing cat’s.
I just had one more question for him before I did.
How am I supposed to get one of… of Dyonisia’s hairs?I refused to call her my mother until we were absolutely certain.It’s not like she hangs out around campus. And I don’t think it would go over well if I left the Institute to go knocking on her door at Bascite Mountain either.
Steeler’s smile—both in the outside world and inside my mind—jolted right through me with its intensity. With its vicious humor.
Like I’ve said before, little hurricane, you’re more devious than I ever imagined possible.He passed me a mental image of his finger flicking my nose.Go figure it out.
CHAPTER
31
Go figure it out.
I was still seething over that on Wednesday during a particularly laborious lesson of Predators & Prey.
