I chewed on the inside of my cheek, trying to decipher what that could mean. Did Grey know who had sent the storm as we suspected?
“The worst storms won’t be until the turn of the season,” Grey said. “Your journey should be a safe one, Miranda.”
“Will you really stay here, though, Delphine?” Miranda asked. “Do you want to go with Grey to the new land?”
I shook my head. “I don’t intend to stay here that long. But I’m curious enough to hear more about it. If Grey is going to leave soon, I can always return the way I came.”
I turned to him. “Isn’t that right?” I challenged, wanting to see his reaction.
A small smile turned his expression smug. “Certainly. If you still wish it.”
Truth. I couldn’t stop the twitch of my brows as I read it on him. Everything was so smooth, so easy. I hadn’t even had to outright bargain with him for Miranda’s freedom.
Instead of bolstering me, my success sent a thrill of uncertainty through me. Nik had talked endlessly of Grey’s confidence, but this seemed beyond excessive. He couldn’t possibly mean to let me wander freely around his camp only to leave again whenever I wanted.
Grey lifted his glass to me in a silent toast, his expression suggesting he could read the wheels turning in confusion behind my eyes. He had to suspect something, but it wasn’t giving him a moment’s discomfort.
And that made me very uncomfortable indeed.
ChapterNineteen
My half-formed fear that Grey would change his mind at Miranda’s actual departure proved unfounded. At least half the camp turned out to see her off, the younger members hugging her in what seemed like genuine affection.
Watching them sent a spear of discomfort through me. Did they have families at home waiting for them like she did? Was it wrong of me to care only about freeing my friend?
But I reminded myself that our end plan was to dismantle the camp completely. At that point, everyone would be returning to their normal life in Tartora, so I wasn’t abandoning these others.
Miranda appeared uncertain when it came to actually setting off alone, but the determination that had entered her when she realized her father still loved and wanted her hadn’t waned. With an uptilt of her chin, she climbed out of the canyon and disappeared into the desert overhead.
“Will she really be all right on her own?” I murmured to myself, although I knew she would only have to travel for a day before being picked up by Amara and the others.
“You made it alone, didn’t you?” Grey asked with a smile.
I nodded, glad for the first time that I’d had to walk alone for the last day.
“Well, not entirely alone,” I corrected, making him stiffen slightly. But when I gestured at my two ever-present shadows, he relaxed.
“Ah yes, I never expected to be making recruits among the animal world.”
I turned to face him, ready for a more direct conversation now that Miranda was safely gone.
“I already told you, I’m not a new recruit.”
“You were here to rescue your friend,” he said, speaking more openly than he had since my arrival.
“Can you blame me?” I asked.
“Not in the least. I behaved without circumspection in Caltor, and I hope you will accept my apology.” Again his words rang true.
“I don’t know what you’re planning,” Grey said. “But I have no doubt you came here with a plan.”
I raised both eyebrows. I hadn’t expected him to be that direct.
“And if I did? What do you intend to do about it?” I challenged.
“I intend to change your mind,” he said. “After what you’ve seen of me, your suspicion is perfectly understandable. But I’m hoping that once you’ve heard more of the story, you’ll see things in a different light.”
A girl about my own age strolled past, a bundle of chopped wood in her arms. She smiled at us both, her eyes lingering hopefully on me, as if she saw a potential friend.