Rory Blackwood's Arc

Chapter 7 of 13

Rory pulled her hand back from Kael's. He stood between her and the arch. The footsteps came closer, quick and light. Not a guard's stride. Rory knew that walk. "Rory Blackwood, I swear to every dark saint." Luna stepped into the grove in pink sneakers and a scowl that did not fit her face. Her bangs were damp from running. She stopped when she saw Kael. Her eyes went to the moss where Rory's knees had been, then to the space between them, then to Kael's rolled sleeves. "Oh," Luna said. "Oh." "Luna—" "You left Void on your pillow and slipped out the side door. I'm not stupid." She folded her arms. "Him. Really. Him." Kael did not answer. His eyes stayed on the trees behind her. "Was anyone with you." "No. I came alone because I thought she was going to burn a hedge down somewhere." Luna looked at Rory. "Talk. Now. Or I go back and tell the Headmistress you're missing." "You wouldn't." "I would. To keep you alive." Rory believed her. That was the problem. She looked at Kael. He gave one small nod. She turned back to Luna. "He's been helping me. Since the left wing. He's the one who told me what Convergence means." Luna's arms dropped. "How long." "Weeks." "Weeks." Luna sat down hard on the step. "You told him and not me." "I couldn't tell you. His court would use me to get to him. If anyone knew, they'd hurt him. They'd hurt me to hurt him." Rory's throat closed. "I wasn't hiding from you. I was hiding for him." Luna looked at Kael. "Is that true." "Yes," Kael said. "And the rest of it. The hand thing." Kael's jaw moved. "Also true." Luna took that in. She did not smile. She did not cry. She looked at Rory for a long second. "Okay," she said. "Okay?" "Okay. I'm in. But you tell me everything from now on. Every note. Every meeting. I cover for you or you both get caught." She pointed at Kael. "And you. If his court finds out through you, I will end you myself." "Understood," Kael said. Luna stood and brushed moss off her skirt. "Come on. Curfew's in twenty. We walk back together. If anyone asks, I found you crying about your grandmother and dragged you inside." Rory got to her feet. Her hands were shaking, but not from magic. Kael stepped back into the shadows past the arch. He was gone before Rory turned around. Luna took Rory's arm. Firm. Warm. "He's going to get you killed," she said, quiet. "I know." "I'm still helping." They walked back toward the academy together. Behind them, the grove went dark. Ahead, a lantern burned in a third-floor window that should have been empty. Someone was awake, and watching the path.