Page 53 of The Lies We Conjure
“Is that… Evander?” There’s a figure in a red shirt and black shorts kicking up dust along a trail. The brawler’s build and the warm brown skin are answer enough, but then, as I lean forward, I realize there’s another person behind him. “And Auden?”
“And Winter.” Wren points to someone in pastels moving against the brush toward the tree line. I squint at the moving bodies, cranking through a switchback and into a wall of netted pines.
Wren stuffs the remainder of her pastry in her mouth, dusts crumbs from her hands, and stands. After a swallow, she says, “Good call on athleisure. Let’s get moving.”
“Wait. You want to chase them?”
“I want tojointhem, duh.” Wren’s already quickstepping it toward the stairs that lead down to the garden. “They’re up to something, and if that something has to do with the relics, it’ll be the perfect distraction to the discovery of our friend on the drive.”
I rise from my seat but hesitate. “Youdoremember that the last time we saw all three Hegemonys together, Evander wanted to interrogate us. I mean, he literally tried to stop everyone from going their own way for the evening because he wanted to drill us about Marsyas.”
“Ido,which is why I think it’s best to change the narrative. We need to show them we’re engaged in the magical scavenger hunt, and we’re fun to hunt with, not to mention beautiful and talented.” She shimmies her shoulders and winks, again pointing herself at the garden. “Nona’s vanishing act really killed all of our goodwill last night, but we can build it back up.”
I hold up a hand. “I have a better idea.”
Wren cocks a brow at me in question.
“If they’re there, that means the third floor is empty.” Winter all but spelled out that the Hegemony family lived on the third floor, with guests on the second floor, and the first floor for entertaining. “Which means the study is empty.”
A mischievous gleam instantly appears in Wren’s eyes. “Oh my God, you want to snoop?” she whisper-squeals. When I nod, she does too. “Better idea is better. Lead the way.”
The third floor of Hegemony Manor is deathly quiet as we wedge open the door from the corner service stairs and peek into the convergence of two halls.
To the right, the corridor leading to our target, the study and all the books therein. To the left, a line of heavy wooden doors interspersed with plant stands, pedestals with cut-flower vases, and oil portraits.
We creep into the hall, and I hold the stairwell door until itsnicksshut rather than slams. Despite my proclamation of an empty floor, Infinity might still be in the reading room, and—
“Oh shit,” Wren curses, as the nearest door in the non-study hallway yawns open.
I fling us against the wall of the opposing corridor, until we’re both obscured and pressed against the heavy wallpaper. Wren nods toward the study, obviously suggesting we make a break for it, but even on carpet pile three inches thick our footsteps will most definitely be heard by whomever is this close.
And besides, I want to know who else is up here and why.
I shake my head, a finger pressed against my lips, and pointedly shoot a glance toward the turn of the corner, where the other person is five feet away at maximum. Wren gets the picture and stops struggling against me, her own features scrunching in concentration as she listens too.
“I can’t believe you,” seethes a whispering voice—a female. Ada, maybe? Or Winter, and we misjudged on who was hiking up the mountain. There’s the whip of something soft colliding with something much harder. “Put on your damn shirt.”
“She was upset.” Hex. Definitely Hex. Wren and I make eye contact. His voice goes muffled as he must pull the shirt over his head. “I was trying to help.”
“You were trying to help yourself to a vulnerable girl who’d rather light your balls on fire than ever date you again.”
“She let me stay, didn’t she?”
“On the couch. Because you weren’t needed or wanted, but she’s a Hegemony—”
“Says you. And how’d you even know I—”
“How could Inot? You’re really goddamn lucky I care enough to lie through my teeth aboutthe two of usgoing to get Mama and Papa food and then marching up here to retrieve your ass.” There’s a tap on plastic. “We’ve already wasted five minutes. Come on, we need to materialize with pastries and coffee ASAP or we’re both screwed.”
Footfalls start echoing our way as they head to the stairs we just used. Beside me, Wren squeezes her eyes shut, her body pressed flat against the wall and still as stone. I hold my breath, but I can’t look away as the twins appear in profile, still deep in conversation as Hex fixes his collar.
“Okay, yeah, I’m sorry. I didn’t think about what it would mean for you—”
“Of course you didn’t. You never do. And it’s not just me. You know the stakes here. And stakes makeeverythingworse.”
Unblinking, I wait for them to notice us. Wondering just how we can explain away our eavesdropping—which we can’t. But Ada storms ahead of Hex, through the door to the stairwell. He follows in a rush.
When the door crashes shut behind them, I finally exhale, snatch Wren, and jog straight for the study’s double doors, the thick carpet muffling our advance. It’s blessedly unlocked, and empty.
