“No!” My cheeks burned. “Why would you say that?”
Rylan’s eyes narrowed. “You’re telling the truth… but I recognize that faraway look in your eye, Naya. Don’t tell me you haven’t at least thought about spending the night in his bed.”
“It’s just hormones.” I gritted my teeth, ready to rip into Rylan if he pushed the matter… and then an idea came to me. “And besides, I can’t deny there is a certain… camaraderie between us. As his apprentice, I can get close to him and learn things that could be of use to the Resistance.”
Rylan arched a brow. “There is merit to what you say,” he said slowly. “But you should know that it’s not going to look good to the Resistance if you stay so close to the Chief Mage. They may mark you as an enemy.”
Anger sparked within me, and I leaned across the counter to pin Rylan with a glare. “Oh yeah? And then what? Should I expect to walk out of a store and have a bomb thrown in my face? Maybe I should stay in my apartment then, so that when you guys come after me, at least no innocent bystanders get killed.”
Rylan stiffened. “Those were accidents,” he growled, his fangs sliding out. “Careless actions by new members. They’ve been reprimanded since.”
“I’m sure the families of those who were killed find that real comforting,” I snarled.
Rylan’s features contorted in fury. “Don’t tell me you’re condemning us for a few small missteps. They’re nothing compared to the damage the mages have wrought on our world.”
“That’s pretty fanatical, even for you.” Sadness dragged at my heart, and I realized that somewhere in the back of my mind, I’d been hoping he would refute my accusations instead of just defending them. “I can’t believe that you’d choose to sacrifice family for the Resistance.”
“The Cause is greater than any single individual,” Rylan said, but guilt flickered in his eyes, and he looked away. “I’ll tell my superiors that you’re gathering intel during your magical training and that you intend to turn it over as an initiation gift when you’ve joined. That should keep them off your backs.”
I narrowed my eyes. “Sounds a hell of a lot like a promise that I’m not sure I plan to keep.”
Rylan shrugged. “It’s the best I can do under these circumstances. I can’t protect you if you decide to throw in your lot with the enemy, Naya. You know that.”
I scowled. Things were so much better when I was neutral… now that I was so closely associated with the Chief Mage, I knew the Resistance couldn’t categorize me as a non-issue anymore. But if they were going to be a thorn in my side, perhaps I could use that.
“Maybe you can do me one better.”
Rylan’s brows flicked up to his hairline. “How so?”
“I’m sure you’ve been following the shifter killings,” I said, “and when I was alone with Yantz and Talcon, they told me they were working for someone called the Benefactor. Any chance you can find out who that is?”
Rylan’s brow furrowed. “The Benefactor… the name sounds familiar. I’ve heard it mentioned amongst Resistance members before.”
Dread pooled in my stomach again. “That doesn’t sound good.”
Rylan gave me a sharp look. “Just because the name was mentioned doesn’t mean it’s connected to us. But if this person is responsible for killing shifters, I’d like to know who he is too. I’ll look into it.”
Relief flooded through me, and I flung my arms around him. “Thanks, cousin,” I murmured into his hair. We might not be standing quite on the same side, but our mutual loyalty towards shifters was something we had in common. I couldn’t trust Rylan to protect me from the Resistance completely, but I could count on him to do this.
“You’re welcome.” He pressed his lips to my forehead, then stepped out of my embrace. “I’ve got to go now.” He tapped the charm on his collar and muttered that Word again, and his freckle-faced illusion slid back into place. “Enjoy whatever’s in that package.” He winked at me before letting himself out of the apartment.
The package. I’d completely forgotten about it. Frowning, I lifted the brown cardboard box and checked the address. My heart rate sped up a little bit as I saw the return address was from the palace, with my name and address written across it in flowing, bold, script. And when I leaned closer to sniff the box, an amalgam of sandalwood, musk and magic tickled my nostrils.
I ripped open the box.