Dedicated to burningfire_angel4

Thanks for participating in my raffle and for joining the Story Fair!!!

Iris~~

I wake to knocking on Arrietty's door. It's not insistent or heavy, but the kind you'd use when going to someone's house for the first time. Polite but also I'm here please don't make me stand here trying to not awkwardly peer in through the glass any longer.

The other side of the bed looks undisturbed though the clock says 9:35 AM. With everything that happened last night, I forgot to set an alarm on my phone. I wonder if the alarm on my clock in my room is still going off.

Before getting out of bed, I check that the letter is under my pillow where I left it last night and then tug on my robe as I head for the door. My stomach growls, but I'll have to wait for lunch since I've missed breakfast.

I crack open the door just in case I need to slam it and find August, the Delta, standing in front of it with a travel coffee mug. His eyes widen, and I open the door farther.

"Can I help you?"

"I'm sorry, I didn't know you were staying with Arrietty. Is she here?"

"I haven't seen her since she returned to work hours ago."

"Oh . . ." He looks down at the coffee mug.

"Is that for her?"

"When she has that shift, she doesn't come to breakfast. I figured she'd probably be wanting coffee."

I've never had a conversation this long with the Delta before.

He tilts his head slightly back and to the side. "I'll be going then."

"I'm sorry she's not here."

He shakes his head and starts to back up. "Don't tell Erik about this, okay?"

"Are you two. . . erm . . . courting?"

He halts. "Courting?"

"I don't know what it is that the Society does."

"Right, of course. And it's dating, not courting, and we aren't." He looks over his shoulder. "I'll probably see you later."

I close the door as he walks down the hallway. They aren't dating, but is he trying to?

I pull out my phone. It's time I text Colton.

Something happened and I need you to come to Arrietty's room.

Colton: You're ordering me around now?

Clutching my phone, I close my eyes and count to ten.

Iris: Do you think I'd be asking to see you if I had a choice?

Colton: I'll be there in ten.

It feels odd to be inviting someone to another's bedroom, but I'd rather us both not be seen walking into the same room.

When Colton arrives, his eyes take in the room, not even paying me attention. "Where's Arrietty?"

"Still working, I think."

He clasps his hand behind his back. "No, she's done. She must still be in Erik's room."

"Why is she there?"

He finally sets his eyes on me. "Are you jealous?"

I take a deep breath, praying for strength. "I'm just confused why she would crash with him."

"Well you're in here and by the time Arreitty would have been going to sleep, Erik would have been getting up. Bently told me he saw her go in there."

"Right, I wish I could say that's what's important." I pull the envelope from the pocket of my robe. "This was left in my room last night. No one can know about this."

He takes the envelope, pulling out the letter. I watch as his eyes flick side to side as he reads.

Finally, he lowers the sheet of paper. "Why would a rebel attack you if they wanted your help?"

"I don't know. But that letter wasn't in my room when I went to bed, and I found it before you all started coming in. It also has to be someone in the Society. They touched my Mark when we were scuffling and made it burn."

He quirks an eyebrow. "Burn?"

I press my fingers against my bandage. It doesn't seem right to not wear it. "It's happened once before when Jonas grabbed my arm. He thinks it has to do with his Amorian blood."

Colton pinches the bridge of his nose. "If that's the case and it is someone in the Society, then this is bad." Way to state the obvious, Colton. What would I do without you? "You're sure though that whoever left the letter was the person who attacked you?"

"No, but whoever left me the letter was still at the Estate last night."

Colton hands me back the letter and envelope. "This stays between us."

"That was the point in me texting you. You're the last person anyone would think I'd share this with." I bite my lip, holding the letter in both hands. "But I have to give them something. I know the Society doesn't want the Amoris exposed, but they wouldn't want the world thinking I'm Expired either. There has to be something I can give them. Something to fool them with."

"It would be easier to kill you."

I narrow my eyes.

"But I think I should be able to create something."

"You're going to write a book?"

"Something like that. If they know about the library under the Estate, then they're looking for a specific type of book."

My brow furrows. "I don't get it, though. If they already have someone in the Society, why don't they send them to get the book?" My stomach growls, and I could really use coffee or some tea.

"They'd have to steal the book and wouldn't want to take that risk." His fingers twitch as if he's working out calculations. "I should be able to get the fake done before the ball tomorrow." The one to celebrate Kerrie-uh. "Let me know when they contact you about the drop off location."

I nod.

"What would the rebels do to you?" he asks as he pulls out his phone.

"It depends on the group. It's possible they'd lock me in a soundproof box without any light and then pull me out whenever they felt like it. They could starve me, refuse me water, until I tell them what I know. Or they may cut to the chase and tie me to a chair and beat me. I don't know."

"Maybe I can learn something from the rebels after all," he says dryly.

"Funny." I hold out the letter to him. "Do you think it's possible to check this for prints or do you think it's too late?"

He takes the letter. "I've never tried checked for them before, but I'll see what I can do."

And like that, I'm working with Colton Blackwood.