ログインSa ibaba, tumakbo ang bata sa bahagi ng sun court habang may hawak na tatlong ribbons, hinahabol ng isang yaya na malinaw na tinanggap na ang pagkatalo bilang porma ng pamumuhay.Itinuro ito ni Kleo. “Your absolute security weakness.”Hindi man lang lumingon si Vincent. “No.”“Oo kaya. Tiny feet at loud truths.”“She’s protected.”“Obviously.” Ngumiti si Kleo nang bahagya. “Still scary.”Sa pagkakataong ito, sinulyapan nga nito ang bata. Isang segundo lamang. Ngunit sapat para makita ni Kleo ang eksaktong linyang naghihiwalay sa kontrol at sa isang bagay na mas personal.Interesting. Very interesting.Bumalik ang tingin niya sa ibaba. “So kailan mo ako ililipat ulit like suspicious furniture?”“Twilight.”“Of course. Ang pinakadramatic na oras.”“It’s the best light break.”“It’s also heartbreak light.”“That is not a tactical estate term.”“It should be.”Mula sa lower walk, sa wakas ay sumulpot si Khalid. Late na. Masyadong huli para sa isang taong pamilyar sa mga pattern ng banta.
Hindi pinansin ni Vincent ang terminong ginamit nito. “My rooms remain visibly occupied. Some routes stay active. But actual center shifts to the old observatory line.”Pinaningkitan ni Kleo ang kanyang mga mata. “You’re sleeping in the observatory?”“No.”“Aww. Sayang.”Tumingin si Gavin sa kanilang dalawa. “Why did that sound so disappointed?”“No reason,” mabilis na sagot ni Kleo.“Sure.”Itinuro ni Vincent ang maliit na copper-domed structure sa modelo. “Observatory rise becomes the command line. Steven rotates between there and the main ridge. Lucien covers the east uplink.”Kumunot ang noo ni Lucien. “You want me on the east?”“Yes.”“You trust me with your sister’s route?”Ang sagot ni Vincent ay mabilis at walang halong pag-aalinlangan. “Yes.”Mas mabigat ang dating niyon kaysa sa inaasahan marahil nito. Bahagyang nagbago ang mukha ni Lucien. Napansin iyon ni Vivian. At napansin din ni Kleo na napansin ni Vivian. Umiwas ng tingin si Gavin dahil sa sheer decency, na bihira mang
Pagbalik nila mula Moonbridge, hindi na ordinaryong hapon ang sumalubong sa Sanctuary Florest.Same sunlight.Same wind.Same ridiculously beautiful paths.Pero iba na ang galaw ng mga tao.Mas tahimik ang staff, ngunit mas mabilis ang mga paa. May mga pinto na noong nakaraang oras ay bukas subalit ngayon ay nakasara. May mga guards na hindi mukhang guards kung hindi ka sanay magmasid nang mabuti. May mga utility carts na biglang dumadaan sa maling oras, may mga gardeners na tila masyadong attentive sa bawat gilid ng daan, at may mga ilaw sa ilang villa na maagang sinindihan kahit hindi pa sumasapit ang dapit-hapon.Naramdaman at napansin ni Kleo ang lahat ng iyon.Naturally.Habang paakyat sila sa central ridge, sumabay siya sa paglakad ni Vincent.“Okay,” panimula niya, “aminin mo na.”“Ano na naman?”“Na-e-enjoy mo ito nang sobra, 'no?”Hindi man lang binagalan ni Vincent ang kanyang lakad. “No.”“Liar.”“Focused.”“Mas masama iyon.”Sa unahan nila, si Steven ay abala nang kumakaus
She took one look and exhaled through her nose. “Ang unfair mo talaga.”“What now?”“You dress like trouble.”“That is nonsense.”“And yet, totoo.”He reached the last step and stopped in front of her. “Remember the route.”She made a face. “Wag mo akong briefing-an like I’m a bad intern.”“You forget things.”“I forget boring things.”“This matters.”“Fine,” sabi niya, then counted on her fingers with exaggerated patience. “We walk normal. We don’t look hunted. We don’t suddenly sprint into bushes like psychopaths. If something feels off, I tell you. If you get dramatic, I complain quietly.”“Last one won’t happen.”“Everything about me happens.”He opened his mouth to answer—then paused.His gaze had shifted past her shoulder.Kleo didn’t turn immediately. “Ano?”“You have a leaf in your hair.”She froze.“What?”He stepped closer once, reached up, and with maddening ease plucked out a pale little petal caught near her tie.For one second, neither moved.Because the distance betwee
She found him sa north veranda, standing near the stone balustrade while speaking quietly with two security men who left the second he saw her approaching.“Teka,” sabi ni Kleo, huminto sa harap niya. “Question.”“No.”“Bakit lahat ng tao rito umaalis pag palapit ako? May ginawa ba akong masama?”“Yes.”“Anong yes?”“You bring noise.”“That’s not a crime.”“In this house, debatable.”She folded her arms. “Hindi ka na ba napapagod maging ganito ka-control freak?”“No.”“Sinungaling.”He glanced toward the lower lawns. “Ready ka mamaya?”“Ay wow. Talagang walang transition.”“You asked a question. I answered. Now I’m asking mine.”“Yes, ready ako. Hindi mo kailangang tunugin na parang troop movement.”“It is a movement.”“God, you need music.”“I have a music hall.”“That is not the same thing.”A small breeze moved between them, carrying the scent of cut grass and river water.Kleo leaned against the railing. “Moonbridge ba talaga?”“Yes.”“Maganda roon.”“You’ve never been.”“I can te
Lumuhod si Kleo sa tabi niya. “A thing grown-ups say when they want to sound organized.”Tumango ang bata, satisfied. “Can I come?”“No,” sabi ni Vincent.“Yes,” sabi ni Kleo.Tinitigan siya ni Vincent.“What?” tanong ni Kleo. “You already promised her.”“That was before we found a watcher near the village.”Sumimangot ang bata. “Watcher?”Pumasok si Vivian sa usapan nang maayos. “Like a very rude bird.”“Oooh.” Pinag-isipan iyon ng bata. “Can I still ride?”Tumingin si Lucien kay Vincent. “Honestly, if we cancel everything, that tells them the notes worked.”Tumango si Vivian. “And she’ll know something is wrong.”“That’s because something is wrong,” sabi ni Vincent.Ipinatong ni Kleo ang kanyang siko sa mesa. “Then don’t cancel. Adjust.”Bumaling si Vincent sa kanya. “Meaning?”“Meaning you stop acting like the only choices are total control or total chaos.”Pabulong na sabi ni Gavin, “That was sexy and educational.”“No one asked you,” sabi ni Lucien.Itinap ni Kleo ang route sheet







