Moral Compass

Chapter Fourteen

Fallon didn't walk far from the castle. She sat cross-legged upon the sand, staring out to sea as she thought through her next approach.

He had forty-eight hours of probation with her to prove his worth. And Seth knew exactly how.

"So we know that Marina's still in this realm."

"Uh huh."

"And we know that you won't move on with stage two of this until you've spoken to her face to face."

"Yes."

He gnawed on his bottom lip, fighting back a telling smirk. "What if I told you that she's still in the building?"

"We know this. The guards went to speak to her."

"Yeah, but what if I knew exactly where in the building?" And now he had her interest. That's it Fallon. I bring something to the table. Give me chance and I'll lay you down on the table. "The guards aren't going to let us back in knowing what we'll come for. All we've got to do is find another way in and then I'll lead us right to her."

"You'd be able to do that?"

She really had no faith in him whatsoever.

"I'm a tracker. Tracking is like, what I do."

When she pushed herself up from the sand, he knew he had her. She jabbed a pointed finger against his chest. "Don't fuck it up."

"I won't. All we've got to do is find a way back into the building."

"Windows."

"Huh?"

"This castle isn't as heavily guarded as others. The sea separates the castle and the royal from the people. The harbour watch alerts the castle to anyone arriving by boat. People rarely travel to this realm. They have no need for heavy security. We'll get in through a window."

Fallon had done her research. Fuck, he pitied anyone on her bad side. He was lucky she'd only been his delivery service.

"Okay."

"Fuck this up for me and I'll skin you."

"I look forward to it."

"Don't make me punch you."

"Do it. I might like it."

They walked a circle around the castle, stopping when the tide lapped up against the walls. Then they walked back to the other side to the lowest open window they'd spotted. With the castle's floodgate walls surrounding it, they stood hidden from prying eyes.

A window was open on the second floor. If it was too high for him to reach, Fallon didn't stand a chance at grabbing it. But the look she gave the window said this was the one.

She cupped her hands and bent her legs.

"Give me your foot. I'll give you a boost up."

It was the way she said it like it was nothing that was most insulting to his pride.

"I'm not completely weak. I'll give you a boost."

"I don't need a boost."

"You assume that I do?"

He probably did. But he wasn't used to spending time with people like Fallon. People that worked outside of the war rooms. This was a whole new world to him with a physical side he wasn't prepared for.

"Stop trying to play big and accept that you need my help. It's not the end of the world."

"I don't. I don't need your help." He crossed his arms, behaving like a little bitch. "If you can get up on your own, so can I."