Chapter 12

Felix opened his mouth to answer. “Strictly speaking, he—”

Someone slammed into my shoulder hard enough to knock me half a step sideways into the cold stone of the corridor wall. I caught myself and turned.

Rosie stood next to me. Her red hair was in a thick braid over one shoulder, and she balanced a basket of folded linens on her hip.

“What are you two whispering about?” she asked, her eyes cutting straight past me to Felix. “Already gossiping in corridors?”

Felix sighed. “Not your business, Rosie.”

“It was until I found you blocking the hallway.” She looked at him a moment longer than necessary, then turned her attention back to me.

I rubbed my shoulder. “You could have asked us to move.”

“I could have.”

“But you decided using your shoulder was easier?”

Her eyes dropped pointedly to the hand I was still rubbing. “You survived.”

I lowered my hand. “Do you have a problem with me?”

“Yes.