Nathan let out a slow breath. "She won't stop watching? As in…"
He gestured vaguely. "You're on her radar?"
Merlin shook his head.
"No. I've been on her radar."
A beat of silence.
"Now I'm in her plans."
The group went completely, perfectly still.
Elara was the first to respond, her voice low and tight.
"What does that mean?"
Merlin glanced around the hall. Other students were filing in for their next class, laughing, chatting, shoving friends, clueless of the pressure coiling around their group.
He exhaled once and spoke quietly enough only they could hear.
"Morgana didn't call me in to question me," Merlin said. "She called me because she's preparing something. For me. For the academy. And she wanted me to know I can't hide my growth anymore."
Nathan frowned. "She… always knew you were strong."
"She knew I was a six-star," Merlin corrected. "She didn't know how fast I could grow."
A pause.
