by Chani Feener
Being a lower level fae would put Arden in danger, especially after what she’d done to the Erlking. And Victor. Twila couldn’t be the only one who was pissed off with her, and even though she and Brix were kind-of, sort-of friends, she wasn’t stupid enough to believe that he could keep her protected all the time, especially if he really had left with Krit.
Unless Mavek planned on locking her up in his manor, Arden didn’t quite see how he planned on keeping her safe for the rest of eternity.
“How is she supposed to find that out,” Eskel asked. “She can’t just walk up to Mavek and—”
“Why not?” Cole took a hefty bite of his now apple-free pizza. “The Midnight King wouldn’t hurt her.”
“Maybe those fake cakes were poisoned and they’ve messed with his brain,” Tabby leaned close to Arden and whispered, just loud enough to be sure the others could still hear her.
“What if I’m not ready to accept it yet?” Arden tried not to react to Tabby’s close proximity.
Cole met her gaze head on. “What if, by the time you are, it’s too late?”
“Too late for what?”
“We should be figuring out what type of fae you’re turning into, not how to stop it. Think about it, Arden, you’re safer with the sight. Wouldn’t you also be safer as an Unseelie? Wouldn’t we all?”
“Cole!” Tabby gasped.
“Are you suggesting we use Arden?” Eskel demanded, anger flashing in his eyes.
“I get what happened to us last week was terrifying,” Tabby added, “but this is really too much.”
“It’s the best way to protect all of us, including Arden,” Cole insisted. “Think about it. Logically, you all know I’m right. And it’s not like we’d treat her any different if she were fae. We’re all friends here. That isn’t going to change over something as tiny as that.”
“Tiny?” Tabby glared.
But Arden… part of Arden felt relieved.
Which was an altogether strange thing to feel in a situation like this, but she couldn’t help it. Her whole life she’d fought against what she was, and she was tired of it. If anything, these past few weeks had only made her more so. She’d been so caught up worrying over who’d stabbed her in that vision, what Mavek planned next, whether or not her friends would get hurt again because of her—she just wanted a break. She wanted to stop.
“You’re freaking her out.” Tabby wrapped an arm around Arden’s shoulders, pulling her in close.
Arden got to her feet, breaking free of Tabby’s hold fast enough that it jostled the other girl. She didn’t apologize. Instead, she crossed her arms and nibbled on her bottom lip, considering Cole’s suggestion.
“You don’t have to decide on anything right now,” Eskel told her, also rising so that he could stand next to her. “Take some time to think it over. Accepting there might really not be a cure… It’s a big step.”
“You can’t do that,” Tabby said. “You can’t lose hope, Arden. You’re the one who keeps saying there has to be a way.”
“Would you really hate me that much if I become one of them?” she asked, and the sudden tension in the room was palpable, but she couldn’t look away from Tabby.
“What?” She frowned. “Of course not. I’ll support you no matter what, but—”
“That’s not what you said at Howl’s,” Cole interjected, shrugging when they both gasped and turned on him. “I heard you leaving, Arden. I know you were there. How much of our conversation did you hear, and why haven’t you brought it up yet yourself?”
“You…” Tabby paled. “You were listening to that?”
“What’s going on?” Eskel glanced between them, annoyed at being the only one left in the dark. “Listened to what?”
“Tabby expressed how she really feels,” Arden said.
“That’s not…” She paused and shook her head, but struggled to come up with a decent excuse. “I didn’t mean it the way it sounded. It’s just, look, I care about you—”
“The human me.”
“Yes, but that’s who you are!” Tabby was close to tears now, frustration written across her face. “I’ve known you practically my whole life, and human is who you are. Forgive me for not wanting you to change into someone else, alright? That’s all I meant. I just… I don’t want to lose you.”
“You basically called me a monster.”
“You call the Unseelie monsters all the time,” she reminded Arden. “I’m not the only one who thinks of them that way.”
Arden flinched. The words stung, but she wasn’t wrong. They knew better than most what the fae were capable of––that they frequently did monstrous things. Of course she’d be afraid of losing Arden to the fae’s darker nature—hadn’t Arden expressed that same fear to Brix only a couple weeks ago? She had even gone so far as to make him promise to keep Eskel safe from her, if it came down to that. How could she ask her friends to trust her, if she wasn’t even capable of trusting herself?
“That’s enough,” Eskel interjected, moving closer to Arden. “I think you two should leave. Everyone’s really high-strung right now, we could all use some space to calm down.”
“Who put you in charge?” Tabby snapped, her burst of anger catching them all off guard. “You’ve known her the shortest amount of time, and the only reason you even bothered with her in the first place was because she knew things you didn’t.”
“You should stop while you’re ahead, cousin,” Cole said, having already collected their things during their argument. He placed a hand on the back of her shoulder and shoved her lightly toward the front door. “We’ll get going now. I’ll try to talk some sense into her.”
Tabby yanked away from his touch, fuming. “I’m not the bad guy here! I’m only saying what all of us are thinking.”
“I’m definitely not thinking what you’re thinking,” Eskel corrected.
“If that’s true, it’s only because you find this whole situation fascinating,” she accused. “I bet you’d love it if she changed into one of them because then you’d get more answers to all those damn faerie questions you’re always spouting!”
“Are you serious?” His voice hardened, but when he started toward Tabby, Arden stopped him with a hand on his arm.
“Just go,” she said to Cole, knowing he would take his cousin with him. Somehow, this conversation had completely blown up in their faces, and Eskel had the right idea. They all needed to take a moment to cool down before more things were said that they’d later regret.
Tabby stormed out without another word, Cole close on her heels. At the doorway, he turned and bowed slightly before shutting it with a click, leaving the two of them alone.
“She’s just going through a lot right now,” Eskel said once they heard the sound of Cole’s car starting in the driveway. “She’s not thinking clearly. It’s all that stress and anxiety. Cole’s PTSD is more obvious, but maybe she’s suffering from it as well after what happened at the crowning.”
Arden moved into the kitchen, setting up a fresh pot of coffee. It was already dark out, but she needed to do something and it was never a bad time for a caffeine-fix. Sleep was already hard to come by with the nightmares she’d been having.
“Are you really considering Cole’s suggestion?” Eskel asked from where he now stood in the kitchen doorway. He propped his shoulder against the wall, watching her with an enigmatic expression as she grabbed a loaf of bread and started making toast. “We still have half a pizza left in the living room.”
“I just…” She pressed the lever down on the toaster, even though she wasn’t even remotely hungry. “I need a distraction. Give me a second.”
“Do you want me to go?” He took a step back and she shook her head.
“No, stay. I’m sorry.”
“You don’t have to be,” he said. “Take all the time you need. You don’t owe me anything.”
She gave him a droll stare.
“Arden, it’s okay.”
“None of this feels oka
y.”
“I guarantee you Tabby feels just as awful right now as you do.”
“What about you?” He’d had some pretty harsh things shouted at him as well.
He thought it over for a moment, then, “Do you think I’m only interested in you because I’m curious to discover more about the fae?”
“Of course not,” she didn’t hesitate to answer.
“Then yeah,” he took a step into the kitchen and gave her a tired, half-smile, “I’m fine. She’ll cool down eventually. She’s just freaked out.”
“Aren’t we all?” She wanted to add that she was more so than the rest of them, considering it was her body going through all these changes, but bit her tongue. It wasn’t fair to compare their feelings. “I’m honestly just grateful you’ve all stuck around as long as you have.”
She’d been worried about her friends getting hurt. Maybe this fight with Tabby was a good thing. Maybe, after this, she’d finally listen to Arden and get out of Dodge.
“I know what you’re thinking,” Eskel said, and with a jolt she realized the coffee had finished and he’d poured her cup all while she’d been zoned out. “But it’s good having friends around, even if it’s dangerous. You need us.”
She took the offered mug, letting it heat her chilled hands. The thin sweater she was wearing did little to keep her warm. Turning, she cocked a hip against the countertop and lifted a brow. “Didn’t you tell me before you were a loner back in California?”
“Exactly,” he said, “that’s why I know better.”
“That’s…” she took a sip, “kind of sad.”
“Isn’t it?” He chuckled and moved to stand next to her, bumping their shoulders playfully. This close, Arden could see the outline of muscle beneath his shirt, her heart skipping a beat. “Another reason you should listen to me. It’s hard, but it’s still a lot easier with us around, and you know it. Wanting to keep your friends isn’t selfish, Arden.”
“I was sort of a loner too, you know,” she pointed out, smiling sadly. Though, she’d had one constant friend. “I feel like I’m going crazy. Ever since the Tithe, I haven’t been myself, and not just because of the whole physical change. I’m used to knowing what I want, but lately… I’m confused about everything. I hate this. I hate who I am right now.”
“You were betrayed by someone you’d placed a lot of trust in,” Eskel said. “It makes sense that you’re vulnerable right now. I get it.”
She glanced down, staring into the tan liquid, tendrils of steam drifting up to her face. “What if Tabby really can’t accept me? What if I lose her?”
He was quiet for a moment.
Arden wasn’t as much of a loner as Eskel claimed to be, but she didn’t exactly have a plethora of people she was close with. After her mother’s death, that number had dwindled down to a sad handful. Tabitha was the closest person she had, one of the few who remembered Arden’s father and what her life had been like before he’d died and her mom had lost her mind.
“Then you’ll still have me,” Eskel told her.
“Your brother was killed for loving an Unseelie,” she reminded him.
He scrunched up his nose. “I don’t think I’ve ever used the L word on you, Arden.”
She blanched but he merely laughed at her.
“I was joking, I know what you meant.” He sobered some. “Are you worried Mavek is going to hurt me if we get together?”
“Aren’t you?” Before, Arden had believed Mavek was different from the rest of his kind. The past couple of months had been eye-openers in many ways. She tried not to think about the deal he’d attempted to make with her, how he’d looked when he’d suggested she settle for both him and Eskel.
She shivered. It was a creepy proposition. But then, it made sense when she realized that Mavek saw Eskel as nothing more than a passing fancy for her. He probably assumed she’d grow tired of him. He might even hope that, like Tabby, Eskel wouldn’t be able to handle it if she really did turn fae. Hell, despite Eskel having told her point-blank he could over a dozen times now, she was only just starting to believe it.
“I’m sure he’ll try.” He shrugged. “But what’s life without a little risk?”
“That’s not funny.”
“That time it wasn’t a joke.” He twisted so that he was fully facing her, resting his arm behind her on the counter. Her palms grew sweaty. “Look, am I scared? Hell yeah, I’m not stupid. But the Unseelie have taken enough from me—from both of us. I like you, Arden, more than I’ve ever liked anyone before. And you like me. Why should we be the ones to run away?”
Her breath caught in her throat. “Are you saying you think Cole’s idea was right after all?”
He let out a slow breath. “I don’t know. That’s not really my call to make. But…”
“But?” she asked when his voice trailed off and he didn’t elaborate.
“I’m worried trying to figure out what type of fae you are will push you closer to Mavek,” he admitted in a rush, running a hand through his hair. His embarrassment was palpable. “Understanding why you still have feelings for the guy and sitting back while I know you’re with him are two different things.”
She knew she shouldn’t find that endearing, but the corner of her mouth tipped up. “Are you… jealous?”
For a moment, it didn’t look like he was going to respond, eyes wandering around the kitchen, looking everywhere but at her.
“Yeah,” he finally admitted, just when she thought her heart was about to explode from the tension. He exhaled loudly. “Yeah, I am.”
Arden opened her mouth, but the words died on her tongue because in the next instant a tingle shot up her spine. She froze, head swiveling toward the front door, hands already grabbing at Eskel to keep him still. She pressed a finger to her lips to silence him, straining her ears to try and hear. There hadn’t been any immediate noise, but she knew someone was outside her house. That unmistakable sensation hadn’t dissipated, the feeling only growing stronger.
“Unseelie,” she mouthed to Eskel, and then motioned for him to follow her. They headed down the hall to her bedroom as quietly as they could, the floorboards barely creaking beneath their weight. In her room, she tossed the pillow aside and pointed to the iron dagger hidden beneath it, moving to the window to peer out into the backyard while Eskel grabbed the dagger.
The silver dagger in her boot felt heavy when she removed it, wielding it in her hand. Chances were good it was nothing, just Cato lurking about as usual, or another one of Mavek’s spies. Perhaps it was a curious fae, come to catch a glance at the ex-Heartless. There were many possibilities that didn’t require Arden to take up arms in the confines of her own home.
And yet, she didn’t feel safe.
Whoever was out there, they meant to do her harm. She didn’t know how, just that there was a strange taste to the air––almost like overly ripe raspberries, just starting to rot. She made a mental note to bring that up with the others later—tasting danger—then stepped back from the window, letting the shade snap back into place.
“See anything?” Eskel whispered, and she shook her head in response.
“Was the front door locked?” she asked, thinking back to when Cole and Tabby had left. The lock attached to the doorknob worked automatically, so long as it was turned the right way. Try as she might, she couldn’t recall if she’d set it to manual lock after their arrival or not.
“Would that really make a difference?” he pointed out, and she was forced to admit it probably wouldn’t. The Unseelie were stronger than humans, and if one wanted to get into her house, locks wouldn’t be enough to keep them out.
“We should—”
Suddenly, something burst through the window, crashing straight through the blinds, ripping them right off the wall in the process. The glass shattered, bursting inward in a heavy gust. Arden felt a shard scrape across her right cheek and was only able take a single step toward Eskel before something slammed into her side.
They b
oth hit the ground with a heavy thump.
Arden fought blindly with the assailant on top of her, struggling to get one of her knees between their bodies. Everything was moving so quickly that it was hard to focus, but a thick tendril of inky hair with shots of red slapped her face.
Twila.
She’d lost the silver dagger when she’d been hit, but she used one hand to search the ground while she held off her attacker with the other. Finally, she blinked into focus and caught the Unseelie’s throat, squeezing hard enough that the female started to gag.
That was when Arden realized that Twila was holding onto a shard of glass as long as her fingers, and that it was currently imbedded in Arden’s left shoulder. She hissed, sharp pain shooting through her limb, but managed to jam her knee upward into the Unseelie’s side.
Twila rolled away, forced to let go of the glass, and Arden quickly followed, swaying on her feet for half a second before regaining her balance. Blood was already running in rivulets down her arm, staining the carpet. Twila’s cohort had backed Eskel into a corner on the other side of the bed, where the only thing keeping the male faerie from attacking was the iron dagger Eskel held out in front of him. His hand was shaking slightly.
“If you think the Midnight King is going to save you this time,” Twila sneered, forcing Arden’s attention back on her, “you’re dead wrong. I made sure he was properly distracted before coming here. I won’t let you get away a second time.”
The silver dagger she’d dropped was only a few feet away, partly hidden beneath her dresser. If Arden could reach it, she’d have a better chance against Twila. She’d been getting stronger, but she regretted not having tested her limits. Too bad Cole hadn’t made his suggestion sooner. Knowing what she was and wasn’t capable of would have seriously come in handy.
Twila leapt for her then, at the same moment Eskel shouted out, “Salt shaker!”
Arden acted on instinct, tossing her hand out in the direction of the knife, eyes widening when it slid across the floor straight into her palm. She had just enough time to raise it in her defense before Twila was on her a second time. She stabbed upward, nicking the Unseelie’s side, but didn’t manage a fatal blow. Shoving with all of her strength, she tossed Twila away, watching as she hit the wall on the other side of the room hard enough to leave a dent in the plaster.