by Karen Lynch
“I don’t for sure, but they caused the cameras to go out while they were at the door, and they couldn’t get past our ward.”
Faolin’s stare grew even harder. “Why do you have an anti-Fae ward on your apartment? Do you have something to hide?”
I huffed out a breath. “All bounty hunters have them. The job doesn’t exactly make us popular with certain people.”
“Do you still have the security footage?” Lukas asked.
“Yes, but they kept their faces hidden the whole time.”
Conlan spoke up. “Doesn’t matter. We’ll be able to tell if they were faeries.”
Faolin continued to fire questions at me. The interrogation lasted over two hours, and I felt emotionally drained when it was finally over. He turned on his heel and left the room without a backward glance at me.
“Faolin can be a bit extreme, but he’s thorough,” Lukas said when I slumped in my chair.
“A bit extreme?” I gave him a weak scowl, earning a small smile from him that did funny things to my stomach. I looked away, irritated he could affect me even while he was holding me here against my will.
“You did well. Not many people can hold their own against Faolin.” Conlan came over and offered me a hand.
I allowed him to pull me to my feet and lead me back to the main living area. He settled me on one of the comfortable couches and went to the kitchen to grab a bottle of water for me. There was no sign of Faolin or the other two, and I sat in uncomfortable silence, wondering how much longer they were going to keep me here. I needed to get home to Finch.
Lukas strode back into the room, holding his phone. “I need to take care of a few things. Conlan, help our guest settle in while we wait on Faolin.”
“Settle in?” I echoed.
“You’ll stay here tonight while Faolin checks into your story.”
I shot to my feet. “I can’t stay here. I have to go home.”
“You can go home tomorrow,” he said with a note of finality that set my teeth on edge. I wasn’t one of his men to boss around.
I took a few angry steps toward him and froze when something growled, low and menacingly, behind me. Fear gripped me as a huge, black cat stalked past me so close that its thick fur brushed against my hand.
The feline stopped six feet away and turned to face me. Its tufted ears, bushy ruff, and bobtail made it resemble a lynx, but its size and the amethyst eyes staring back at me told me the creature was not of this world. I couldn’t remember ever reading about it, so I had no idea what it was or what it would do.
As if it could hear my thoughts, it bared its teeth at me and let out another growl. I backed up until my legs hit the couch.
“Hey there, nice kitty,” I squeaked as my heart drummed against my ribs.
The creature watched me like a cat waiting to pounce on a mouse. I started to feel lightheaded until I realized I was holding my breath. I let it out in a slow whoosh that made the creature’s nose twitch.
“Kaia, sit,” Lukas commanded, and the creature abruptly sat on its haunches. Its eyes stayed locked on me, and sweat broke out on my upper lip.
Lukas walked over to scratch the large head, and the creature’s loud purr filled the room.
“She won’t hurt you without my command,” he said to me. If that was supposed to make me feel better, it failed miserably.
I found my voice. “What is she?”
“She’s a lamal, a domesticated feline from Faerie.”
“T-that’s your version of a house cat?” I stared at the cat rubbing her head against him.
Lukas smiled. “Lamals live in the wild, but some – like Kaia – are bred in captivity.”
“I’ve never heard of them,” I said hoarsely, wishing I had that water Conlan had been getting for me when Kaia put in her appearance.
As if on cue, Conlan came over and handed me a bottle of mineral water. His friendly smile helped unravel the knot of fear in my gut, and not for the first time, I wondered how he’d ended up with Lukas and Faolin, who were so serious and intense. Iian and Kerr didn’t seem to be as angry as Faolin, but they weren’t exactly friendly either.
“Thanks,” I whispered as I opened the bottle and took a long drink.
“There is a lot about Faerie you don’t know,” Lukas said, bringing my attention back to him. Something in his tone told me I was better off not knowing everything.
I looked at Kaia, and the moment our eyes met, she hissed at me. Lukas said something to her in Fae, and she stared up at him adoringly.
“I don’t think she likes me,” I said in a weak attempt at humor.
“She doesn’t, but it’s not personal,” Lukas replied. “She’s never met a human before, and she sees you as a threat to me.”
“Lovely.” I sank wearily down to the couch I’d been sitting on earlier.
Lukas’s brows drew together as he studied me. “If you’re tired, you can retire for the night. Conlan will see you to a room.”
I thought about Finch alone in our apartment, and my chest squeezed. “I need to go home.”
“Not tonight,” he said firmly.
“You don’t understand,” I protested. “My little brother is there alone, and he’ll be frightened if I stay out overnight.”
“You never mentioned a younger sibling.” His eyes narrowed in suspicion.
“Do you tell strangers about your family?” I challenged.
His frown faded. “How old is your brother?”
“He’s ten.”
“You left a child alone at night?” Lukas asked sharply.
I bristled defensively until I realized he had no way of knowing my brother wasn’t like other children. “Finch is a sprite. He can mostly take care of himself, but he’s been upset since our parents disappeared. If I don’t go home, he’ll think something happened to me, too.”
“You own a sprite, and you call him your brother?” asked a new voice as one of the other faeries walked in from the foyer.
“He’s not a pet.” I almost spat the words, offended on Finch’s behalf. “When he was a baby, my parents rescued him from traffickers and brought him home to live with us.”
My tone must have been too aggressive because Kaia started growling again. I watched the big feline as Lukas stroked her head until she relaxed, and I made sure my voice sounded non-threatening when I spoke again. “Now do you see why I can’t stay here?”
Lukas’s jaw hardened again, and my heart sank. He didn’t have to speak for me to know what his answer would be. I’d never hated someone before, but in that moment, I think I hated him.
“Do you have one of those answering machines at home?” Conlan asked suddenly, forcing my gaze away from his friend.
“Why?” I asked warily.
He smiled. “Because if you do, you can call and leave a message, and your sprite will hear it.”
“My brother,” I corrected. “And yes, we do.” We had a phone in the kitchen, and Finch would definitely hear it if I called him. He couldn’t answer, but it might ease his mind to know I was okay.
“When you’re done, Conlan will get you anything you need,” Lukas said dismissively. He turned away and started back toward the library. “Kaia, come.”
I waited until they were out of sight to take out my phone. Turning away from Conlan, I dialed my home number and heard it ring three times before the machine picked up. Hearing my father’s voice telling me to leave a message made my eyes sting a little.
“Hey, Finch, it’s me,” I said in a steady voice. “I know I told you I wouldn’t stay out too late, but something’s come up and I won’t be home until tomorrow. I’ll buy you a whole bucket of blackberries to make it up to you, okay? I love you.”
I hung up and took a deep breath before I spun to face Conlan, who was watching me curiously. I raised my eyebrows in question, but he only smiled and held out his hand. It took me a few seconds to realize he was asking for my phone.
“You’ll get it back tomorrow,” he said after
I relinquished it. “Come on. I’ll show you where to sleep.”
Suddenly bone-weary, I gave a small nod. Conlan led me up the stairs to the second floor, and I silently marveled at the work and money that must have been required to turn a commercial building into this beautiful home.
We turned right at the top of the stairs and walked to a closed door at the end of the hall. Conlan opened the door and ushered me inside a large bedroom. In the center of the room was a king bed with a black wooden headboard and a dark red coverlet. I didn’t see any personal items to indicate whose room this was, but it clearly belonged to one of the males.
“This is not a guest room,” I said, my voice higher than normal.
“We don’t have any guest rooms. Don’t worry. No one will bother you here.” Conlan crossed the room and opened several drawers in a tall dresser until he found what he was looking for. Pulling out a white shirt, he came over to hand it to me. “You can sleep in this.”
I took the large shirt that was made of material so soft it had to come from Faerie. I had to resist the urge to press it to my face. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome. Get some sleep.”
“Conlan,” I called as he reached the door.
He turned and gave me an inquisitive look, and I debated for a moment whether or not to voice my question. My curiosity won out.
“Is he always like that? So…” I cast about for the right word to use to describe Lukas.
“Obstinate?” Conlan suggested with a quirk of his lips, and I nodded.
He seemed to think about how to answer. “Lukas has a lot of responsibility and people who depend on him. He’s harsh when he needs to be, but he’s also a man of honor.”
He left, closing the door quietly behind him. I waited for the click of a lock, but all I heard was his footsteps. I didn’t bother to try the door. With the five of them and Kaia, I wouldn’t get far if I tried to escape.
Resigned, I took off my coat and tossed it on a chair. I went into the bathroom and splashed water on my face, wishing I had a toothbrush. Did faeries even need to brush their teeth? It was something I’d never considered before.
I undressed in the bathroom and donned the shirt, which was miles too big for me. It felt heavenly against my skin, and it smelled amazing. I was too tired to care that it belonged to one of the faeries holding me here against my will.
Pulling back the covers on the bed, I crawled in, feeling tiny and out of place in this huge bed and unfamiliar room. I stared at the ceiling for long minutes, willing my racing mind to calm and my body to relax. The sooner I slept, the sooner tomorrow would come, and I could leave this place.
The sound of a door opening woke me sometime later, and I had to stop myself from leaping out of the bed. I lay still, feigning sleep, and listened to the two faeries speaking in low voices near the door.
“You put her in my room?” Lukas asked in an accusing tone.
“Where did you expect her to sleep?” Conlan replied dryly. “You insisted she stay, so it’s only fair you give her your bed.”
“Sometimes I think you forget you work for me.”
Conlan chuckled. “I’d never forget that, my friend.”
They were silent for a moment, and I thought they’d left until Conlan said, “I think she’s telling the truth.”
After a brief pause, Lukas said, “I do, too.”
I was so overcome by relief I almost missed Conlan’s whispered, “She’s a gutsy little thing, but she’s going to get herself killed if she goes after that goren dealer alone.”
Lukas said something that sounded like, “I know,” making my stomach twist with dread.
I waited for them to say something else, but all I heard was the soft click of the door as it closed. I lay awake for hours, thinking about my parents and trying not to imagine the horrible things that could have happened to them. In my heart, I knew they were still alive, but that didn’t mean they hadn’t been harmed in some way.
The thought of my strong parents helpless and hurt filled me with renewed anguish and determination. Conlan and Lukas thought I’d fail in my quest, but they weren’t the first people to underestimate me, and they probably wouldn’t be the last. I’d just have to prove them wrong, too.
Chapter 10
I blinked my eyes open and stared at my ceiling in confusion. Why did it look so high? Where was the crack in the plaster that Dad had been meaning to fix? And why was it so darn bright in here?
I shot up in bed with a gasp and stared at the unfamiliar room. Last night came back in a torrent of memories, sending me scrambling from the sheets tangled around me. In my haste, I tumbled off the bed and landed on the floor in an undignified heap.
“Ow.” I massaged my elbow as I got to my feet. Spotting my clothes where I’d left them neatly stacked on a chair, I dressed quickly, afraid someone might walk in on me.
In the bathroom, I combed my fingers through my messy hair and found a hair tie in my pocket to wrangle it into a ponytail. My mouth tasted disgusting from not brushing last night, and my breath would probably knock out anyone who got too close. Served them right for forcing me to stay here without so much as a toothbrush.
Once I was as presentable as I was going to be, I grabbed my coat and cracked the door to peek out. The hallway was empty, but that didn’t mean Kaia wasn’t lurking nearby, ready to pounce.
I gnawed on my lip as I debated whether to leave the room or stay and wait for someone to come get me. Five minutes later, when there was no sign of anyone, I decided to risk it. I couldn’t wait around here all day. I needed to get home to Finch.
Feeling like a burglar, I crept quietly down the hall and descended the stairs. The main room was empty, making me wonder where everyone had gone. I couldn’t see them leaving me here alone, especially not Faolin.
The thought of the angry faerie sent a shiver through me. He was the last person I wanted to run into. If I never had the pleasure of his company again, it would be too soon.
I was almost at the door when I remembered Conlan had taken my phone from me last night. Shoot. I walked around the room looking for it, but it was nowhere in sight.
“Gah!” I yelled when I turned and almost ran into Lukas, who looked even bigger in the light of day. I slapped a hand over my heart. “What is it with you creeping up on me?”
His eyebrows arched. “We’re in my home, and you appear to be the one doing the creeping. What are you looking for?”
“My phone,” I said crossly. “Conlan said I could have it back before I left.”
“Then I’m sure he will return it to you.” Lukas walked into the kitchen. “There are breakfast pastries if you’re hungry.”
I stayed where I was, my eyes darting nervously around the room for his pet.
“Kaia is outside in the garden,” he said.
I followed his gaze to a spot on the other side of the window, and sure enough, there was a dark, furry shape rolling around in the grass. How I’d missed her when I’d come downstairs, I had no idea.
“Aren’t you worried she’ll jump over the fence and take off?” I asked, watching as the lamal rolled agilely to her feet and took off after a bird.
“No. Now have a seat.”
I turned to face him. “I’d rather just get my phone and be on my way.”
“In due course,” he replied in that unyielding tone I was starting to recognize.
“Fine.” I walked over and sat on one of the tall stools at the island. Lukas slid a plate of sweet and savory pastries toward me, and I gingerly picked one up.
“If I wanted to do you harm, I wouldn’t need to use food,” he said when I held it without taking a bite.
I moved the pastry toward my mouth and stopped. “This is not Fae food, is it?”
Back in elementary school, a boy in my class had brought in some Fae fruit he’d found in his older brother’s room. My parents had warned me against eating Fae food, so I’d refused it when he offered me some. Seven other kids, including
the boy, weren’t so lucky, and it had taken two days for them to come down from the high the food had given them.
Lukas laughed softly, and the sound traveled straight to my belly, setting off a swarm of butterflies there. Annoyed by my traitorous body’s reaction to him, I glowered at the pastry in my hand. He didn’t need to poison me when he was capable of rendering me stupid with just a laugh.
“Are you always this distrustful?” he asked.
“Do you always give your guests breakfast?” I retorted, using air quotes.
He leaned back against the opposite counter. “As you are my first and only guest, I’d have to say yes. And to answer your first question. No, it’s not Fae food. It came from the bakery down the street.”
“Oh.” I held the pastry to my nose and sniffed it before taking a small bite. Warm apple and cinnamon filled my mouth, and I chewed happily.
He pointed at a cup with the bakery’s name on it that I hadn’t noticed. “There is coffee if you want it.”
“God, yes.” I picked up the cup and took a long whiff of the aromatic brew. “Mmm. I haven’t had coffee in forever. This makes me almost willing to forgive you for last night.”
That earned another smile from him, and I averted my gaze before my stomach could start doing crazy flips again. His pleasant expression made it too easy to forget we were not friends and that he had forced me to stay here against my will.
“Almost,” I reiterated.
“Speaking of last night.” He crossed his arms, making the muscles in his shoulders more prominent. “Faolin confirmed your story about your parents’ disappearance. You’ll be free to go after we discuss a few things.”
“That’s because it wasn’t a story,” I said tightly. “What things?”
“First, we want to see the security footage you have of the faeries who came to your apartment.”
I wiped crumbs from my mouth. “I’m surprised Faolin didn’t already go to my place and take it.” Lukas’s head of security wasn’t exactly the type to ask permission.
Amusement flickered in Lukas’s eyes. “He couldn’t get past your ward.”
“That’s because my parents take our security very seriously.” I couldn’t keep the smug smile off my face as I imagined Faolin’s reaction when he couldn’t enter the apartment. “Do you think those faeries are working for the goren dealer?”