Elena raised her hand to stay him, and he frowned, crossing his arms and glowering. “What does that have to do with me?”
“Your maternal grandfather rules New Kingdom. He is very powerful. Many believe he will someday control all of Tirnan.”
Elena wagged her head. “That can’t be right.” But even as the words left her mouth, Elena caught herself.
Hadn’t the Fae told her all along that she was different? Her powers were unusual, even for a Halven.
“There is no mistake, Elena.”
Derek was a full dozen feet from the alcove, leaning against the wall, but even at that distance she sensed the coiled energy he gave off. He was ready to protect her at any moment if she needed him.
“Is my mother with the king? Is that where she’s been all this time?”
“She left you because she had no choice. If she had stayed in the Earth realm, they would have returned both of you to Tirnan, and you would never have known this world, or your father. More importantly, your mother feared for your life. Halven are not accepted among our people.”
It was pretty obvious the Fae held prejudices toward Halven. It explained why her mother had left her behind, though it was difficult to swallow.
Deirdre rested her hands lightly on Elena’s shoulders. “Show extreme caution. Trust no one.” She glanced at Derek. “Perhaps the boy, but the others—I don’t know their motives. I’m beginning to wonder…” Deirdre’s voice trailed off as if she were about to say something but changed her mind. “Help them find a cure. Promise nothing else.”
Of course she wouldn’t promise more. As soon as this was all over in a few days—hopefully, after being reunited with her mother—Elena would have nothing to do with these people. “Why are you telling me this?”
Deirdre had always come across as compassionate, but this seemed like sneaking around.
She dropped her hands to her sides, her expression wistful. “You must survive.”
Elena held her breath for a heartbeat. “Did my mother send you?” It was the only thing that would explain Deirdre’s behavior.
“No,” she said sadly, and glanced down. “One last thing. Never forget, the Fae cannot lie. We tell the truth, but we manipulate the truth. Be careful what you agree to.”
“You’re Fae. How do I know I can trust you?” Elena thought she could trust Deirdre, but she’d also thought herself relatively safe in Emain—until she’d met Beatrice.
“You don’t. Think about what I’ve told you.” She turned and walked quickly away.
“How do I protect myself if I can’t trust anyone?” Elena called, but Deirdre glanced past Elena and Derek, surveying the area, before disappearing down another corridor.
Stupid Emain labyrinth, Elena thought, right as Keen burst through a door a few feet away.
“Jesus,” Elena gasped, slapping her hand to her chest. “Quit sneaking up on me like that.”
“We’re leaving,” Derek told him.
“Yes, that is best. Let us go.” Keen’s expression was grim.
“Now you’re my protector?” She stared in disbelief at the Fae.
His gaze flickered to her before he strode to the door that led to the classroom out of Emain. “You are fine. That is all that matters.”
No, it wasn’t all that mattered, according to Deirdre, and Elena had no reason to doubt her, since Fae didn’t lie. Elena wasn’t just an asset to them because of her powers—she was important because of the family she came from.
Keen had said she didn’t know how high the stakes were, and now she realized why he’d said it. She was a part of a royal family, and she’d bet that put her in more danger.
Excellent.
15
The walk back to Elena’s apartment was silent. Derek didn’t know what Elena was thinking, but a riot of anger and frustration rolled around in his head. How was he supposed to protect her from these people? Leo kept secrets, Beatrice was up to no good, and Derek had no idea whose side Deirdre was on.
Since the day Derek had turned eighteen, he hadn’t known whom he could trust, and it was getting worse. Marlon had betrayed him, and now he was involved with the bastard Fae and the bullshit they hung over his and Elena’s heads. He’d assumed Keen had Elena’s best interests in mind, but even Keen had failed her today, the jackass. And if Derek was being honest with himself, he’d failed her too.
That was what really ate at him.
They walked into Elena’s apartment and she set her backpack by the door, letting out a deep sigh that ended on a light shiver, as though she was finally relaxing. After the day she’d had in Emain, she had every right to be stressed out.
“Are you hungry?” she asked. “I know it’s late, but I should eat something. I guarantee my roommate hasn’t had anything. Reese doesn’t eat the dorm food. She could order out, but she’s gotten used to me cooking.”
Elena directed her next question to Keen, who stood near the couch. “How about you? Are you hungry? Or do you eat other things like, say, innocent babies or young maidens?”
A lazy smile spread across Keen’s face. “Are you offering your virtue?”
Son of a bitch. Derek inhaled, holding the air inside his lungs until it burned. Better that than wrapping his fingers around the Fae’s neck. “I’ll stay, Elena. Food sounds good.”
No way would he leave Elena alone with that unreliable bastard, and hell yes, he wanted food. He wasn’t capable of passing up a meal. It would have to be rancid and growing fur before he turned it away. He hadn’t eaten in about an hour, and already his energy waned. Derek carried a stash of snacks inside his backpack so he could eat every hour on the hour, because his appetite was huge.
After his eighteenth birthday two years ago, Derek’s metabolism had shot through the roof. He’d grown eight inches in height since then. He had to buy clothes so often, the mall employees were beginning to recognize him. He’d gotten in the habit of buying things a couple of sizes too large to avoid a mall rat reputation and save time. Derek’s adoptive parents associated the growth with late blooming, but they were wrong. The increased appetite and height coincided with his ability to Blend.
Topping six foot six, Derek wondered when the growth spurt would end. Every guy wants to be huge, but there comes a point when it’s too much, especially for someone interested in a scientific career. Handling dropper pipettes gets tricky with hands the size of Frisbees. Not that he’d mind a few more inches. It would put him in a better position to protect Elena from the Fae. The men he’d come into contact with inside Emain, including Keen, had nearly a foot on him.
Elena set pans on the stove and pulled ingredients out of the refrigerator. She cut carrots and other vegetables, her hands moving expertly and quickly.
“You need any help?”
She shook her head and waved him off. “Might as well relax while you can. We’ll be back in Emain before we know it.” Her pretty mouth twisted to the side, a light crease forming between her eyebrows.
“You’re not relaxing,” he pointed out.
“Actually, I am. I like to cook.” She smiled, masking some of the worry on her face, but he’d seen it.
Of course she was worried. Today had sucked. And with the information he’d discovered about Marlon, something told him it would only get worse.
Keen slouched on the couch and Derek joined him. Maybe he’d figure something out about the Fae based on his channel-surfing preferences—or maybe Keen would let slip what he hadn’t told them this afternoon about Beatrice.
Keen stared at the remote like he’d never seen one before.
“You drive a car, but you don’t know how to operate a remote?” Derek said.
Keen handed Derek the controller, and Derek turned on the television, flipping through the channels rapid-fire. Out of the corner of his eye he caught Keen hold up a hand.
“What is that?” Keen pointed to the screen.
Where did this guy come from? “A television, dude.”
Keen’
s gaze slid to Derek. “Not the device, human. The people. Who are they?”
Derek glanced at the TV. “Lacy Lamoor. It’s an episode of My Train Wreck Life. Reality television?”
Keen stared at the images, entranced. They had cars and electron microscopes, but no cable? The Fae were weird.
Derek gave up the idea of watching something decent, like sports, or solving the secrets of the Fae, and stood to use the bathroom. Keen’s arm flashed out, palm up.
The only thing Derek held was the remote, so he handed it to him. Keen set the controller on the armrest.
Keen hated humans but he liked reality television—about humans. Derek shook his head and walked down the hall.
When he returned from the bathroom, two things hit him. One, the smell coming from the kitchen made his stomach rumble like he’d starved it for a year. And two, Keen’s attention had shifted from overdramatized reality television to Reese, Elena’s roommate, walking through the front door.
“I’m home!” Reese called out cheerily, head bent as she juggled a truckload of shopping bags dangling from her arms. “Oh my God, I’m starved,” she said to Elena. “Went to Kira’s after shopping and a bunch of guys showed up. Did you know she tutors? That chick makes bank. Practically writes their papers for them. I didn’t even know…” Her voice trailed off as she took in the two men in her living room.
Keen stood and tracked Reese as she crossed to Elena, setting her bags by the kitchen peninsula.
Reese raised an eyebrow. “Guests? Girl, what have you not been telling me?”
Keen hadn’t stopped staring at Reese. With a predatory look, if Derek had to peg it. One that took a leisurely sweep of Reese’s figure while watching her every move.
This could not be good.
Thank God Keen never stared at Elena that way. He might flirt with her, which was bad enough, but the way he was staring at Reese was…possessive.
Elena tossed ingredients into a pot on the stove. “Reese, this is Keen. He’s working with Derek and me on that project I told you about.” She glanced nervously at her roommate. “And, uhh, Keen spent the night last night. Sorry, I should have asked if it was okay. It was a last-minute thing.”
Reese gave Elena a you’d-better-tell-me-all-about-it-later look.
Elena nodded subtly. “The guys are staying for dinner.”
“Nice name,” Reese said to Keen. She twisted back to Elena before Keen could reply, hand outstretched for a bite of food.
Must not have noticed the drool dripping off Keen’s chin, or his forward-leaning attack pose, like he was one step from clubbing Reese and dragging her to his lair.
Elena didn’t miss the look, though. She stared at Keen, eyes silently pleading for him to chill, if Derek read it right. She handed Reese a carrot stick and smiled stiffly.
Keen finally snapped out of predator mode and sank onto the couch.
What was wrong with the guy today?
Derek sat next to him. “You can pick your chin up off the ground now.”
Keen made a disgruntled sound, his attention supposedly on My Train Wreck Life, though Derek would swear it was on the two girls chattering in the kitchen.
Thirty minutes later, the only thoughts passing through Derek’s mind were: Marry her. Now. Food so good. Have to marry this girl so I can eat like this all the time. The strange rice meatball stewed soup thing she’d made was the best damn food he’d had since his mom’s cooking.
Mexican food in the Midwest? Sucked. But this?
This was heaven.
Eating at Elena’s and hanging out was the most normal thing he’d done in the last few days. Damn, for the last year or more. He’d kept his distance from everyone, not just his family and roommates. He knew there had to be a reason his neighbor had intrigued him from the start. She liked to cook and he liked to eat. They were a perfect match.
Belly filling with delicious food, he almost forgot the shitstorm they’d found themselves in. Almost.
Elena’s cell phone rang partway through Derek’s third helping. “Sorry.” She smiled shyly, and pushed out her chair. “I gotta take this.”
Keen spooned out his fourth bowl, a competitive smirk on his face, as Elena walked away.
Derek shoveled down his next bite, then picked up his bowl and drank the broth. No way was this guy outmatching him when it came to eating. Derek could best a food champion.
He was sloshing down bowl number four when Elena’s voice rose, part of her conversation floating over.
“Mateo, a friend snuck up on me, that’s all. I’m sorry I haven’t called back.” There was a pause, then he heard her say, “I know…” before her voice trailed off and he couldn’t catch the rest of it.
Elena ended the call shortly afterward anyway, staring at the phone in her hand. Her fingers braced her forehead and the strain around her mouth returned.
The food in Derek’s stomach turned into a brick.
He was about to ask if everything was okay, when she plastered a smile on her face. “How’s the meal?”
“Quite nice,” Keen said. “I enjoyed the spices you applied. It gave the food a zest I’m not accustomed to.”
Derek clenched his teeth. The food was freaking fantastic. “It was great, Elena. Thanks for cooking.”
She walked back to her seat and idly stirred her soup without eating. “Good—well, there’s more. I’m used to cooking for a lot of people. My aunt taught me after…” An uncomfortable silence filled the room.
Reese straightened. “After you moved in with her.”
“Yeah,” Elena said, and took a shaky breath, as if the weight of the world rested on her shoulders. And in some ways, it did.
He hated the weight she carried. Wanted to unburden her.
“It’s getting late, guys. If you don’t mind, I’m gonna crash.” She peered uncertainly at Keen.
“I will rest on your couch for the evening,” Keen said.
Reese glanced between them. “He’s staying? Again?”
Derek stared at the Fae. “This is overkill, man. I’m next door. I can be here in thirty seconds if need be.” Elena was in far more danger in Emain with people like Beatrice around than inside her home. And for some reason, the idea of Keen hovering around Elena rankled, rational or not.
Keen placed his spoon on the table, his eyes hard. “I stay with the girl. No exceptions.”
“Elena?” Reese pulled a lock of thick golden hair over her mouth in a nervous gesture. “What’s going on?”
Derek’s anger built, energy making his blood pump faster. His body wanted to Blend, but he didn’t flip that switch. He sat solid and furious, glaring at Keen, but the guy’s expression didn’t budge. “Fine. I’ll stay, too.”
“What?” Elena and Reese said at the same time.
“I’m not leaving you alone with this guy,” he said to Elena, without taking his gaze off Keen.
“It’s fine, Derek.” She lowered her voice, but everyone could hear. “He’s not going to hurt us.”
Derek exhaled slowly, his fists clenching and unclenching above his thighs. What was his problem? He didn’t do the jealous thing. He needed to get out. Back to his house and the sham existence he’d created with his roommates. Even his damn research was a sham now.
“Thanks for the food.” He pushed back his chair with too much force, straightening it before it toppled. Then he grabbed his backpack and stalked out the door.
16
Elena wrestled her arms through the sleeves of her nightshirt, her head popping out the top just as Reese entered her room.
Reese hooked her thumb over her shoulder. “Why is that guy Keen sleeping on our couch? Not that I’m complaining, ’cause—” She fanned a hand in front of her face and leaned against the door. “Do you think the resident advisor cares if he stays?”
They might live off campus, but the building was all freshmen and housed an RA. “I doubt it. The walk of shame is practically a daily occurrence.”
“True. But that�
�s not what’s going on, right? I mean, if you like Keen…” She looked down. “That’s fine. I just—I didn’t get the sense you guys had something going on.”
“You think—no, Reese.” Elena shook her head vehemently. “Nothing like that is going on. He’s here to… to protect me,” she said carefully.
Reese stared for a moment, then methodically moved to the bed and sat in the center, crossing her legs. “Why would you need protection?” Her tone was serious, and Elena wondered how much she could tell her roommate. She couldn’t keep everything from Reese. Not with Keen shadowing her every step and staying the night.
“I know something’s going on,” Reese said. “You’ve not been yourself. I mean, you’re always a hermit bookworm, but I don’t know. There’s more, isn’t there?”
Listening for the television, which appeared to be at full volume, Elena decided it was safe to talk without being overheard by the superior Fae hearing in the living room.
She moved to the head of the bed and tucked her feet beneath the sheets. “If I tell you, you can’t freak out.”
Reese yawned and balanced her chin on her hand, elbow propped on her knee. “My dad writes for Hollywood—you think I’m not used to drama? I can handle whatever life crisis you’re going through.”
“Oh, really?” Elena laughed humorlessly. “In that case, Keen’s a Fae.”
Reese stared, as if waiting for more.
“A Fae, Reese. Do you know what that is?”
Reese furrowed her brow. “Fine, I’ll play along. A Fae? Like a pretty little fairy with wings?” She giggled, and Elena was tempted to as well. Keen with delicate wings was a funny mental image.
“Not quite.” Elena’s mouth twisted wryly. “Supposedly, Keen isn’t the small, winged variety. He looks normal, and so do the others I’ve met. They’re exceedingly tall, slender, and—attractive. You’ve seen him. You know what I’m talking about.”
Reese nodded automatically, then her face sobered. “Wait—what? Elena, he’s playing you. That’s like the oldest pickup line in the player handbook. You think a guy hasn’t told me he’s a superhero before? How could you fall for that?”
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