I turned once more to face the dreaded black mask.
Liri lowered it from his face. Amusement appeared in his smile and mirth in the shimmer of his deadly eyes.
“What is this?” I demanded, jerking my head around, searching for an explanation and, more importantly, an exit.
“No need to flee, love. You’re not really here,” Liri said, his smile widening. He reminded me of a young male poking at an anthill then standing back to watch the ensuing confusion he’d caused.
“Then where am I?”
“I wish I knew where you ran off to since Sweetbell. I don’t suppose you’d tell me?” Liri smirked. I glared at him. “You’re with him, whoever he is,” he said, wrinkling his nose.
The fact that he didn’t know my location was the only thing keeping me semi-calm.
“If you don’t know where I am, then how did you find me?”
“Just a little enchantment,” Liri said, circling around me as he twirled his finger. He looked me up and down as though searching for something. “I placed it over you right before you left Faerie. The enchantment was fabricated to bring you into a dreamscape with me the first time you laid with another male.”
Ugh. Good thing outside magic had no way of penetrating the Monster Ball in its neutral zone, or this unfortunate reunion would have taken place a whole lot sooner.
“At least you’ve moved on from my brother. Pity it wasn’t with me, but I’d like to think its progress,” Liri drawled on. “Did you enjoy yourself?”
“It’s none of your damn business!” I snapped. “Now release me from this hellscape.”
“You are free to leave anytime, sweet Aerith.”
“How?”
Liri leaned in close, eyes latched on to mine. “Take off your mask.”
His voice sent shivers through me.
I touched my face and felt that it was, indeed, covered. My fingers curled around the edges of my mask right before ripping it off.
“Aerith!”
I blinked several times until Jhaeros came into focus. He leaned over me, gripping my shoulders, panic in his saucer-round eyes.
“What? Happened?” I gasped, still coming out of the haze of the dreamscape. I sat up slowly, noticing my gown had been righted and a throw blanket draped over my legs.
Jhaeros sat on the edge of my bed, frowning with concern. He squeezed my hands in his. “Thank Sky Mother above you’re okay,” he said.
I searched his eyes as though he held the answers.
“One moment you were here. Then you were gone,” he said.
My heart beat erratically against my chest. “What do you mean?” I asked, afraid he knew where I’d been.
Jhaeros shook his head. “Your eyes were open, and you were breathing, but you were unresponsive.”
“I’m okay now,” I said, attempting to get to my feet.
Jhaeros stopped me with one stern look. For a moment, I felt like I’d traveled back in time, back when he used to look at me as though I were Shalendra’s silly, irresponsible sister, when I was actually the one doing everything I could to provide for my family. But it was concern, not censure, that pulled his lips down.
He ran a hand through his hair. “I apologize for behaving like a barbarian. It won’t happen again. Not until we are properly wed.”
I snorted, coming back to myself. “Nothing about this is proper,” I said, glancing from my bed to Jhaeros’s rumpled hair.
Poor Jhaeros. I’d corrupted him. Who knew such a feat was possible? I might have smirked if I wasn’t still reeling from the dreamscape. Jhaeros couldn’t know. Nor Mel. There wasn’t a thing either of them could do besides worry.
I’d treat it like a nightmare.
I’d awoken.
I was okay.
The monster couldn’t get me.
For now.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
Melarue
Despite my sister’s protests, in the end I convinced her to let me have one day at the market with the jewelry to show her how much I could sell.
“I’m coming with you, and we need to rent a stall,” Aerith had said.
“If you come with me, you’ll scare customers away, and renting a stall means less money for us,” I’d reasoned. “One day, that’s all I ask.”
“One day, then we’ll see.”
She’d probably relented out of guilt for sending me away to look at horses with Keerla while she got kissy with Jhaeros in our cottage. He’d still been there when we returned late in the afternoon. They’d been sitting in the living room, eating cookies and playing campaigne while he’d stared at her all dopey-eyed. Why didn’t he draw a picture? It would last longer! He used to stare at Shalendra that way. If Jhaeros could transfer his affections from one sister to another, maybe there was hope for Devdan.
Arg! Shut up, brain! I despised Devdan. He was the biggest pit head of them all. The king of pit heads!
The only reason I was thinking about him at all was because I’d come to the market to hock the jewelry he’d failed to sell. Glittering necklaces, bracelets, and rings were stuffed inside my coat pockets. I couldn’t imagine Aerith having worn any of the heavy jewels. After she’d left, I’d held on to my last memories of her all badass on the field when she’d killed a rampaging ogre. I’d pictured her in Faerie the same way—with her bow and arrows, taking down beasts who threatened the kingdom. I had not thought about her all gussied up in gowns and jewels.
While my thoughts wandered, my eyes kept on the lookout for a target—er, I mean customer. I leaned against one of the few trees in the square, watching elves funneling through the grassy aisles between stalls.
My eyes lit up on a middle-aged pair of elves in fine clothes, but my gut told me not to engage. Although clearly rich, they looked like the uppity type who would turn up their noses at a peddler. Shortly after Mr. and Mrs. High and Mighty, a young couple wandered into view. The blonde female was dressed in white muslin and a white shawl, and she carried a lace parasol. The young male trotted beside her, clearly besotted.
Here we go.
I pushed away from the tree and wound my way around the crowd until I was several paces behind them.
They whispered to one another, making it impossible to hear what they said. The more I followed, the more I noticed they weren’t looking at any of the goods—only at each other. So annoying. I doubted the love doves would appreciate being interrupted, so I gritted my teeth and continued following the pair, inching my way as close to them as I could without plastering myself against their backs.
“Elincia, my love, in another few months I will have saved enough to get us out of here.”
Ah, pits!
This couple sounded like they were saving up to elope. While I cheered on rebels, they wouldn’t help me and Aerith make our own escape into the unknown.
I stopped so abruptly someone bumped into me from behind and huffed. I turned around and glared into the face of a male roughly my age.
“Watch where you’re going,” I said.
“Don’t stop in the middle of the aisle,” he returned as he strutted past me with a scowl.
I stuck my tongue out at him behind his back.
Arg! My good mood was dissolving faster than powdered milk. Now it was curdling inside my stomach. The day was still young, but patience wasn’t my middle name.
I returned to my tree and folded my arms, glaring into the crowd. After what felt like an eternity but was more like a few minutes, I spotted a finely dressed male in his early twenties strolling through the market, checking out the jewelry booths. He wore a tailored coat and trousers and, best of all, had a thick coin purse tied in a pouch at his waist.
I pulled my hair over my shoulders, grateful I’d brushed it to a shine that morning—which had nothing to do with possibly running into Devdan at market. Nothing. At. All.
I trailed Money Bags through the crowded aisles, waiting until he reached a less congested area before sauntering toward him. “Hello there. You seem
like you’re looking for something special,” I called out as I approached.
The male turned to me, a smile creeping up his lips. His hair was a sleek dark brown, and he had broad shoulders. I supposed he could be called cute, just nowhere near as attractive as Devdan.
He raised his brows. “What did you have in mind?”
“This,” I said, pulling out an enormous ruby pendant.
The male frowned briefly in confusion as though he’d been expecting something else.
“I saw you checking out the jewelry earlier. None of those stalls offer the kind of rarities I do.” I laid the ruby pendant across my palm and cradled it as though it were a delicate baby cardinal.
The male grinned again. “You were watching me?” he asked, stepping closer.
“Observing,” I said with a shrug.
“You’re very pretty, you know,” he said flirtatiously.
“And I have very pretty items for sale.” I returned his smile. I so had this fish on the hook. “Wouldn’t you agree?” I asked, dangling the ruby in front of him.
He glanced from me to the pendant and chuckled. “Yes, very pretty and rare, indeed. How much are you asking for it?”
I schooled my expression to one of serious thought, even though I was grinning inside. “Nine gold pieces,” I said after some deliberation.
“Nine?” The male laughed. “Your prices are high.”
“Only because what I have to sell is high quality—the best.”
“Nine,” the male repeated uncertainly.
I had to go in for the kill. Close the deal. “Make it ten and I’ll throw in a kiss,” I blurted.
The male’s eyes widened before turning lambent as his gaze drifted to my lips. My heart raced. Almost. I nearly had him until—
“I’ll pay twelve!” another male voice announced.
I hadn’t noticed Devdan sneak up while I was busy haggling. My heart burst with happiness. A second later, it broke into tiny jagged shards. I glared into his stupid handsome face right before turning my back on him.
Money Bags squinted at Devdan in confusion.
“Pay no attention to him,” I said. “He’s not a real customer.”
“Thirteen,” Devdan said louder.
“Go away,” I hissed.
Money Bags twisted his lips to one side and scratched his head.
“Fifteen!” Devdan yelled in the other male’s face.
Money Bags shook his head and sighed before turning to me. “It sounds like this one really wants your ruby.”
My cheeks flamed at the suggestion in his tone. Suddenly, I didn’t care if he’d offered ten purses of coins.
“Yeah, well, he can’t have it, and neither can you!” I stuffed the ruby inside my coat pocket and stormed away.
Pitberries! I screamed inside my head as I stomped off. Maybe there was someplace else I could sell. Door to door? Local shops? They’d take a cut, but at least we’d get something back in return.
I knew I could move the jewelry if stupid pit-headed males would leave me alone. Why were males such perverts? They all just wanted kisses and other—stuff. Heat returned to my cheeks. I wrinkled my nose.
“Ew,” I said aloud, even as little tingles rang through my body like wind chimes in a caressing breeze.
I walked out of the market in defeat, just as I had last time. Clearly Sky Mother wasn’t smiling down on the square—at least not on me. It was time to come up with Plan B. I kicked a pebble on the cobbled road leading down the hill.
“Mel!” a voice hollered.
Aw, pits. I picked up my pace, not looking behind me.
“Mel,” he said again. I heard his huffs of breath as he jogged up to my side.
“Go away,” I said, still not looking at Devdan. “You cost me ten gold pieces.”
“Yeah, right. More like saved you from fish lips. You can’t go offering kisses to every potential customer.”
I spun around to face him, planting my hands on my hips. “Why not? You do.”
“I’m a male.” Devdan had the gall to smirk.
“And I’m a female. Do you realize how stupid that sounds?” I dropped my arms and started walking again.
“Hey, hold up. You’re not running from me again, are you?” The challenge in his voice brought me to an abrupt stop.
I turned slowly, glaring with venom. “I don’t run from anyone. Certainly not you.”
Devdan shoved his hands into his pockets. “That’s what I figured. So, why are you leaving the market? Don’t you have pieces to sell?” He nodded at my coat pockets.
I pressed my arms over my sides and the treasures my coat held, as though Devdan might try to lift them off me. “Well, I could sell if you didn’t interfere.”
“I promise not to interfere,” he said, pulling his hands from his pockets and lifting them up in surrender, “as long as you don’t bargain with kisses.”
“What do you care?” I demanded.
“Hey, it’s for your own good. After my kiss, everyone else is bound to be a huge disappointment. Life has enough of those already.”
I laughed despite myself.
Devdan’s smile reached his sparkling eyes. For a moment, all I saw was a sweet, young male who genuinely liked me. It made my heart hurt all over again.
I pressed my lips together and clenched my teeth.
“I was surprised to see you again so soon,” Devdan continued. “I thought for sure Big Sis was keeping you under lock and key.”
I narrowed my eyes. “Well, if you’re hoping to see her again, you’ll be sorely disappointed. She agreed to stay home and let me do my thing. In fact,” I said, taking a step closer so I could poke Devdan in the chest, “you better hurry up and tell her how you really feel about her before she goes marrying Jhaeros Keasandoral. Your time is running out.” I took a step back, removing my hand from his chest.
Devdan’s head had turned down to stare at my finger on him, but he now looked into my eyes. “I’m not sweet on your sister. Maybe I’m a little hard on her, but it’s not like she can’t handle it. Things always have a way of working out for Aerith. Why is she sending you out to sell jewelry if she already has a new fiancé?” Devdan scoffed. “Didn’t take her long to find another caretaker.”
I kicked Devdan in the shin. I meant to go for his kneecap, but he was tall.
“Ow!” he cried. “What was that for?”
“You really are a pit head,” I snarled. “You have no idea what Aerith went through to keep our family fed. She sacrificed her own happiness for us. And she can fend for herself, way better than most elves or any other supernatural being in any world. She doesn’t need anyone to take care of her.”
Before I could storm off at a full run down the hill, Devdan snatched my arm and pulled me to him. My stomach somersaulted while my brain raged.
“Hey, I’m sorry.” It was only the soft sincerity of his tone that kept me from stomping on his foot. Devdan frowned. “I never had a family, so I don’t know what it’s like. But I admire the way you so fiercely defend your sister and the way she looks out for you—even when the timing isn’t ideal.” He smiled cheekily and released my arm.
I huffed even though the smoke clouds in my head had begun to dissipate and my breathing had returned to normal.
Devdan smiled as though it was a great triumph to stop a female from running away. He nudged the toe of my boot with his. When I took a step back, he moved forward and did it again, chuckling as I scowled.
“You’re really annoying, you know?” But my tone came out sounding more amused than irritated.
Devdan smirked, ignoring my comment. “So, you need to move some jewels?” he asked.
“That’s the plan.”
“How much you got on you?”
Rather than tell him, I showed him what I had. In addition to the ruby pendant, I’d brought an amethyst bracelet, a diamond choker, and an assortment of whimsical rings. I wasn’t dazzled by sparkles or shiny objects, but I did like one particular ring�
��a silver tortoise with tiny emerald eyes. Aerith had told me I was welcome to pick out and keep anything I wanted, but she was the one who’d earned the pieces and she wasn’t keeping any, so I wouldn’t either.
Devdan let out a low whistle as he studied the jewelry in my hands. I tried not to fixate too much on his lips while he was distracted. Once I’d shown him everything, I slipped the pieces back into my pockets.
“The diamonds will be the hardest to move but not impossible.” He grinned at me. “Not with my help.”
I snorted. “No, thanks. I heard about your twenty-five percent extortion.”
Devdan smirked. “A fellow has to eat. We don’t all have coins piling up like ol’ Fish Lips.”
I snorted.
Devdan puffed out his chest. “But for you, I’d do it for fifteen percent.”
“Ten,” I countered.
“Twelve and a—”
“Don’t you dare say kiss!” I said, even though that’s exactly what my pointy ears wanted to hear.
“Twelve percent,” he said in a firm voice. “You’re getting a great deal, you know. Fifteen percent is standard.”
I folded my arms loosely beneath my chest. “Yeah, but we’ll be working together, so really it should be ten.”
“Is that a yes?” Devdan asked, a grin splitting his cheeks.
“My sister wouldn’t like us teaming up,” I said slowly.
Devdan folded his arms over his torso, mirroring my stance. “Now who’s the one hung up on Aerith?”
I rolled my eyes skyward and huffed. “Fine, let’s get going while there’s still time.”
Devdan fell into step beside me. “I bet you the bracelet goes first,” he said as we re-entered the market together.
“And I bet you I get a gold coin for this Ferris wheel ring,” I said, taking out the aforementioned piece and slipping it onto my pinky. Aerith’s fingers were more slender and delicate than my knobby knuckles.
Devdan and I both won our bets and made new ones as morning turned into afternoon. When the ruby necklace sold to a wealthy older widow for eight gold pieces—and no kisses—we stopped to celebrate with sweet rolls and apple cider.
“I must say we make an excellent team,” Devdan said, grinning widely between sips of cider.
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