Fury Frayed (Of Fates and Furies Book 1)

by Melissa Haag

  “Should we dance?”

  “Yes. We should.”

  Before we turned away from the group above, Oanen’s gaze captured mine. He wasn’t grinning in amusement like Fenris. He watched me with a singular focus that made me wonder if I was in for another one of his “behave, Megan” warnings. Probably. However, I chose to carry on as if I didn’t care. Which I didn’t.

  Eliana and I set our things on an unclaimed couch near the dance floor then swayed to the sultry siren songs. Eliana had crazy sexy moves when she let go, which she did in short, infrequent bursts.

  “I kinda want to hump your leg when you do that,” I teased.

  She blushed red but did it again. We laughed and had a good time until she called it quits because she needed a drink.

  “You go on upstairs. I think I’ll avoid that area for a while,” I said.

  I sat on our couch and watched her disappear up the stairs. After that, I people watched. Everyone seemed pretty chill; but between one moment and the next, my bitchometer started to spike. It wasn’t the level of anger I got around Aubrey, but it still called my attention.

  I looked around the room, zeroing in on the source.

  In the back corner, a girl sat alone at a dimly lit table. Her strawberry-blonde hair hung loosely around her face as she stared at the open book before her. She reminded me a bit of Fenris because she was doing her best to ignore the girl standing nearby, talking to her. No. Not talking. Based on the look on the other girl’s face, the girl at the table was being bullied.

  I got up and moved closer in an effort to hear what was being said. It sounded like the one standing was trying to get the one sitting to buy her something to eat.

  “Hey, guys,” I said. Irritation didn’t require a fist before words, but I wouldn’t be opposed to dishing it out if I thought it warranted.

  The hungry girl looked at me, her eyes sweeping me from head to toe.

  “Do you mind? It’s my turn with the science project.”

  I glanced at the girl who hadn’t looked up at my approach. Her unmoving gaze remained glued to the book.

  “Science project?” I asked.

  The hungry one sighed. “The human. You must be the new girl. You can have a turn practicing with her when I’m done.”

  There were so many levels of “what the hell?” going on in my head I didn’t know how to respond.

  “It’s okay,” the girl with the book said, speaking for the first time. “It’s my assigned night. It doesn’t bother me.”

  The other girl made a sound of disbelief.

  “Of course it doesn’t bother you. It’s the only reason you’re here, human. Now, go order some food so I can try to steal it.”

  “I have no money,” the girl pretending to read said without looking up.

  “I’m telling Adira you were being uncooperative.”

  “Okay.” The reader’s even, uncaring answer made me grin.

  While the angry girl stomped off, I sat at the girl’s table.

  “Are you going to get in trouble for that?” I asked.

  “No. The whole point is that they’re supposed to get me to do what they want. She failed, not me.”

  She sounded bored and relaxed, but I knew better. She hunched forward slightly, her shoulders rounded protectively, and she’d yet to move her eyes from the page she’d focused on since I’d arrived.

  “You don’t like it here,” I said. “Why don’t you leave?”

  “I’m assigned the Roost until eight. My uncle will pick me up then.”

  “How does a human get picked for something like this? I thought the only humans in town were the ones married to a non-human.”

  “Non-human.” Her lips twitched, but she still didn’t look up. “I like that.”

  “Is there something else to call them?”

  “Them?” She glanced up at me, her hazel eyes full of amusement and confusion. “You’re one of them.”

  I sighed.

  “So I’m told.”

  “I didn’t get picked. I was—”

  “Megan, what are you doing?” Eliana asked, rushing up to the table with two drinks in her hands.

  “Talking to—” I glanced toward the girl. “What’s your name?”

  “Ashlyn.”

  “There you go. I’m talking to Ashlyn.”

  “Unless you were assigned a task by Adira, we really shouldn’t be over here,” Eliana said.

  A girl, who’d been singing on stage when we walked in, strode by and paused to look at the three of us before her gaze settled on Eliana.

  “You can’t really be so desperate that you need to feed from the science project. That’s like sleeping with your pet.” The snide tone of voice and the arched brow the girl gave Eliana had me opening my mouth.

  “Wonder what you’ll sound like after I throat punch you.”

  She tossed her hair in a huff and moved away from us.

  I grinned at Eliana and pointed to the other side of the table. She sighed and took a seat, sliding one of the drinks toward me.

  “Sitting here is going to draw attention and trouble,” she warned.

  “We both know I’d draw attention and trouble no matter where I sit, but why is this such a big deal?”

  “Because any human in the Roost is here for testing. Adira assigns students tasks to complete on the human.”

  “Ashlyn,” I said, not liking that Eliana wasn’t using her name.

  “No. Not just Ashlyn,” Eliana said. “The humans take shifts. It’s like an afterschool job.”

  “The pay sucks,” Ashlyn mumbled.

  Eliana looked at Ashlyn, sympathy in her gaze.

  “Can I get you anything?” Eliana offered. “Something to eat or drink?”

  “Nah, Uncle Trammer will be here soon enough. He’ll have something in the car for me.”

  “Trammer is your uncle?” I asked, surprised.

  “Yes. That’s why I’m here.”

  “All humans are vetted by the human liaison officer to ensure they can be trusted with their assignment,” Eliana said.

  “That they can be trusted? What about the people in here? And, are you saying Trammer recruits humans so the upstanding youth of Uttira can test their skills?” I had a hard time believing he would actually do that.

  “Pretty much.”

  “How many are there?” I asked.

  “Five. Three girls and two boys. The other four are the last liaison’s recruits,” Eliana said.

  The way she said it rose a red flag for me.

  “Last liaison?” I asked.

  “My father,” Ashlyn said. “He was killed over a year ago. Uncle Trammer took over his position and brought me along so I wouldn’t be alone.”

  “I’m sorry,” I said softly.

  “It’s okay. It was an accident. A bar fight between giants. One tripped. My dad didn’t have a chance.”

  Our moment of silence was disturbed by the pounding of angry high heels on the wood floor. Eliana reached across the table for my hand before I could look up. It didn’t matter if I saw Aubrey or not. I knew it was her approaching by the feel of my mounting anger, which Eliana did her best to subdue.

  “Quit hogging the science experiment’s time,” Aubrey said, stopping at our table. “Those of us who actually have a chance at graduating need the practice.”

  I chuckled.

  “Oh, Aubrey, we both know your focus isn’t on graduating.”

  She leaned in. If not for Eliana’s hand lightly covering both of mine, I would have snapped and laid into Aubrey. As it was, I just sat there, pretending to be calm.

  “I know it was you,” she said. “I could smell you on him under the scent of garlic and tomato sauce. He’s mine.”

  I glanced beyond her at the red entrance door before meeting her gaze.

  “Are you sure? Fenris just slid out the front door with Jenna. Better run.”

  She snarled at me before pivoting on her heel and sprinting for the door.

&nb
sp; “She’s going to be so pissed when she realizes you lied to her,” Eliana said after the door closed.

  “Yeah. Too bad I won’t be there when she realizes it.”

  With us at Ashlyn’s table, no one else bugged her. Eliana and I sipped our drinks over the next hour and talked about Aubrey’s obsession with Fenris, my obsession with pissing off Aubrey, and my choice of clothes.

  “Those incubi have been watching you for the last fifteen minutes,” Eliana said.

  “Me? No. Probably Ashlyn. She’s the primary practice target.”

  Ashlyn gave a short laugh.

  “I’m not the one showing enough skin to tempt a saint.”

  “Speaking of saints, here comes Oanen,” Eliana said.

  I turned my head and saw him striding across the room, his gaze locked on me. The long-sleeved pale shirt he wore stood out in the crowd of jewel-toned colors as did the dark jeans hugging his hips. Something in the way he moved and the way he held my gaze made my stomach do a weird dip, and I recalled Eliana’s goading that I should just kiss him already. Now, I couldn’t stop thinking about it.

  Eliana inhaled audibly, and I knew she could taste what was on my mind.

  “I’m going to punch you if you open your mouth,” I said softly, without looking at her.

  “Ladies,” Oanen said in greeting when he reached us. He focused on me.

  “You look nice, Megan.”

  “Thanks.” The word didn’t sound thankful though. It carried more of a “shut your face” tone.

  He looked at Eliana.

  “When you’re ready to leave, can you let me know? A storm’s coming, and I’d rather have a ride tonight.”

  “Sure thing, Oanen. We’ll let you know.”

  He nodded and walked off again.

  “He is so hot,” Ashlyn said. “Too bad griffins never go for humans.”

  “They don’t?” I asked, surprised.

  “Nope. They watch over humans, but it’s nothing like the protective dedication they give their mates.”

  Something thumped under the table, and Ashlyn winced. I looked at Eliana who was giving me a way too innocent look.

  “Did you just kick her?”

  “Maybe. Wanna dance again?”

  I narrowed my eyes at Eliana then looked at Ashlyn, who’d once again picked up her book.

  “Fine. Let’s dance.”

  But I couldn’t enjoy myself like before. Eliana’s reaction to Ashlyn’s information spill and the way Oanen and Fenris watched us from the second story made me edgy. When my phone beeped, I quickly used it as an excuse to leave the dance floor, alone, and find a quiet corner.

  Under the balcony, out of sight of Oanen’s watchful gaze, I read the message from an unknown number.

  Meet me out back in ten. Alone. Mom.

  Sixteen

  All sound bled away with the rapid beat of my heart. After abandoning me for three weeks, my mom was back. Excitement coursed through me. Annoyance immediately followed. How could I be excited to see the person who left me without a word? Correction. With the note that didn’t explain jack. She had better have a damn good reason for ditching me like she had. And for not telling me about what this place was. Or what I was.

  Looking at the message again, part of me wondered if she even deserved my time. She’d hurt me over the years with her insistence to call her Paxton and her increasing distance. But, I also remembered who she’d been before that. She’d been my everything. When no one else in the world had liked me, she had. She’d hugged me and told me she’d always love me.

  My chest ached with the memory and with the realization that she’d abandoned me long before leaving me in Uttira. The one person who should have been able to love me unconditionally hadn’t been able to.

  As much as I wanted to tell her to leave like she’d proven she could do so well, I knew I couldn’t pass up the chance to find out what I was. And, to see her one more time.

  I tore my gaze from the phone and waited until I caught Eliana’s attention on the dance floor. Wiping any trace of trouble from my expression, I motioned that I was going to the bathroom. She nodded and kept swaying to the sultry music, oblivious to the incubus trying to gain her notice.

  Ducking into the bathroom, I took a moment to check myself in the mirror. The curls Eliana had coaxed into my hair still framed my lightly made up face. If I just focused on my head, I looked good. Like I’d managed just fine without any parental presence. However, from the neck down made me want to cringe.

  “One month without supervision, and suddenly I’m a hooker,” I said under my breath. Knowing Mom, she’d celebrate my choice of clothes instead of scolding me for it.

  After waiting a few minutes, I slipped out of the bathroom. No one noticed as I made my way to the back door because everyone was focused on Trammer, who was glaring down an incubus at Ashlyn’s table.

  Closing the door on the music, I took a moment to let my eyes adjust to the dim light that cast shadows in the alley behind the Roost. The rank air from a dumpster that desperately needed to be emptied had me covering my nose as I looked around. Why in the hell would Mom want to meet me out here? I glanced toward the entrance. No one. I checked the time on my phone. One minute early.

  Something buzzed to my left. I glanced toward the dark dumpster and caught sight of a faint outline of light on the ground. Someone’s phone? I went to pick up the buzzing device, and my fingers touched something wet. I cringed in disgust but didn’t drop it.

  “Can this get any grosser?” I said to myself, turning the phone over.

  A missed call from a private number showed on the screen.

  Frowning, I looked at the mouth of the alley again. Was this Mom’s phone? Had I already missed her? Why had she dropped it?

  Looking back at the phone, I caught sight of the dark stain on my fingers. At first, I thought oil. Then, I brought my hand closer to my face.

  Blood.

  Fear wormed its way into my stomach, the feeling unfamiliar and unwelcome.

  I turned the phone over and used its weak light to illuminate the ground. A puddle of blood pooled near where the phone had lain. More blood dripped onto the ground near the dumpster. Images of mom the last time I saw her filled my head. Slowly, I lifted the light of the phone.

  Lifeless eyes of the corpse lying on top of the mounded garbage stared back at me. It wasn’t my mom but a girl not much older than me. Exhaling in relief, I took in the dull brown hair that partially covered her neck, but not enough to hide the unmarred skin.

  This body hadn’t been eaten. I turned the light, trying to figure out how she’d died. When I got to her middle, I struggled to breathe evenly. She’d been gutted.

  Trammer’s loud voice shattered my fragile control.

  “Drop what’s in your hands,” he barked.

  I turned on him, rage heating the blood in my veins.

  “Shit,” he breathed, fumbling for something at his side.

  While he struggled, I flew toward him. Everything inside me screamed to give the man a beating he wouldn’t easily walk away from.

  Before I reached him, he freed an object from his belt. An instant later, something invisible punched me in the chest. I flew back and landed hard on the ground, convulsing. My anger didn’t seize with my muscles, though.

  While I lay locked in convulsions, Trammer used his foot to turn me over. I barely felt the cool metal of the cuffs as they clicked into place.

  “Not so tough now, are you?” he said.

  A moment later the convulsions stopped, and Trammer pulled me to my feet. The probes of his Taser stayed embedded in my flesh just inside my right shoulder and below my collarbone. I rolled my shoulders, feeling the ache.

  “Take them out,” I said.

  “I don’t think so. Try anything, and I’m juicing you again.”

  He gripped my arm and led me toward the front of the building where his car and niece waited.

  “Ashlyn, you’ll need to ride in front,” he
said. He opened the door and proceeded to shove me into the backseat.

  I met Ashlyn’s wide-eyed gaze as he yanked the probes from my chest.

  “It’s okay. I’ll walk home,” she said.

  Trammer grunted an acknowledgment and shut the door. Ashlyn stayed by the entrance of the Roost as her uncle got in and started the car.

  With lights flashing but siren silent, he pulled away from the curb. Ashlyn’s pale expression made more sense when I caught my reflection in the glass of the back window. Blood matted my hair and smeared my ear and cheek from when Trammer had rolled me over. Asshat.

  When I looked back, Ashlyn had already disappeared. Facing forward, I looked at the guy I wanted to hit.

  “Why am I in handcuffs?”

  “You tried to attack an officer after being found at the scene of a crime.”

  “Speaking of the scene of a crime. Don’t you think another dead body is a bigger concern than a teenager with anger issues?”

  “Yep. That’s the other reason you’re in the back seat.”

  “What? You can’t be serious. I didn’t kill that girl.”

  “Then why were you in that alley?”

  “Because I got a text from my mom.”

  He laughed. “Nice try. We both know she’s not coming back. They never do here.”

  “I didn’t kill that girl,” I reiterated. “Do I look like a killer?”

  “For all I know, you’re just another flesh-hungry monster disguised as a human.”

  “Nice. Don’t be afraid to tell me how you really feel,” I said.

  “We’ll see how smart-mouthed you are after the Council deals with you. Human killing inside Uttira is forbidden.”

  “I didn’t kill her.”

  “Right. You were just taking in the night air in a dark, back alley that happened to have a dead body in it? Nice try.”

  He didn’t say anything more as he navigated the streets for several minutes. I stared out the window and wondered how long I would need to sit in jail before he actually went back to the scene of the crime and looked at my phone.

  The idiot needed to do his job. Although, to be fair, I had tried to attack him. And I still wanted to. In fact, I was pretty sure he’d be feeling some pain as soon as these cuffs came off.

  The car started to slow, but I barely noticed the pathetically small building labeled “police station” that he pulled in front of. Instead, my entire focus fixated on the partially clothed Oanen, who stood before the place. With his arms crossed and a frown pulling at his normally stoic expression, he looked wildly fierce.