Chapter Eighteen
The Solstice feast was huge and delicious, but Nora couldn’t bring herself to eat much, even if Owen kept nudging her and saying she needed to look happier. She did her best, but it was hard to pretend to be happy when she was actually constantly afraid that she’d do something or someone else would do something that would set Owen off. Earlier that night, she’d made an offhand comment about the dress she was wearing and how Sawyer had made it for her. Owen had flown into a rage. He refused to let her wear the dress. In fact, he’d made her change, and then he’d taken the dress and ripped it to shreds. Remembering him screaming at her like that did not put her in a good mood, and it did not make her want to look happy. But she was doing her best.
A hand on her shoulder. Nora started, looking up.
Phoebe Rain smiled down on her. “Nora, could I talk to you alone for a minute?”
Nora shot a terrified glance at Owen. He wouldn’t want her to do that, would he? But he wouldn’t want her to make Phoebe suspicious either. “Um, after I finish dinner, maybe?”
Phoebe looked at Nora’s mostly untouched plate. “Well, that might take a while. Come on. I’ll only need you for a minute.”
“Well, can’t you talk to me about it here, then?” asked Nora.
Phoebe shot a glance at Owen, who was glaring at her. “Well, if you want me to do that, I suppose. I just have to admit that I’m surprised to find out that you and Owen patched things up. The last time I talked to you, I got the impression that you didn’t want anything to do with him.”
“Well, he’s Owen,” said Nora nervously. “We grew up together. He made me mad, but after a while, I realized I couldn’t stand being without him.”
Phoebe raised her eyebrows. “I see. So, I shouldn’t be worried, then. Owen’s not—” She turned to face him again— “hurting you?”
Owen stood up. “Where would you get an idea like that?”
“No need to get defensive, Owen,” said Phoebe.
Owen gripped Phoebe’s shoulder. His gaze bored into her eyes, and he began to mutter strange words. Phoebe’s body went stiff. She looked down at the ground, and then back at Nora, confusion all over her face. “What was I saying?”
“You were saying goodbye,” said Owen.
“Oh,” said Phoebe. “Okay, then. I’ll talk to the two of you later.” She smiled and wandered off.
Nora’s mouth was dry. She was shaking all over. Owen had Phoebe now. Phoebe Rain, the head of the council. There was no stopping him. No stopping him at all.
Owen sat down and took a big bite of food. “You’re looking less than cheerful, Nora dear. Do eat your food.”
Nora got a forkful and shoveled it into her mouth like a robot. She was glad Maddie was okay, of course, but any tiny bit of hope she’d ever had was gone.
There was a beeping noise at her wrist.
Owen picked up her arm roughly. “What’s that?”
“It’s the Catling tracker,” said Nora. “Catling goes on the move whenever a portal’s been opened.”
Owen stood up. “Another portal, huh? Well, don’t worry, Nora, soon I’m going to find whoever’s been doing that, and stop them once and for all. Let’s see where this one is, though, and close it before anyone gets hurt.”
Nora stood up too.
Alexander hurried over to them. “The tracker went off.”
“I saw Nora’s,” said Owen. “Don’t worry. I’ll take care of it. You stay here and enjoy the Solstice feast.”
Alexander nodded, getting the glassy-eyed look that people seemed to get when Owen had them under his thrall. “Thanks, Owen.” He turned and walked away.
“Do you want me to come along?” Nora asked, hoping for a few moments away from him.
“Of course I do, my love,” said Owen. “I can’t bear to be parted from you, and you know it. Don’t be frightened though. If the Influence comes through, I’ll protect you.” He took her by the arm, and followed the signal on her wrist. “Of course, I suppose you’ll be alone while I close up the portal, but that won’t take me very long. And I trust you, Nora. You wouldn’t do anything to make me angry while I was away. You know what would happen if you did.”
She did know.
Dancing Days Page 53