He spoke so earnestly I could feel myself being swayed. He had a point—Genevieve and Zee had never made it back from Faerie. But I wasn’t doing it for the money. I was doing it for something much more precious. The Fae King’s Boon. I needed to win to get Cass back and if I didn’t win, I fully intended to stay inside Faerie until I found her. One way or another, I was leaving Faerie with my sister. Unfortunately I couldn’t articulate any of this to Ben. He didn’t know about Cass, or at least he didn’t know more than the few bits he overheard when I was telling Orin. He definitely didn’t know that I had a letter from Cass hidden right under where he was sitting. No one knew about it but me. Not even Orin.
“Think of everything I could do with a million dollars,” I said, trying to sound enthusiastic. “I’d never have to work again...or you know, living in L.A., I could buy a few cups of coffee!”
Ben laughed at the joke, before growing serious again. “I thought it would be fun, you know, a bit of a laugh, a bit of danger…but it’s not what I thought at all. They are paying me really well, but...”
“But?” I raised my eyebrows.
“I knew I’d be safe in there, but I wasn’t prepared for the emotional stress. There were so many times I wanted to jump in and save you, but I knew that if I did, you’d be disqualified and then you’d hate me forever.”
“Are you thinking of quitting?” I asked. I tried to keep the panic from my voice at the thought of being in there without him. Though we’d been able to say so little, he’d been a comforting presence every step of the way.
Ben shook his head. “There’s no way I’d let you go in there alone.”
Relief flooded me. I scooted closer to him and hugged him again. “You’re a good guy, Ben. I’m glad you’re my camera guy.”
“Me too,” he said.
“Feel free to sneak me more protein bars at any time,” I said, pushing to my feet. Suddenly I had realized how close we were, sitting side by side on the bed.
“Noted,” he said, standing as well.
“Is that why you came to see me?” I asked. “Just to chat and tell me I’m a colossal idiot if I go back over the Hedge?”
“Actually no,” he said, standing up. “And I don’t think you’re a colossal idiot. You’re just braver than any person has a right to be.”
“That’s what Orin said,” I grumbled.
“The guy does know a few things,” Ben said grudgingly. “But I came to get you. There’s a breakfast meeting in the dining hall in ten minutes.”
Breakfast? I must have been working on my magic longer than I thought. I grabbed my thin jacket from a chair where I’d thrown it, I beckoned Ben and together we headed out the door, leaving the mess of dirt and fern behind.
The dining room was packed, leaving very little room to sit down. At the front of the room stood Gabe, Evaline and unfortunately Patricia.
She regarded me with a sickening smile on her face as I searched the tables to find a place to sit. Ben had sat down near the back with the other camera people. I, on the other hand would have to pick my way through the crowded room until I found a seat. And then I saw him. Orin. My heart leapt as I saw he had an empty seat next to him. As I made my way around the tables, I reflected on how much things had changed since I’d left Hennington House the first time. Before entering the race, I’d have sat literally anywhere to avoid the empty seat next to Orin—I was glad that he’d saved me a seat. Like it or not, Orin had become my only ally in the FFR and he was the closest thing I had to a friend. He gave me a smile as I eased myself into the chair beside him.
“Welcome everyone, and to our contestants, welcome back,” Gabe said, his arms crossed and his feet a foot apart as though he was just about to send us into training. “I know you’re all hungry and waiting for your breakfast so I’ll keep this brief. I want to let you know how proud I am of you all. I couldn’t go into Faerie, but you can bet I watched every second of it on TV. You all worked so hard to come through and I know you’ll kill it in the next leg. Of course, not everyone did get through. Yael and Duncan used their rings to get out as you know. They are both back home with their families and last I heard, they were negotiating sponsorship deals with advertisers. That’s what you can expect when you come out. You won’t have seen the coverage, but the FFR is huge. Ratings have skyrocketed and like it or not, you guys are famous the world over.”
I swallowed hard at this news. Despite wanting to work in the movies, fame had never been a motivating factor. In fact, I’d like to remain as anonymous as possible. I guess that was a pipe dream. Looking around me, I saw that most of the other contestants were practically salivating at the thought of it. When I glanced back at Orin, he grimaced. Maybe we were more alike than I thought.
“Of course, Yael and Duncan weren’t the only team who aren’t with us today. You all know what happened to Genevieve and Zee. It was a tragic accident and the...”
I didn’t hear the rest of the sentence because rage filled my head. I was convinced it wasn’t an accident at all. I wanted to stand up and shout the truth to everyone—their rings had been disabled. They’d not been given the chance to do what Duncan and Yael did and get out when they were in danger. There were no lucrative media contracts for Genevieve and Zee. They were dead.
It was only when I felt Orin’s hand on my arm that I realised I was shaking.
“You okay?” he whispered, but I didn’t reply. I didn’t think I would be able to keep my cool.
“You only have one full day and night to yourselves before you go back into Faerie and I suggest you use it to rest. We’ve not fixed a schedule for you beyond mealtimes, but none of you are allowed out of the grounds of Hennington House. Tomorrow after breakfast we need you all packed and ready to go back over the Hedge.
A chain of wait staff burdened with dishes were filing into the room, filling the air with the smell of bacon and eggs. Gabe, knowing he couldn’t compete with breakfast, gave us a little bow and headed to a table in the corner along with Evaline and a number of FFR executives. I almost fell off my chair when I recognised my asshole boss John. He rarely ever left his office. I wondered if I would still work there when this was all over. Not if I had Cass and a million big ones.
John must have seen me staring at him because he pointed at me and gave me a thumbs up and a wide grin. Things must be as good as Gabe said if John had deigned to get his ass on a plane. I stood to join the queue to get breakfast, but as I did I noticed Patricia sneaking out of the room. She looked to be in a hurry. Forgetting about John for the moment, I hustled through the tables, battling the people all going in the opposite direction to get breakfast. I needed to find out what she was up to. I didn’t have a shred of evidence that Patricia had anything to do with Gen and Zee’s deaths, but my gut told me something was off about that woman. The secret meetings with Niall, the rose and thistle earrings she wore that just happened to be the same symbol as one I saw on the boxes in the dragon’s lair. I was determined to discover what she was hiding—and I had only a day and night to do so. Unfortunately, it took me so long to get through the crowd of hungry people that by the time I got to the door, she was already gone.
30
Chapter two
I ate until my stomach stretched, and then I went back for thirds. Orin, on his second helping of pancakes, raised an eyebrow at my plate covered in fluffy eggs, hash browns and sausage.
“I’m never taking food for granted again,” I said.
“We do need to stock up for another week of eating grass and tree bark,” Orin said, drowning his pancakes with syrup.
My phone buzzed in my jacket pocket, and my brow furrowed. It was the third time since I’d come down to breakfast.
“You going to get that?” Orin asked.
“I’m avoiding them.”
“Who’s them?”
“My parents,” I said around a bite of sausage.
“Have you talked to them since you’ve been back?”
I shook my head. I
couldn’t bring myself to face them. I knew I needed to tell them about Cass, but I didn’t know exactly what there was to tell. Hey mom, dad, I think your long lost daughter is alive and neck-deep in some mysterious faerie conspiracy… it sounded crazy.
“I know it’s none of my business,” a pained look flashed across Orin’s handsome face. “But…If I could talk to my parents, I definitely wouldn’t miss the chance.”
I recoiled. “You can’t even talk to them?”
He shook his head, looking over his shoulder at Tristam before leaning in. “The king doesn’t allow anyone into his palace without a royal invitation. And they’re not allowed out.”
I glared at Tristam, who in that moment was a fine stand-in for the king. “Dicks.” I sighed, and pushed to my feet. Orin was right. And besides, I didn’t think I could physically fit the food on my plate into my body. I’d overestimated. “I’ll go call them.”
“Good girl,” Orin said.
I grabbed my mug of coffee and walked into the hallway. A camera person was standing in the corner, stationed to catch any of us coming out of the dining room. I cut to the left, into the study where Niall once slurred his secrets to me. Not that they had made any sense. Ario and Molly were stationed in the two tall chairs by the fire, leaning in to talk in hushed tones. They turned to look at me as I entered and I held up my hands.
“Occupied,” Molly said sickly sweetly. I noticed her bubble gum pink hair had changed to bright blue. When she’d had time to re-dye it, I had no idea. My hair definitely wasn’t my top priority right now.
“Sorry.” I said. I turned on my heel and pushed deeper into the house, searching for a corner away from prying eyes or blinking red lights. Finally I found a little larder, filled with shelves heavy-ladened with potatoes and cans and jars of pickles and peaches. I sagged against the dusty shelves, wiggling my nose to fight the tickle that threatened a sneeze.
I hit the callback button, and tried to calm my nerves.
“Jacq!” My mother answered on the first ring. At the sound of her voice, a lump grew in my throat.
“Hi Mom,” I managed, sagging down a shelf to the cold floor.
“Rick, it’s Jacqueline! Get over here. We’re going to put you on speaker, honey, okay?”
“Okay,” I said, trying to get a hold of the emotions threatening to crash over me. The weight of the last week—the strain of hunger and cold and lack of sleep, of danger and death. Of running for my life. Maybe this was the real reason I hadn’t called. Because some part of me had known that with them, I’d have to be real. They could spot my false bravado and determination from a mile away. And beneath that, I was tired, and sad, and scared to go back over the Hedge. I couldn’t let myself feel those things.
I cleared my throat and cradled the phone against my shoulder, pressing the heels of my hands to my eyes to hold in the tears.
“Jacq!” my father’s voice. “My god honey, you were magnificent out there!”
“Really?” I asked, looking up. That’s not what I was expecting.
“Are you kidding? We’re so proud of you!”
“I guess I did kill that panther,” I said, a little smile creeping onto my face. “That musta looked pretty cool.”
“The panther, what about the dragon!” my dad boomed. “Doing Montana proud!”
At the mention of Montana, my smile dimmed. “How’s everyone doing about Genevieve?” Genevieve, the other contestant who had died, was from my same small town.
“The town’s in mourning, the tribe especially. How tragic,” my mom said. “I know it’s selfish to say, but I’m just glad you’re safe.”
“Me too,” I said.
Mom continued. “Dad’s proud of all your stunts, but I’m proud of your character, sweetie. You saved Genevieve and her partner in that horrible faerie’s house, you were going to save those idiots who blundered into the Red Cap nest. You never sacrificed your values to get ahead. Hold fast to that in this next leg. Don’t let it go.”
“And stay away from that blond-haired jackass,” Dad added. “He’s trying to wrap you around his finger. Don’t let him play you. Us Cunninghams know better.”
I let out a choked laugh. “Trust me Dad, I learned that one the hard way. I won’t make that mistake again.” At the mention of Cunninghams, I knew I needed to ask about Cass. I wasn’t ready to tell them what I found. Not until I knew more. But maybe they could help.
“Hey guys, can I ask you something?”
“Of course,” they chimed together. God, I missed them. I missed home, and the scratchy blanket on the leather couch in front of the fireplace, and my mom’s chocolate chip cookies, and the smell of newsprint and coffee in the kitchen in the morning. Why had I not been home to visit lately?
“Remember that old book they found in Cass’s room? The leather one with the symbol on the cover? That the ICCF took?”
Silence. “Yes,” my mother finally said, the cheer drained from her voice. “Why do you ask?”
“Being here…it’s just bringing up a lot of stuff. I thought I saw the same book. I just wanted to know.”
“It was called A Disunion of Worlds,” Dad said. “Not that they’d let us even get a glimpse at it, the bastards. I’ve never been able to find a copy. Maybe you can find it over there.”
“Thanks. I’ll take a look.”
“I don’t want you to get your hopes up, sweetie,” Mom said, ever the practical one. “We did a lot of searching after she was gone.” She hesitated. “We didn’t want to get your hopes up, so we didn’t tell you about much. But…the trail was cold, honey. I don’t think we’ll ever see Cassandra again.”
I had resigned myself to the same fate, but it still hurt to hear it coming from them. Parents aren’t ever supposed to give up on their child, are they? But I understood. They had to find some way to live on.
Dad’s voice went gruff. “Now you be careful out there. Play smart. Stick with Orin, it seems like you two have a good partnership going. Keep your head in the game. We’re not going to let those faerie bastards take another daughter from us.”
“Oh Rick,” my mom chided softly.
“They won’t. I’ll be careful. I plan to win this thing.” I felt my resolve hardening within me, my doubts and exhaustion draining away. I wouldn’t tell them about my hopes, or the boon—not until I had Cass back. The two of us would come walking up the driveway, and it would be the four of us again. I would bring her back to them. If it was the last damn thing I did.
“If anyone can do it, you can,” Mom said.
“That means a lot,” I said. “All right, I gotta go. I plan on eating and sleeping as much as I can before we go back in there.”
We said our goodbyes, and I hit the red button, cradling my phone to my chest. I had been dreading calling my parents, worrying it would drain my energy and fill me with guilt. Instead, it had buoyed me—given me new purpose. I would do this. I would go in there, kick some faerie ass, and win this thing.
I pushed to my feet, brushing the dust from my leggings. I opened the door, emerging from the larder into the dark hallway. I shut the door quietly, and started heading back when I heard a floorboard squeak behind me.
That was when someone threw a black hood over my head.
* * *
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About J.A. Armitage
J.A lives in a total fantasy world (because reality is boring right?) When she's not writing all the crazy fun in her head, she can be found eating cake, designing pretty pictures and hanging upside down from the tallest climbing frame in the local playground while her children look on in embarrassment. She's travelled the world working as everything from a banana picker in Australia to a Pantomime clown, has climbed to the top of Mount Kilimanjaro and the bottom of the Grand Canyon and once gave birth to a surrogate baby for a friend of hers.
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She spends way too much time gossiping on Facebook and if you want to be part of her Reading Army, where you'll get lots of freebies,
exclusive sneak peeks and super secret sales, join up here https://www.subscribepage.com/v7o8l
About Claire Luana
Claire Luana grew up in Seattle reading everything she could get her hands on and writing every chance she could. Eventually, adulthood won out, and she turned her writing talents to more scholarly pursuits, going to work as a commercial litigation attorney.
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While continuing to practice law, Claire decided to return to her roots and try her hand once again at creative writing. She has written and published four fantasy series: the Moonburner Cycle, the Confectioner Chronicles, the Knights of Caerleon (co-written with Jesikah Sundin), and The Faerie Race (co-written with J.A. Armitage).
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She lives in Seattle, Washington with her husband and two dogs. In her (little) remaining spare time, she loves to hike, travel, binge-watch CW shows, and of course, fall into a good book.
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Connect with Claire Luana online at:
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Website & Blog: http://www.claireluana.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/claireluana
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/clairedeluana
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/15207082.Claire_Luana
Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/claireluana
Also by J.A. Armitage
Reverse Fairytales
Charm
Lucky Charm
Charmed
Dark Water
Blue Water
Breakwater
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Dragon Slayer
The Sorcery Trial Page 20