“So…” Quinn trails off. He’s plucking at his jeans, but he darts me a look that tells me he has a question that needs answering.
“So?”
“Your Huntsman,” he says, and somehow the words don’t sound quite right. “He’s allowed to do what he wants?”
“He founded the Wild Hunt specifically to prevent humans from being manipulated. He doesn’t often cross through the veil, but when he goes back to the Otherworld, it’s on Hunt business.”
At least, as far as I know, it is. I don’t know that he has any friends there, that he had any family. I don’t know anything about him.
I don’t want to. Things are easier that way.
“One rule for him and one for everyone else?” Quinn asks mildly. There’s an undercurrent of distaste in his voice, though; he doesn’t like it.
“Yes. To an extent.”
“So why are you after the twins then? Just because they crossed over?”
“Yes. They should have stayed where they were.”
Quinn runs his fingers through the grass now. “I really don’t know where they are,” he says and doesn’t addnot that I’d tell you if I did, which I appreciate. “I don’t know if they’re planning to move the fights, either.”
“Will you tell me if they do?”
“I don’t want—”
“I just need to know if they’re back on. If they’re in the same place.”
“What about all the fae who take part in the fights? The ones who come to watch?”
I shrug. “If they’re not threatening humans, they’re not my concern.”
“And the rest…?”
“If they’re not fae, they’re not my concern, either.”
“I-I don’t…” Quinn scowls down at the grass.
“Let me just give you my number then,” I say. “If you want, you can text me to let me know if the fights have changed their location.”
“And if I don’t want to?”
I hand Quinn a scrap of paper with my number scribbled on it. I’ve had a few handy since Grant first gave me the damn phone because the fae we end up dealing with might like pretending they’re above us and have completely adapted to this world, but most of them are about as inept with technology as I am.
We’re all doing better than Maurice, I suppose.
“You don’t have to,” I say, realising the silence has gone on for too long. “But I’d appreciate it.”
Quinn takes the scrap of paper from me and when he does, our fingers brush. A shock goes up my arm, startling me and making my hand drop. Quinn frowns.
“I’ll do what I can,” he says. “But they haven’t hurt anyone, and I don’t think they’ve tricked anyone into fighting there, either.”
“Not even you?”
When our gazes meet this time, there’s a flicker of flame in his eyes. No sign of his wolf, but then what I said is hardly the gravest of insults.
“Especially not me,” Quinn says, and before I can ask him to stay and explain what he means, he gets to his feet, brushing hisjeans down. “Do you need anything else? I need to go and meet Drew.”
I tip my head back, looking up at him. “No, I suppose not.” I smile as he turns away. “Don’t forget to put that number in your phone!”
