It is selfish of me, but I want Pink to remember me as Monty. The eccentric alchemist who lived in a campervan at the bottom of his garden. That way, that version of me, the true me, will live on.
Existing only in Pink’s memories is not such a bad fate.
I’m going to hate being Duke Eastminster and dancing a web of lies with The Covenant. But it has to be done, for Laurie.
I have to keep Laurie and Pink safe.
Protecting them is the only thing that matters.
Chapter fourteen
Pink
Anoise wakes me. At first, I think I’m dreaming. There are voices echoing down the hall, muffled but frantic. My heart thuds as I sit up, blinking in the dark. What time is it? My phone’s screen lights up beside me: 3:47 a.m.
This isn’t normal. Even in a house full of paranormals, late-night chaos like this means something serious.
I slide out of bed and pad down the hallway, my pulse quickening. The sound leads me to Jade’s room. I have a terrible, terrible feeling about this. I think all my vows to be a better friend have come far too late.
Inside, Lello and Red are already there, staring at the walls. Every inch of available surface is covered in twisting, glowing symbols that are pulsing like they’re alive. My breath catches, and my stomach drops.
It’s High Fey.
I recognize it instantly, though I’ve only seen fragments in books. My trainer taught me a little. Knowledge passed downfrom before the fey left our world. Seeing it like this, written in stark, humming lines of light, is nothing short of terrifying.
Ned runs into the room. His dark eyes track around the walls and he swears.
“Recognize the language?” he asks me.
I can barely get the words out. “This... this is High Fey. I didn’t even think Jade knew that language.”
Red curses under his breath, and Lello clutches his face like he’s about to cry.
“Where is he?” snaps Ned.
“We don’t know!” Lello wails.
I barely notice Carter and Brodie bursting in, their expressions turning grim as they take in the room. Lello throws himself into Carter’s arms, and I glance at Red. His lips are tight, his knuckles white as he clenches his fists by his side.
Then Lello says something that twists my insides. “Ned, you found Gray when he went missing. Can you find Jade?”
We all look at Ned, but he just shakes his head. “Jade doesn’t feed on life force. There’s no connection between us.”
I watch Ned as he says this. There’s something behind his words, something he isn’t saying. His jaw tightens, and his gaze shifts to the symbols on the walls.
Gray’s voice makes me jump.
“He’s in the stone circle.”
I whip around, my heart hammering. I didn’t even hear Gray come in. How does he do that? But here he is, standing as calm as ever, pointing south.
“Five leagues,” he says.
“How far is a league?” says Red as he looks at me.
I force a swallow down my throat. It is lovely that my friends consider me a font of all knowledge, but it is a little daunting.
“Umm…about three miles,” I supply weakly.
