Lugh stood before us, his arm draped over a nubile young woman wearing a foggy smile.
Shit.
Chapter
Fourteen
Inudged Moira and straightened. “Looks like you’re settling in well,” I said.
He spread his arms. “It’s a brand-new world out there, and I am a starving man.” His smile held an edge of malice. “I have you both to thank for this.”
A flash of crimson rolled over Moira’s eyes. Lugh tsked. “There’s no need for anger, my dear. I’ve done nothing alarming or concerning.”
“Where is Tess?” Moira growled.
To Lugh’s credit, his brow furrowed. Confusion flashed over his face. “Tess?”
I jumped in before Moira said something unforgivable. “Our friend is missing. We were concerned she might be here.”
“There’s no need for concern,” Lugh said. “I’m sure she’ll turn up somewhere.”
Someone called his name, and he turned away from us, his arm once again heavy around the shoulder of the woman who accompanied him. He shouted something unintelligible back and turned to us once more. “I apologize,” he said, his teeth too white against the tan of his skin. “There’s plenty to eat and drink and much more revelry to be had if you’d like to stay.”
Moira stepped forward. I gripped her arm firmly in warning. “We’ll mill around for a little while, then leave you be.”
Moira’s skin heated under my fingers as she bristled with fury.
“If you happen to see our friend, please let us know.”
Lugh nodded, eyes lingering on Moira. “Happy to. Enjoy yourselves.”
Without another word, he turned and escorted the stumbling woman away.
“I hate him,” she seethed. “He has Tess. I can feel it.”
But I wasn’t so sure. “Neit has no reason to lie to us. If he said she hasn’t been here, then I believe him.”
“He’s fae,” she hissed.
I frowned. “So am I, Moira.”
My friend closed her eyes and let out a breath. “Sorry.” She held up a hand. “I’m sorry. I’m just worried.”
When she opened her eyes, they were clear, the worry wiped away and replaced with resolve.
“Then let’s poke around here for a bit and see if we can find anything out to help us find her.”
Moira nodded. “Let’s go.”
And with that, we were off to interrogate the inebriated fae.
A few hourslater I was back home in my pajamas, sitting on my back porch drinking hot chocolate. Stars twinkled and winked above me, the moon hidden on the other side of the world. I always marveled at the stars and wondered how they could exist with other fae realms above and below us. Did the night sky look the same in their realms as ours, or was there an entirely new solar system to explore?
The only time I ever visited another realm at night was when my father dragged me to that fae ball to show me off, but therehadn’t been time for exploration. I’d marveled at the sparkle and elegance of the other fae beings surrounding us, not thinking about stepping outside to see the wonders of the outdoors.
The next time I went, I’d stay long enough to satisfy my curiosity.
My fingers curled around the mug, steam rising above the liquid. Fragrant and heady, with just a hint of spice, the recipe was passed down to my husband’s family and eventually to me. As much as I’d tried to distance myself, this recipe was one I could never let go of. It was too delicious and too comforting, and there’d been little of that during those years.
