Moira stared at me with wide, shocked eyes, her gaze going from the crown to my face. I gave her a small, sad smile, and plowed on.
“And if I don’t?” Lugh interrupted, the fear in his eyes replaced with unadulterated fury.
“Then you will have signed your execution warrant. You are hereby banned from ever returning to this realm without the explicit permission of the crown.” I paused and let the crazy shine in my eyes. “And I can assure you, permission will not be granted. But I’d love to see your request come through so I can put my personal stamp of refusal on it.”
The god’s eyes narrowed. “Youbitch.”
I laid a hand over my heart. “Ouch. Hurt people hurt people.”
Moira barked a laugh.
He took a menacing step forward, teeth bared. “I should kill you where you stand.”
“You can try. I’d love to show you exactly what someone like me can do.” I waved a hand and the money still falling from the sky turned into confetti, the environmentally safe kind because Iwas not a menace. Groans and yells of disappointment sounded all around us.
I shot Moira a look and without words, she nodded and turned to the crowd, holding her arms out wide before she spoke. “Thank you all for coming to our pop-up magic demonstration! Unfortunately, the money you’ve already taken has no legal tender.”
Cue more groans.
“But this guy right here—” She pointed to Lugh. “He has free tickets for the show tomorrow evening and a free gift to take home with you.”
Over a hundred people started walking our way.
Grinning at Moira’s antics, I addressed Lugh one final time. “I’ll leave you to your adoring public,” I said. “Remember my words. Eight hours. If Tess isn’t home and you aren’t out of my town, I will find you.”
I bared my teeth. “And I will kill you.”
Lugh disappeared in a shower of light.
Moira took me by the arm and hurried away while the people were still interested in finding Lugh for their fake tickets and free gift. The last thing we needed was a riot.
But as we walked away, a tall, lean man with glowing golden eyes stepped into our path, a woman with glittering green eyes at his side.
Chapter
Thirty
“Hello, Evie,” Rachel purred, her painted claws curled around Caelan’s forearm.
I ignored her and tilted my head to Caelan. “Lord.”
Caelan’s eyes narrowed. “Evie.” His sharp gaze took in the confetti littering the ground and the people standing around looking confused. “What happened here?”
“We both know Simone already told you.”
“I’m asking you.” The way he looked at me was like a stab right to the gut. There was no warmth or familiarity in his eyes. I could have been a stranger for the way he watched me.
His eyes strayed to the crown still swirling around my head. A furrow appeared between his brows. His mouth opened, then snapped shut.
“You have a god living in your town. He caused an…interruption. One I took care of.”
His upper lip curled. “I don’t need you to take care of anything.”
I didn’t think I could talk to him again, not if he responded to everything like I was dirt on the bottom of his shoe. “Then you should have gotten here sooner,” I said quietly.
“Bitch,” Rachel hissed, stepping forward.
Caelan frowned and reached up to rub his temples. He jerked Rachel back. “Stop,” he commanded. “I—There’s something—” He lifted those stormy eyes up to mine and I saw something I’d never seen in them before.
