“Do you trust this girl?” Althea growls, crossing her arms over her chest.
“Enough,” she responds, shrugging. “We won't tell her what we need it for exactly. We'll just ask her for technical information. We'll have to pay her well, though.”
While Nell makes the call, I retreat to the kitchen with the excuse of looking for something to drink. I need distance. I need space to breathe. My skin begins to dry out, something that happens to me every time I feel intense emotions out of water. I open the faucet and submerge my arms up to the elbow. The relief is immediate.
“Are you okay?” Sylara's voice startles me. I hate that the elf doesn't make any kind of noise when walking.
“Perfectly,” I lie, closing the faucet with more force than necessary.
“The connection between you two is obvious,” she murmurs, leaning on the counter.
“I don't know what the hell you're talking about.”
Sylara smiles, that enigmatic smile that elves perfect over centuries.
“You know. You've felt it from the beginning, just like me, just like Althea. It's the bond,” she whispers, leaning toward me. “And you're fighting against it with all your strength, because it's what Kaelisar wants to happen.”
“Of course I'm fighting,” I hiss, keeping my voice low so Nell can't hear us. “I'm not going to give Kaelisar a perfect weapon. A bonded Quad under his control? That would be dangerous. Don't you see? We're just pieces on his chessboard.”
“And you think by resisting you'll change the game?” she asks.
“I'm not going to give him that satisfaction.”
“We'll find a way to free your sister,” the elf promises. “Anyway, what Kaelisar intends is just a desperate action. For now, Nell has only established a bond with you. The rest of the unions may never be created. It could even be that we end up killing each other out of jealousy. It wouldn't be the first time that happens in a bonded Quad. The variables are too complex to be calculated, even for Kaelisar.”
“Yeah, well, I'm not going to test it, so I don't care if he's calculated them or not,” I growl.
Sylara looks at me with that irritating calm.
“There's something else, isn't there?” she insists.
I clench my teeth. Damn elves and their ability to perceive everything.
“I remind you I'm a siren,” I whisper. “I manipulate people's will. What if what Nell feels isn't real? What if I'm affecting her without realizing it? I don't want... I don't want her to confuse her true feelings with...”
“Cherie is on her way,” Nell announces from the living room, interrupting the conversation, which I'm enormously grateful for. “She'll be here in about twenty minutes.”
We return to the living room, and I put on a careful mask of indifference. Nell watches me as if looking for some sign that our connection is still there. I just return a cold look, breaking inside, but aware that it's best for everyone.
To my surprise, instead of pulling away, she approaches me.
“Did I do something to you?” she asks, lowering her voice and placing a hand on my waist. “Because since we left Voronov's mansion, you're acting like my presence bothers you.”
Her touch is intoxicating. My whole body trembles. I can perceive the slight scent of sweat mixed with a perfume that reminds me of rain in summer. It's damn hard to resist.
“You haven't done anything,” I respond, taking a step back to separate from her. “I just need space.”
Nell looks at me with something that seems like pain.
“You always pull away,” she murmurs. “You touch me and then move away like I burn you. Why?”
I have no answer. Or rather, I don't have an answer I can give her. Luckily, the doorbell interrupts our conversation.
Cherie turns out to be a petite woman with striking purple hair and a few piercings.
“Nell!” she exclaims, hugging her hard. “What kind of trouble have you gotten into now?”
“The usual, you know,” the Fae responds. “We need your help with a somewhat special safe,” she adds, showing her the photographs.
