“I'm sorry,” she sighs, leaning toward me to kiss my forehead while caressing my left arm.
It's a gesture so tender, so unexpected, that I freeze.
“You can't lose concentration,” she suddenly growls, jumping up and leaving me without the kiss I expected to receive at any moment.
I blink, trying to process what just happened. Am I imagining things? Is she playing with me, manipulating me? They say sirens do that with sailors, don't they?
“I've had more than enough for today,” I growl, standing up with difficulty. “I'm not in the mood for more lessons.”
“We're not finished,” she protests. “Voronov's party is in two days.”
“Go to hell,” I respond sharply, shaking the sand from my clothes with the palm of my hand.
I turn on my heels and leave. I need distance, I need air, I need to think.
Because something isn't right. This attraction I feel for Sabina, for Sylara, for Althea... it's not normal. It's as ifmy body responds to a call my mind doesn't understand. It's too intense, too sudden, too overwhelming. I'm not like this.
It's not a simple whim. It's like something inside me needs them. Each one of them. And that terrifies me more than Kaelisar himself.
Chapter 14
Nell
The apartment is strangely quiet when I arrive.
I expected to find it empty, but as soon as I enter, I smell the sweet scent of Cherie's perfume. And there she is. Sitting next to Colt on the couch, talking in a low voice. They both shut up abruptly as soon as they see me, and that sudden silence puts me on alert.
“Am I interrupting something?” I ask, dropping my bag to the floor with a thud that echoes in the silence.
“Nell!” Cherie jumps from the couch to hug me. “Where have you been? Colt and I were worried.”
I look at her with suspicion, taking a step back to break contact. I've known Cherie for years, and she's never been the type of person who worries about anyone. She's too focused on herself. Unless, of course, there's money involved.
“I was busy,” I respond vaguely, pulling away from her. “What are you two doing here? Are you done with Sabina already?”
Colt looks at me with that expression I know too well, eyebrows slightly furrowed and jaw tense. It's the same one he used when we were kids and he wanted to protect me from the bullies in the foster care system.
“Cherie came by to pick up her share of the loot,” he explains, but something in his tone tells me there's more. “And we stayed talking.”
“Talking,” I repeat, alternating my gaze between both of them. “About what?”
“About you,” Cherie responds without beating around the bush, sitting back down on the couch. “About how you've changed these last few days. About those new friends of yours. By the way, that Sabina is an asshole; she doesn't even return my calls.”
I feel the air around me stir slightly. I breathe deeply, trying to control it. I try not to let it show that, for some reason I don't know, I got nervous knowing she hasn't even been with Cherie. The last thing I need is for them to see my powers in action.
“I haven't changed,” I lie, forcing a smile. “I'm just busy with a new job.”
“With that supermodel from Estonia and her friends?” Colt asks, arching an eyebrow. “Cherie told me there are three of them and that you're preparing a big heistor something like that. You know you can tell me anything, right? Where did they come from? In this city all of us who steal know each other and that blonde is new.”
“There's nothing to tell,” I insist, heading toward my room. “I just need to rest a little.”
“Nell,” Cherie's voice stops me. “If you're in trouble, we can help you. We're a team, remember?”
I turn to look at her. Her eyes show a concern that surprises me. For a moment I consider telling them everything: my supposed Fae lineage, the magic, Kaelisar, the mission... But would they believe me? Or would they think I've lost my mind or started doing drugs?
“I'm fine, really,” I repeat. “Just tired.”
Without waiting for a response, I enter my room and close the door behind me. I need to study the book more, there are too many spells I still don't understand well, techniques that...
