“I don’t know.This world is cray-cray.They probably havestorefronts.We’ll just wander town.Ask around.”
“What I mean is, how are we going to find one, explain whatwe need, and get home without that other witch’s curse turning everything toshit because we told someone else we’re from a parallel universe?”
Oh man.
I hadn’t thought of that.
She put her hands on her hips, glanced at Maxine, thenlooked to me.
“Honey, I think we’re stuck here.”
Something happened inside me that felt suspiciously like myheart leaping in joy, but I not only didn’t let on, I didn’t even admit to thefeeling.
“What about Keith?”
She looked away.
Yeah, she liked Keith.He was a good, solid guy.One of thefirst who treated her right.
Really right.
“Mom, we’ll get home.”
She turned back.“How?”
“I don’t know.Two days ago, it seemed impossible to springyou.Now, you’re sprung and wearing satin.We just can’t give up.”
“And complicating things by marrying a hunk?How will thathelp?”
“I didn’t say it wouldhelp.I just said I wasdoing it.Or letting him think I am.”
“Why?”
“Because he wants to marry me, and he crushed Edgar’s handfor me after…” I pointed to my eye, “this.”
Mom’s face got hard.
“Good,” she snapped.“But you know, he also showed updownstairs, doing this makingno sound, even while breaking in alocked door.It just happened that I was staring at that door longingly, whichI’d become prone to do, and I caught him coming in.He snuck up on that jerkwho was watching us and,zzzzzziiiiip, slithis throat.”
Holy cow.
Eek!
“Didn’t blink,” she stated.“Not even a flinch.The guydropped.He nabbed his keys.His buddy tossed a blanket over him so Maxine, whowas thankfully sleeping, wouldn’t see.And then he came to the bars, opened thedoor, and said, ‘How do you do, my lady?I’m Loren Copeland, Marquess ofRemington, and your daughter sent me to fetch you.’’”
“Cold,” I muttered on a shiver, though it was also totallyhot, and I had feelings of pride (and instantly denied them) and wonder (andinstantly denied those too) and maybe titillation (because that was badass, andI didn’t deny that part).
“Ice.”She shook her head.“Now, our guard was always eyeingMaxine.Coming in too close.Touching her.Freaking her out.It was a matter oftime, especially with that Edgar and you gone, which meant Edgar wasn’t comingdown checking on us regularly, before he took liberties.And he wasn’t realgentle with me.Still.”
Mom grew alert, her eyes locking on me.
Then she whispered a warning, “Maxie…”
“Satrine,” I hissed.“Andthis is all effed up.That guy was gonna rape Maxine and he was rough withyou?”
“He’s very dead now.Your fiancé slashed his throat.”
I was oh-so-totally okay with that.
