“Talton isn’t.”
“How would you know that, genius?”
“It doesn’t take a genius to see you’re infatuated with the asshole.”
“With Talton?”
Olm sniffs. “With the fae male.”
I feel the next step with the toe of my shoe before I descend. “I’m not infatuated with Roane.”
“Is‘head over heels’a better description?”
“You know, you’re not a nice person, Olm,” I tell him.
“I’m trying to save you, Adeline.”
I stop in my tracks. “What did you say?”
“I’m not the villain in this story.”
“Oh, right. So you say. But you were the villain in another?”
Silence greets my words.Good Gods.Is his lack of reply an affirmative? Did I stumble into something here?
“Talk to me, Olm.” I sigh. “Who are you? What is your story? What is your connection to this place? Tell me!”
A faint glow appears at the foot of the stairs. It resolves into the shape of a tall man.
“Olm?” I squint. “Is that you?”
“Olm?Have you lost your mind?” Roane grinds out, because of course it’s him. Now I make out that broad set of shoulders, the square jaw, the long black hair. The dark scar on his cheek. “Get down here.”
My spine stiffens. “Is being rude your new hobby? I was having a conversation.”
“With a fictional character.”
“You of all people should know that fictional characters are real.”
“What the fuck is that supposed to mean?”
“Monsters. Goblins. Hydras. All the monsters you fight with every day. What did you think I meant? They come from books and stories.”
He’s silent, observing me as I make my way down the rest of the steps. “Why did you lag behind?”
“I’m tired.”
“Ardruna and Talton should have kept an eye on you.”
“Like you did when you raced down the hill, leaving me behind?” I get off the last step. “Don’t kill yourself worrying, I’m here now.”
“That’s what worries me,” he breathes.
I go still. “Wow.”
But he turns and stalks into the dark, broken only by the faint glowing symbols on the pillars. Did he just say he’s worried because I’m here? Is his desire to see me gone so strong?
I’m surprised by the bitter taste of sadness.
