“I—I—I don’t know!”Crysta stuttered through a sob.
Mr. Morris looked horrified as he rushed to a phone on the wall, dialing.
“Okay! Calm down! Calm down!” he said, voice shaky.
In a matter of moments, her bag was scooped up, and she was escorted out the door, cradling her bloodied hand.
Girls like that aren’t used to getting scars,a voice echoed in my head.
Was thatmyvoice? What the heck just happened?
Inside, a small, wicked part of me smiled, replaying the look on Crysta’s face. The sound of the pencil hitting its mark echoed.
Guilt compressed my lungs.
But—but I didn’t do anything. Right? That’d be insane. It couldn’t have been my fault.
Yeah, definitelynotmy fault.
6
CARWYNN
Everythingin the Ferie Realm still felt new. It was such a high seeing and experiencing things I once thought were impossible. Like take right now for instance—riding in a luxurycarriagepulled by an Enbarr.
Looking out the front window, I could see the horse-creature’s cute fuzzy body, and even cuter pointed ears bopping with every trot under the rising moon. Although the Enbarr was bounding, the ride was virtually smooth.
Wild.
After my control slipped in Lochlainn’s office, I pulled him into the hallway, calling him every colorful word I could think of. I didn’t stop until he looked like a child who was thoroughly reprimanded by a mother with a wooden spoon, shushinghim every time he tried to speak.
“Listen, truly Carwynn, I’m so—”Lochlainn began, hands raised.
“Shhh!” My hiss cleaved his words in two. “You promise-breaking, whiskey-piss-drinking, no good, cheap wannabe-godfather, lying, gold-humping . . .” He frowned, looking struck, but an eyebrow arched at the last bit. “. . . shove all the lucky charms up your fucking ass,ginger leprechaun fuckwit!” I seethed the stream of curses, angrily jabbing a finger into his annoyingly hard chest.
“Hold on now.” Lochlainn’s brows pinched together at hearing the human mythological reference. “There’s no need for low blows, getting derogatory. Besides, we both have red h?—”
“Shhh! Shut your mouth or I’ll break your hip, I swear to god!” I scolded, interrupting him again with a glare that held the heat of a thousand infernos. His face went up in surprise, a faint smile curling at his lips. “Now turn on your fucking listening ears. Number one—I’ll be part of your piss-poor excuse of ateam, so long as you grant me access to all your archives.” I held up two fingers, assuming math might be a struggle for him. “Two—if any of your men spread word about my ability, I will raise the most horrifying, demented souls from the grave to personally haunt them in all the worst ways.” The look I speared him saidfuck-around-and-find-out.
Not that I could actually raise anyone from the grave . . . but it sounded hard hitting and added a dramatic flair.
Lochlainn leaned his chest into my finger, forcing it to transform into a splaying hand to keep him back.
“Oh, would ya now?” His face lit up, a wickedly amused grin spreading. But his features steadily twisted into suspicion. “And what exactly are you looking for in my collections?”
I dropped my hand, straightening. “Just trying to identify some old relics I’ve been doing research on.” My throat slightly cleared. “Academic purposes really.”
Lochlainn studied me for a second, either considering myconditions or calculating them. He hooked a thumb into his pants pocket, casually pressing back against the wall.
“All right then. Help me with the runner tonight, and access is all yours.” He nodded. “Suppose I owe ya as much anyways for being a selfish arse, forcing your hand. I should’ve kept my trap shut.” Gold eyes trailed over my face. “I’m sorry.” It wasn’t the most emotional or convincing apology, but I had a feeling men like him didn’t dish them out too often. So I’d take it.
From the look in his eyes, I could tell he was curious about why I wanted to keep my abilities a secret, but he didn’t push it. Of course, I was careful to omit any information pertaining toI’m the daughter of the murdered Queen.Based on his pinky-promise track record, I wouldnotbe sharing that secret with him anytime soon.
Lochlainn satat the head of the carriage while Finley and Keeffe were across from me. To my side, unfortunately, was Pogue.
After my semi-freak out, Lochlainn must’ve figured the more the merrier was, in fact,nota good idea.
The moonlight coated the Enbarr’s fur in a light blue hue. The stone buildings of Luckland City were behind us as we made our way through the forest. Thick green moss covered the ground, sprawling up trees. Orb lights trickled down from branches, guiding our way on the gravely path.
