“You got her,” she whispers, turning to me with awe clear on her face. “You actually found a way to get her back.”
Chapter 9
Atlas
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The three of us whipour heads in Luce’s direction, and I’m not sure about the others, but my glare is pretty damn hostile. I may owe the man my life, but that credit’s just about used up at this point. I’m used to him keeping a plethora of secrets, but this? Fake identities, and now this stranger he sure as shit shouldn’t know is fucking thanking him for luring Cambria here?
Dorian beats me to the punch, sounding more hurt than angry. “Just what the hell is going on?”
Luce raises his hands in surrender as Achlys strides forward to steal one, shaking it profusely and looking on the verge of tears. “Graham, how did you ever manage?”
Lucien rips his hand back so fast I’m amazed he isn’t arrested for treason. His face pales as his breathing increases, Dorian cursing and crossing the distance between them to intervene. Cambria, I keep by my side, not knowing what the hell is happening and despising every second of it.
Cambria remains silent, absorbing information and trying to blend into the background. Whatever’s happening right now, she wears a matching face of hurt and confusion. Despite the intention of coming here in search of answers, I’m not sure any of us are actually ready to handle them.
“My name’s Lucien,” he spits, barely in control of himself and vibrating with fury.
Dorian bites his lip before quietly whispering, “Graham was his father.”
The ringing in my ears is so loud, I’m pretty sure I miss part of the conversation. All I can focus on is my next breath, trying to stuff down every volatile emotion that wants to escape without rhyme or reason.
Because if Achlys knows Lucien’s father, Graham was either a dark fae, or one that abducted human kids for God knows what reason. Which means either Luce is caught up in some weird interdimensional trafficking ring, or worse.
He’s part fae and none of us knew.
Achlys looks torn, the conversation losing the excited air she began it with. “It would appear we have much to discuss. Why don’t you come with me where we can sit more comfortably; I have a feeling this might take a bit to sort out.”
I wrap an arm around Cambria’s collar, resting my head on top of hers in an attempt to appear casual. Though really? It’s to deflect from the way Luce looks about two seconds from burning the city to the ground and to help conceal Cambria’s trembling hands.
Still, if there’s one thing she’s taught me, it’s not to appear weak in front of the people that have the power to destroy you. They feed on that vulnerability, and even if the dark fae end up being different, it doesn’t matter.
It may benefit us not to come across as a threat, but that doesn’t mean they need to see us cower either. We’ve survived too much; it will take more than a few sentences to make us fall apart.
“That sounds like a great way to get tossed in a dungeon,” Cambria retorts flippantly, bolstering her defenses and running her fingers over my arm languidly, latching onto the only gift I’m able to give her. “Why walk into the heart of the City of Secrets when there’s plenty of space out here?”
