I hung the drawing on the wall, and that was the moment this room truly started to feel like mine.
I took a short, restless nap. So restless that I dreamed of nothing except faded, distant images that had no meaning. When I woke again, I dragged myself into the bathroom and showered. As I dressed, I practiced what I would say to Bea tonight. No more avoiding, I decided. It was time.
Out in the loft, Nym was now watching one of Matt’s TV shows. The dreaded meatloaf was gone, probably tucked away in our refrigerator, but there was no sign of the person who’d made it. I hurried past Nym and reached for my coat, saying over my shoulder, “Have a good night!”
“Fortuna,” he said.
Hearing my name from Nym’s mouth was disconcerting. I halted, facing him again. “Yeah? Is everything okay?”
“These youth do not understand,” he informed me, clearly agitated. He pointed at the screen. “Fairy tales do not teach children that faeries are real. Children already believe we are not real.”
“You know, why don’t you watch something else?” I suggested. I started to close the door behind me.
“Fortuna,” Nym said again. Hiding a burst of impatience, I spun again. He stared at me with wide, earnest eyes, and whatever I’d been about to say faded. Nym sounded like every chilling moment in a horror movie as he told me, “Fairy tales teach children that what is not real may still hurt them.”
“Okay. No more PBS for you, Nym.”
I rushed over to change the channel, and I left Nym with the remote in his hand, giving him stern instructions to change it again if he got upset. One minute later, I was on the road.
I was almost to town when I realized I’d been followed.
Whoever was driving the beat-up car behind me wasn’t being subtle about it—they wanted me to be aware of what was happening. My pursuer’s front bumper came close that I steeled myself to feel a lurch. I strained to see the driver’s face in my rear view mirror, but it was too dark. Was this a warning? A taunt, just before they moved in for the kill?
Too close, I thought. My family is too close to this. You made a mistake coming here.
I decided to face this enemy head on.
Gathering power to me, I slowed the van to a stop and threw it into park. My headlights beamed into the night. I swung out of the car, holding my hands up to show that I wasn’t holding any weapons. This stranger wouldn’t know how meaningless the gesture was—I kept my weapons hidden like a smart person.
I felt a flicker of surprise when I recognized the figure coming toward me.
Or, more accurately, when I recognized the artificial horns sticking out of his head—it was the goblin from the oubliette. I’d also freed him at the black market.
“You have ten seconds to explain yourself,” I called.
His voice floated back, carrying over the sound of our running engines. “I am Seth of the bloodline Arthion. I was exiled from the Seelie Court five years ago, which is how I came to be in a werewolf pack’s possession when our paths first crossed.”
I cocked my head. “Why did your people exile you?”
“For daring to want a different body than the one I was born in,” Seth answered. There was no hint of bitterness in his voice, but pain haunted his eyes. He took a step closer.
I frowned as I tried to figure out his meaning. The horns? I thought, nonplussed.
Seth must’ve seen my confusion. All the feeling left his face as he added, “I was once called Sofía.”
I understood, then, and my dislike of the Seelie Court increased. At this rate, the Unseelie Court was looking downright homey. “And why are you following me, Seth of the bloodline Arthion, formerly of the Seelie Court?” I asked, genuine curiosity stirring in my chest.
“Because there are rumors about you,” the goblin answered. “Rumors that you protect people. When you saved me at the black market, I knew it to be true.”
“Apparently you haven’t heard the news—I’m no longer queen of anything. I’m not in a position to protect anyone these days. I’m sorry.” I turned and started to walk away.
Seth’s voice followed me. “You took a chance on the vampire!”
I stopped, gritting my teeth. Don’t fall for it, Fortuna. I spun back around and demanded, “What are you talking about?”
“The one with the bleach-blond hair. He’s new—I’ve been learning everything I could about you, and he’s not in any of the stories or accounts. Which means you brought him in, accepted him, without knowing much about him.”
“I bound him to me,” I said bluntly. “Using our blood and the vows of fealty from my coronation ceremony. I can’t just take you at your word, Seth. Not when it could put my family at risk. I’m sorry.”
I was sorry. I looked at this goblin, and I wanted to trust him. To bring him into the fold and prevent another person in this lonely world from being alone. But in the end, I turned away. He was a stranger, and my family was vulnerable. I had started thinking less of what I wanted and more of what would keep them safe.
“What if I did the same? Swore a Blood Vow to you?” Seth called. Once again, I turned to face him.
“That’s not what it’s…” I stopped and shook my head. It didn’t matter what it was called or that, on his lips, it sounded like something honorable. Coveted. Worthy. I just repeated, “I’m sorry.”
Before I turned for the third time, I saw Seth’s expression shutter, and a stone of guilt and shame dropped into my stomach. It made me feel heavy as I got back in the van and drove away.
Minutes later, I parked outside Bea’s. I crossed the street and dropped my keys in my purse. Footsteps sounded behind me, coming closer. Thinking it was Seth again, I spun around, scowling. “Okay, look, now this is getting—”
A cherubim rushed at me.
Somehow, I managed not to scream. My reaction was fumbling but effective, and I landed a solid kick to the creature’s chest, using its own momentum. It reared back and made a sound of surprise—it clearly hadn’t expected me to fight back. Worried now, the head shaped like a man looked upward. Following its gaze, I swung around. Something moved in the distance, like a flock of birds against the horizon. No, not birds, I thought with slow horror.
It was more of Belanor’s creatures, coming this way. Their appearance meant they knew who I was, despite the goblin ring on my finger. Everything was happening exactly as Laurie had said it would. Oh, I hated it when he was right.
As the cherubim I’d been fighting launched into the air to rejoin its flock, I pictured them in Bea’s, killing and destroying everything, and I felt a wave of déjà vu. I’d seen this movie before, but this time, it would have a different ending. I had to lead them away from the bar.
And backup. I’d need a lot of backup.
As I crossed the street, I took my phone out of my pocket and unlocked the screen. I selected a name on my contacts list.
He answered on the fourth ring. “What’s wrong?”
That was Adam for you—he didn’t waste time or words. “Feel like doing some training?” I asked. “I’ve got a few test dummies for us. They’re seconds behind me; I’m leading them somewhere a little more secluded. Gil is invited, too.”