“No, I’m good. It’s just us. You’re sure?”
“I’m sure.”
“Thank you, Brent. We’ll be there in an hour if the traffic—”
“No,” he cut in. “Let me come get you.”
“Come get me? Why? Is this because you still hate my car?”
“No.” His voice sounded unusually anxious. “No, it’s not about your car. There was something off about that break-in. I think it would be best if I picked you up, and we should meet somewhere quietly where we won’t attract attention. Is that burger restaurant around the corner still open?”
“Yes, I think so.”
“Good. Meet me there. And try not to attract too much attention.”
“Why? What’s going on?”
“I can’t tell you right now, but I promise I’ll tell you later. Keep your phone close, all right?”
“I will.”
We said good-bye and ended the call. I stared at my phone, wondering what had gotten him so spooked.
Kull paced the room, kicking at the couch stuffing, looking pensive as he glanced at the door.
“You’re going somewhere?” he asked.
“Yes. Brent’s coming to pick us up at the restaurant around the corner. Do you remember Brent?”
He shook his head. “Is he a lover of yours?”
“No. I’m engaged to you, remember? Why would I have a lover?”
“He’s a former lover, then?”
“Well…” I really didn’t want to answer the question, but Kull would figure it out anyway. “Fine. Yes, he’s a former lover.”
“I thought so. And you wish to bring me to this place with your former lover?”
“We’re going to his house out on Lake Houston. You’ll like it.”
“But I must go?”
“It’s the safest place for us. I don’t think staying here is an option.”
He stopped pacing to stand at his full height. As he loomed over me, I was reminded of the first time I’d met him. I’d vowed never to pick a fight with this guy. That still hadn’t changed.
My heart hurt a little as I studied his intense blue eyes, familiar yet so distant. We’d been separated before, but I’d never felt so detached from him as I felt right now. At the moment, I had no idea how to fix it.
“I have decided I must leave. I am afraid you have failed to earn my trust, and I can no longer pretend that you have my best interests at heart. Furthermore, someone has clearly attacked your home. For what purposes, I can’t say for sure, except you must have made some enemies at some point, which proves further that you are dangerous.”
“Kull, wait,” I said. “You can’t just leave. This world isn’t like Faythander. You have no idea what to expect. Plus, there are dangerous people out there.”
“I agree. There are dangerous people out there.”
As his eyes met mine, I knew who he was referring to. He thought I was some kind of evil sorceress. He thought I’d orchestrated his abduction and planned to use him in some sort of power play to takeover Faythander. Worse, I knew how stubborn the guy was. Once he had his mind set, it was hard to change it. But I also knew something else about him, something I could use to my advantage.
“Look at me, Kull. Do I look like I want to hurt you?”
He stood at the door, ready to leave. Although he didn’t turn toward me, he didn’t leave, either. Maybe I had a chance.
“Look at me, Kull.”
Finally, he turned and took a step toward me. When his eyes peered into mine, I had the urge to flinch, but I stood tall.
Theht reacted to his presence, fear and anger flooding my body in response to her awakening. This was unexpected. If he could see the goddess in my eyes, then he’d never trust me.
He said nothing as he held my gaze. Then, he turned away.
“I don’t know who you are, but I will find out.” He marched to the door, but stopped as he glanced at the sword on the back of the love seat where I’d left it. He looked at me.
“Take it,” I grumbled. “If it will make you happy, then it’s yours.”
He only nodded, then grabbed the sword and exited my apartment, leaving me alone.
Chapter 15
After Kull left my apartment, I stood alone, staring at the door. I wanted to scream in frustration or break something. Unfortunately, everything was already broken. I settled for kicking the couch stuffing, then I collapsed on the floor.
Why didn’t anything ever go my way? Just once? One single time? Sometimes I wondered why I even tried.
I had to figure out a way to break that curse and get us back to Faythander—those were the only things that mattered. With that thought in mind, I stood and started packing.
Wandering to my bedroom, I felt as if I’d entered a stranger’s house. I grabbed some clothes off the floor and stuffed them in a duffel bag. When I entered the bathroom and grabbed my toothbrush, fear came over me as I glanced in the mirror.
I’d seen the Dreamthief in that mirror once, a long time ago, when I was a different person. The feeling that something was wrong came to me again, stronger this time, as I studied the mirror.
As I approached the glass, I felt a strange enchantment, something I’d never felt before. Reaching out, I tried to decide where the magic came from. A silvery-blue haze flickered for a half-second. Had someone used it as a portal?
I opened my magical senses to the enchantment, but whatever magic had lingered in the mirror dissipated, like smoke into air, and I couldn’t feel it anymore.
Odd.
I shook off my unease and finished packing. As I stood at my door, looking over my apartment, at the possessions that had once been mine, sadness tried to overwhelm me. I couldn’t help but feel that this apartment was a reflection of my life now—in shambles, a cluttered mess that was impossible to untangle.
But those kinds of thoughts had never done me any good, so I turned away, locked the door behind me, and headed for the restaurant around
