“Yeah, where the grumpy ass is staying.”
“My car’s over there,” Annie said, jiggling the keys.
I piled in the passenger seat of an old Jetta. Now I understood why that guy had been so excited to sell the car to Rian. This pile was barely worth one thousand. Roark grunted as he folded his tall body in the back seat. I pursed my lips to hold in my laugh when I noticed his uncomfortable position. His knees were drawn up to his chest, and his expression turned mulish. Grinning, I pulled the seat lever to make myself more comfortable.
21
We’d only been at the hotel for seconds before Roark told me he was leaving.
“Where are you going?” Shame coursed through me at the desperate edge to my voice.
“To find Rian.”
My mouth formed into an O at Rian’s name. I’d completely forgotten about him. I hoped he hadn’t spent time running around, searching for me.
“Check the girls’ apartment. Be careful.” The last part came out of my mouth without consent. My face flushed, and I quickly tried to save face. “Make sure you’re, uh, not being followed.”
He reached to the small of his back, pushing the dark coat out of the way, and pushed something into my hands. “I’ve been meaning to give it to you for protection. It’s iron, so be careful.” Roark must really be worried Sabine was after me if he was giving me iron.
I studied the glinting copper handle of the sleek dagger in my hand. Since Gracelyn had begun training me, I’d fallen in love with the weapon. I’d wanted one of my own, but since what we’d been doing was on the down-low, I hadn’t been able to. My heart stuttered and I tried to force my gratitude from my throat, but before I could, the door clicked shut.
I was conflicted. Soon, I wouldn’t have to deal with Roark, and the intensity between us needed to be shoved out of my life, in whatever shape it may come. Out of sight, out of mind type of situation. But damn if the thought of that didn’t twist my heart.
I knew I still had to address that little meltdown I’d had. If only to tell Roark that whatever my drinks were laced with had made me emotionally weak.
My cheeks puffed out with my sigh as I glanced over at my sister. Her hand was pressed against the large window that overlooked the city. Guilt flooded my chest at the longing plastered on her face. I knew what she felt because it was the feeling that had pulsed through me every second since Luz saved my life. Pressure and duty made it impossible for me to have a normal life, though.
“I’m sorry.” My throat felt scratchy as the words escaped me. “I had to see you, and it puts you at risk.”
Also, if the goblins were legit, and I managed to free magic, it would affect her entire life when she reached Fae maturity. I needed to tell her, but…maybe later.
She looked over her shoulder as I drew next to her. She smiled wryly and returned her gaze to the city. “You didn’t ask anyone to be after you. Honestly, I’d rather risk it than never see you again.”
The breath left my chest. She’d grown up while I wasn’t looking. And those words... Hearing them come from her made my chest constrict.
She raised her eyebrow at my hands lovingly, cradling the dagger. “Interesting present.”
She was right. All the events that had happened were happening to me. I never chose any of this. My guilt at picking her up subsided. Needing the change of subject before I burst into tears at the circumstances, I laid my precious dagger on the stand beside the couch and grabbed the remote before plopping on the couch.
“Come on, let’s order room service and watch a movie.”
Annie did the same and curled her feet under her. We clicked through channels, one of which was a couple writhing on the bed together. We simultaneously squeaked at the sight, and I slapped my hand over her eyes.
“Brings to mind tall, hot, and dreamy-eyed.” She laughed. “What’s up with you two? I feel like I can reach out and touch all sorts of tension.”
I acted like I didn’t know what she was talking about and kept flipping through the channels. She then began on one of her famous whining modes in an effort to get it out of me. I hadn’t heard one since I’d left. Tears prickled my eyes, and I rolled them at her to dispel the moisture.
“Spill it.” Annie drew out the words as she repeated it.
“Fine!”
She grinned and made a show of adjusting her sitting position. Ignoring the tightness in my chest, I launched into what had happened from the moment I heard her voicemail. The car crash. Sabine. Roark. All of it.
When I finished, she sat shocked, staring at me, television forgotten. “Wow. Queen. Magic. Castles.”
I nodded grimly. Surprisingly, I didn’t spill one tear. They must have dried out after last night.
“That brings me to what I needed to tell you.” I cleared my throat. “You know all the talk about freeing magic? It will affect you when you reach Fae maturity when you turn twenty-two.”
Annie blinked blankly and opened her mouth, then closed it. “Does that mean what I think it means?” she asked quietly, and I nodded. “So, you’re not Fae because the Queen gave you the essence. You were going to be Fae regardless because our ancestor was part of some experiment where they got pregnant by Fae.”
“Yep.”
Annie went utterly quiet. Her hands fell into her face and her shoulders shook. Oh, God.
“Ann…”
“That’s wicked cool!” she exclaimed through her laughter as she lifted her head.
I gaped at her. “There’s something wrong with you,” I muttered, rolling my eyes.
“Pft, sign me up. I can’t wait to be crazy strong.”
I
