Page 25

Chapter 24

Meera

My fingers were going to get frostbite and fall off. I was sure of it. Tearing through the streets with no gloves, no cloak or jacket, and my exposed hands sounded like a good escape plan, right up until the howling wind turned my skin red and raw in a short period of time.

Part of me wanted to call for help, but I didn’t trust a damn soul. I didn’t know if Gin and Gertrude were from here or if they had friends and connections. Gin might have, but I doubted his sister could make friends with a porcupine.

I’d managed to weave my way through some alleys. Only a handful of people saw me. A few strange looks were thrown my way, but no one attempted to speak to me or offer assistance.

“Warwick, Warwick . . .” I muttered through chattering teeth, trying to scrape my mind for anything useful.

All I knew was that Blumary and Habberton were the two closest settlements to the palace. Warwick was much further north, but where did the portal come out? We’d been traveling for over a day, at least. Probably? I had been cold in the back of the wagon, but not hypothermic. It was hard to judge. I wasn’t familiar enough with the land to calculate distance and time for travel. How long had I been unconscious? How many stops had we already made? My shoulders shivered, my body burning with exhaustion as I ducked into an alcove behind some buildings. I paused to catch my breath, bringing my hands to my mouth to warm them up.

Walking around with my wrists bound was going to draw attention. I resumed trying to saw through them with the edge of my fang. It was a painstakingly slow process, and the taste of rope was disgusting. A hot bath and Vareck’s bedroom seemed like a faraway dream now.

A noise made me freeze. My eyes narrowed as I leaned out of the alcove only slightly to scan my surroundings, heart hammering. There was no way Gin and Gertrude had caught up to me. I had a hell of a head start, and the streets and alleys here were frequented enough that footsteps would be hard to follow unless they were expert trackers, which I highly doubted. Biting into the rope harder, I pulled my wrists apart, and with a sharp snap, the cord broke.

Relief flooded me. At least now I could use my hands. One step closer to safety.

I turned a corner and slammed right into a figure just over half my height. Stumbling backward, I found myself staring at a group of three kids, all ragged, dirty, and armed with daggers. Fantastic. Safety just took one step forward, then two steps back.

I spun around, only to see another four figures blocking my way—these kids were younger but still armed.

“Oh, you’ve got to be kidding me,” I hissed, swiveling my head between the two groups. They looked more desperate than dangerous, but that didn’t make them any less of a problem. “Do your mothers know where you are?”

“‘Ello, miss,” one of the older boys said, stepping forward. “I’m afraid there’s a toll ta’ pass through these back ways.”

I held my hands up, slightly shrugging. “No can do, Artful Dodger. You can pick my pockets, but I have no money.”

The ringleader looked insulted and spit at my feet. “My name ain’t Dodger.”

“Not much of a reader, huh?” Tough crowd. I continued to assess the way they’d closed in around me. Hand to hand combat was really more Sadie’s style. I could hold my own for a while. Usually. I was currently weaponless . . . against this many kids with knives? Eh. . . I wasn’t making bets, that’s for sure.

“She’s lyin’,” one kid whispered.

“Maybe not. She don’t even have a cloak. Coulda been picked over already.”

“Maybe she’s just stupid?”

“You know I can hear you right?” Two boys shot me a look in surprise before they narrowed their eyes like I’d bewitched them. And they thought I was stupid. “Here,” I said, opening my cardigan. I shivered as I exposed myself more to the cold and tried to stop my teeth from chattering. “Search for yourself.”

The older boy, Not-Dodger, grinned, a glint in his eye. He glanced down at my chest and back to my face. “We’ll take that necklace there, and ya’ can be on your way.”

The necklace.

I looked down, suddenly aware of the weight of the artifact against my sternum. The cold had nearly made me forget about it. My lips curled into a grin as a laugh bubbled up. How perfect.

“Take it. It’s all yours.” I smirked, shaking my head. Gods, I hoped they could take it off. They should be able to, but luck didn’t seem to be on my side.

The boys exchanged uncertain glances.

“What’s your deal?” another one asked, eyeing me suspiciously. “If you’re up ta’ any tricks, you’ll get cut.” He swiped his dagger through the air, clearly never having used it in his life.

Holding my hands out, I knelt down, throwing on a faux look of uncertainty. I had instant regret, but it was too late to change my position without scaring them. The cold bite of the snow pierced through my leggings and into my knees, the fleece lining doing next to nothing to create a barrier. “Look, I’m serious. I’m cold, and you all seem very dangerous.” My voice wavered just enough to sell it. “I’ll hold my hands out. You can take it off me yourself.”

One of the younger boys didn’t wait to be told twice. He rushed forward, fingers fumbling as he yanked the chain from my neck. The metal snapped easily.

And the moment it did, magic surged through me.

I sucked in a breath, warmth blooming in my chest, flowing through my veins like molten fire. The boys were already sprinting away, their feet kicking up snow and mud as they disappeared into the shadows.

“Let’s get out of here!” one yelped.

“Go, go, go!”

I barely heard them. My entire focus was on the energy flooding back into me. My head tilted up, a breathless chuckle slipping from my lips.

“Oh, hell yes.” The words purred from my throat like honey .

I stood, flexing my fingers, feeling my power thrumming just beneath the surface. If I ran into the twins again, I was more than ready to give them a run for their money. What it didn’t give me was the power to stay warm, but free of the rope and free of that necklace, my odds of survival were much better.

Stalking out of the alley, I turned my head toward the sound of music and laughter. Dusk was settling in, and a tavern loomed ahead, warm light spilling onto the frozen street. In a town smack dab in the middle of a frozen wasteland, it figured that thriving businesses would be ones that served ale.

I pushed through the door, making a direct line for the roaring fireplace. Heat licked at my fingers as I stretched them out, listening to the hum of conversation around me. The place wasn’t packed, but it wasn’t empty either. A few tables were full, and several patrons lingered at the bar. Eyes flicked toward me, curious, assessing my clothing.

Let them look. I just needed to find someone to help me out of this town after my body returned to a normal temperature. Spotting an empty seat by the fire, I dropped into it, rolling my stiff shoulders.

The bartender walked over, drying a mug with a cloth. “Lookin’ for summer in those clothes, are ya’? Ya’ must be freezin’.”

“Yeah,” I muttered. “Just a little. Got anything to warm me up?”

“‘Course,” he said, nodding. “Wouldn’t be a bar without brown liquor and ale. Comin’ right up.”

I exhaled, sinking further into the chair, my body still thrumming with the return of my magic. It seemed I’d already become accustomed to Vareck’s luxurious bed, blessedly forgetting what it was like on my springy mattress. Spending time in a wagon had done a number on my back.

“There ya’ go. I’m Galpin. Gimme a holler if ya’ be needin’ anythin’.” He gave me a nod before moving on to another customer behind the bar.

I took a gulp of the brown liquor, wincing at the burn when I swallowed. The warmth of the alcohol spread through my chest and flowed through my veins. After another few sips, the heat settled, and I no longer felt like a popsicle.

Now I just needed to find a way home. The thought made me pause. Home. Was Faerie home? I meant that I needed to find a way back to the castle. Back to Vareck. But I’d said back . . . home . I shook my head, convincing myself it was just a slip.

I’d find my way back to him, find Damon, then what? What were we? Weirdly, I was pretty sure I missed him. And not in a ‘I miss the safety of your castle and not being taken hostage in a freezing wagon’ kind of way. Both things were true, but a piece of me missed him . His company. I wanted his arms around me, keeping me warm.

“Excuse me,” I said, walking up to the counter and taking a seat on an empty stool at the bar. I placed my glass in front of me. The bartender came over, waiting for me to speak. “I need to find a ride out of here.”

“Where ya’ headed?” he asked, throwing his towel over his shoulder.

“Brumlow. Is there a public wagon or something that would take me that way?”

“What in the nine realms is a ‘public wagon’?” Galpin asked, his brows scrunching deeply.

“You know, like a bus?” I said, realizing quickly the barkeep had likely never left Warwick. “Never mind. I mean a wagon that would take several people at one time to that location?”

He continued to stare at me, as if I would have a better explanation. I sighed. This was why I liked the Arcane District. Public transportation.

Galpin took the towel and wiped it over the counter. “If ya’ don’t have yer own horse, the only way to Brumlow is by catchin’ a ride with a tradesman.” He turned to look at a parchment on the wall while I took the last gulp of my brown liquor. “They just got back yesterday, so . . . looks to be about two weeks before another scheduled trade.”

I almost choked on my drink. Coughing, I pounded a fist against my chest.

“Two weeks?” I repeated hoarsely, trying to think quickly. That was way too long. I could walk faster than that. I’d freeze, but that wasn’t the point. There had to be another way. “What about a portal? Are there any portals?”

If I tapped into my power and followed the trail, I had no way of knowing how far it would be. The frozen lands were holding me hostage. But if one was close enough . . .

“None ‘round here, I’m afraid.”

“You don’t know of one, or there isn’t one?”

“Isn’ one,” he confirmed, giving me a wary look. “Ya’ all right?”

I ignored his question for a more important one. “What about sending a message? Do you have pigeons or something?”

“Don’ know what pigeons are. Mail goes out with a tradesman,” he answered, though he did look like he regretted having to give me answers I clearly didn’t like.

The human realm sometimes cursed cell phones and claimed they were a distraction. Usually I would agree. Now I'd give my entire apartment just to have the option to use one. If I ever got back to Vareck, I planned to ask why the hell his kingdom didn’t have a better system for communication. This was ridiculous.

“It is really, very important that I get back as soon as possible. Is there someone— anyone —who could get me out of here? Even if it’s to a place that leads to another place that maybe, just maybe, leads to Brumlow?”

Galpin let out a slow sigh, glancing around the tavern before tossing his rag over his shoulder again.

He crouched forward, leaning his elbows on the counter, lowering his voice. “Ov’r there.” He subtly nodded toward a door in the far back corner. “Ask for Irene?—”

“Thank you,” I said quickly, and he grabbed my arm before I could stand up.

“Wait, now. Be careful ‘n there. If anyone can get ‘ya home, it’ll be her. But she’s a trickster. Keep yer wits about ‘ya. Dealin’ with Irene is trouble. . . ‘ya might wanna wait the two weeks.”

“I’ll take my chances.” I patted his hand, feeling guilty that I was going to have to persuade him to give me the drink for free. Before I even had to, he glanced at the glass, then back to me.

“On the house. Ya’ need all the money ya’ have once ya’ walk through that door.”

I thanked him with a tight-lipped smile and prepared myself for bargaining.

The door was black and carved with symbols I wasn’t familiar with. The golden knob sparkled when I approached, as though it were expecting me. When I swung it open and walked through, I didn’t predict finding a two-story tavern filled with patrons.

A huge bouncer suddenly obscured my view. He towered over me, arms crossed. When he looked me up and down, his tongue darted out to wet his bottom lip. I did my best not to roll my eyes.

“Galpin said I should ask for Irene,” I told him confidently, holding my chin up.

He pointed to the back of the crowded room, and I began walking in that direction. A thin haze of smoke permeated the air, and I prayed to the gods it was nothing more than tobacco. If it were any other kind, I was already breathing it in and it was too late. I needed to stay alert.

As I passed through the throng of people, I noticed the tables were almost all full. Card games were being played. Dice were rolled at some. It looked like an old saloon from westerns, except there were women in scantily clad outfits draping their arms around customers?—

My eyes darted around the room. The hidden entrance. The flirting. The ample cleavage. The rows of doors on the second-story balcony.

I was in a brothel.

If I didn't stick out like a sore thumb before, I certainly did now. As I approached the back table, men and women stepped aside, appraising me openly. I waved awkwardly, dipping my chin in greeting.

The woman I assumed to be Irene sat in a plush red velvet chair at a private table . She wore a tight black dress that dipped down only enough to show her cleavage. I assessed her quickly, taking in her pointed ears, dark red hair, and blue eyes. She had a large gold earring through the conch of her ear, and she wore a medallion that sat nestled just above her breast, stating loud and proud her family clan. I cursed internally. I’d seen medallions like it before. She was a fucking leprechaun. No wonder Galpin had warned me.

A part of me wanted to turn around. The last time I made a deal with a leprechaun didn't go so well. But I needed to make it back to Vareck, and I had very few options.

She leaned back and smirked at me. In one hand, she flipped a coin over her knuckles back and forth, while she used her other hand to pet the stomach of a very large, and very familiar, black and silver cat who was sprawled on his back snuggled on a pillowy cushion next to her. The cat opened his golden eyes and looked at me through a foggy feline smile.

“What the hell, Corvo?”