Page 4 of Deadly Little Games (Four Ways to Fate #2)

4

Elena dropped me off at the golden gates with a fresh bag of wolfsbane for Braxton. Maybe I only picked it up because I felt guilty, but it would still make him happy, so why not?

For some reason I felt like it should be almost dark by the time I left Greengate Park behind, but in reality I had only been in Emerald Heights for a few hours.

I was about to step out onto the sidewalk when I heard the rustle of wings, then arms wrapped around me and I was suddenly airborne. I let out a scream and started to struggle, then we were so high up that I gripped the arms around me and went still, not wanting to be dropped. I could try to shift, but even if I managed to fully shift again, there was no saying if I would stick the landing, and the sidewalk was now way too far away.

My panicked thoughts cut off abruptly as I was dropped onto the roof of a tall building, and Lucas landed beside me.

I scurried out of reach, pushing my windblown hair back out of my face. “What the hell, dude?”

He loomed over me, wings slightly spread to block out the lowering sun. A cool breeze picked up locks of his blond hair and ruffled the collar of his white linen shirt. “What were you doing in Emerald Heights?”

I gripped the strap of my bag, glancing around for the easiest way off the roof. There was a doorway leading down into the building, but it was probably locked, and I would have to get around Lucas to reach it. “I’m a night runner. I make deliveries.” I stood up a little straighter, facing him. “Now where’s my mother?”

He stalked toward me, his aggressive movements emphasizing his irritation. “I’m not allowed to kill you, but I still have to prevent you from finding her. This causes a significant issue for me.”

I took a step back, but I was getting too close to the edge of the roof. He wasn’t supposed to kill me, but that didn’t mean he wouldn’t . “Well sorry to be a pain in the ass, but get used to it.”

He came too close and I flinched. I felt a pulse of magic from the card in my back pocket.

“You need to stop looking, Eva. You’re not going to like what you find.”

I gripped the strap of my bag hard enough to make my knuckles turn white, and forced myself to meet his angry eyes. “Well ever since you revealed my identity to everyone, I really don’t have a choice.”

He let out a bark of laughter, tossing back his head. “You believe I revealed your identity? Why would I make my life more difficult?”

I frowned. “Only you and Sebastian knew.” I thought about Lilith, but Lilith didn’t recognize me until after Ivan was already after me. Maybe someone else had noticed the resemblance, but who?

Lucas flexed his hands at his sides. “If you’re not going to stop, I’m going to have to take you somewhere safe.”

I stepped back again, then bumped into something solid. I glanced over my shoulder at Sebastian. “Took you long enough.”

Sebastian tilted his head. “Did you not want to see what he had to say?”

I crossed my arms. “Fair point.”

Lucas glared at both of us, then focused his attention on me. “You’re a fool to trust a devil. Do you really want to get your mother killed?”

I fell silent, the question making me uncomfortable. Sebastian claimed he would be content with finding the offerer of the bounty, but I couldn’t trust him entirely. If we found my mother first, would he turn her in?

“Just tell me where she is. Just put an end to this.”

Lucas lowered his chin, but didn’t respond.

“He doesn’t know,” Sebastian said behind me. “He is simply following orders.”

Lucas wrinkled his nose and flashed his teeth, his angry eyes on Sebastian. “I hope you’re not opposed to babysitting her constantly. I think you signed a longer contract than you realized.”

Sebastian put a hand on my shoulder and pulled me back against him. I felt a flare of magic between us and tried to not show it on my face, but I could also sense Sebastian’s surprise.

Not noticing, Lucas gave me a dark look. “I’ll be watching you, Eva. You won’t like what happens if you get too close.”

He took off in a flash of white wings, leaving us in the cool breeze on our own.

I turned toward Sebastian, still feeling a pulse of magic between us, like a magnet drawing me closer. “It’s getting worse,” I whispered.

He nodded subtly, his attention mostly on our surroundings. “What happened with the elves?”

Could I really trust him? I would take his help, but if I could find my mother on my own…

“What do you think? Everyone wants the…” I glanced around, then whispered, “ object .” There. That wasn’t quite a lie. I didn’t need to tell him that Elena wasn’t actually after it.

“And can the elf king help you find it?”

I shook my head. “No. I don’t think he has any answers.” But Crispin might , I added internally.

Now I would just have to think of a good excuse to give Sebastian for going back there. “So what now?”

He didn’t look at me, though he was still standing too close. “I’ll take you home. There are some other avenues I need to explore. Keep the card on you, and don’t go beyond any boundaries where I can’t reach you.”

I bristled at being ordered around.

He finally met my gaze. “Do as I say, Eva. I am your best chance at survival.”

“Fine,” I huffed. It was a good thing I only had a bargain of truth with Mistral.

He maintained eye contact for a moment longer, then his gaze drifted down to my lips.

I licked them reflexively, wondering if he was going to try to kiss me again.

Then a horn honked somewhere below us, and the moment was over.

He gripped my arm. “Let’s go. You can tell me exactly what King Francis said to you on the way.”

He tugged me toward the roof entrance, and I reluctantly followed. It would be dark by the time we reached my apartment, which meant traveling to the Bogs while Ivan and his vampires were awake. The elf king had offered me his protection, but it would probably be foolish to actually test it.

Not that I wouldn’t do it, but I hated proving Gabriel right.

As soon as Sebastian was gone, I packed up a few things to head to the Bogs. With my bag slung over my shoulder, I reached into my back pocket for Sebastian’s playing card. I looked down at the two of hearts, flicking the card with my finger. I was a little hesitant to leave it behind with Lucas still out there, but I would just have to make my journey quick. Once I was beyond the boundary, I would be fine.

As I set the card on my nightstand, I looked down at a folded piece of paper near my boots. Had that fallen from my pocket when I removed the card? It definitely hadn’t been there this morning.

Ringo hopped down from his bookshelf to see what I was staring at.

Glancing at him perched on my bed, I picked up the paper and unfolded it. There were only a few words written, and I didn’t recognize the handwriting. I might have tossed it out if the words weren’t so terribly relevant to my current situation.

Do not trust the elves .

I stared down at the paper, wracking my brain to figure out where it had come from. The only people who had been close enough to slip it into my pocket were Lucas, Elena, and Sebastian. But I would have noticed, wouldn’t I?

I stared at the paper for a moment longer, then folded it and walked over to stick it between two books on my shelf. It made me uneasy, but it hadn’t really told me anything new. I couldn’t fully trust anyone .

Leaving the paper behind, I grabbed a sweater, then opened the flap of my bag for Ringo. “Let’s get out of here before Sebastian realizes we’re gone.”

He hopped into my bag without question. Braxton had headed out to visit his mom in the country, so I’d left his wolfsbane in his room. I was glad he had gone. He would be back in a day or two, but those were at least two days where I wouldn’t have to worry about him. He would be with many members of his pack. No one would be taking him from there. Hopefully by the time he returned, the elf king’s protection would be known throughout the city.

I headed out into the living room, then into the adjoining bathroom. It was already dark, so I was realistic enough to assume I might be staying the night in the Citadel. My toothbrush and deodorant went into the bag with Ringo. After they were both secure he held out his paw for one more thing, and I handed him the tube of toothpaste.

I thought once more about the strange note, then shook my head. Too many problems, and that was the least of my worries. My magic was reacting more strongly to Sebastian. I needed to speak with the goblin who had unlocked it all to begin with.