Page 23 of Fae Devoted

Abby dropped her chin to her chest, fair skin ashen.

Ordinarily a light baby blue, Abby’s irises were unique and extremely pretty, but not in an unnatural way. Today they were crystalline clouds rimmed in a circle of navy. Not black like her pupils, but a deep indigo. The termetherealcame to mind.

“They’re beautiful, but how?”

“I normally wear tinted contacts but the chemicals in the water irritate my eyes, so I took the lenses out,” she said, hesitant and unsure. “Privacy isn’t usually an issue at this time of night, but I—”

“Wasn’t expecting me to hunt you down?”

“No, I wasn’t.”

“The colorless eyes and missing gold in your hair are linked to you being a Na’fhuil, aren’t they? And these breathing exercises with the queen,” she said in sudden understanding, “they’re somehow related to a halfblood’s skillset. You’re training your magic the same way you’ve been training your body with Evelyn’s advanced self-defense classes.”

Abby bit her bottom lip and nodded.

“Okay, then.”

“Okay? That’s it?” Her chin popped up.

“Yup.”

“No questions?”

“Nope.” When Abby was ready to explain the mechanics of her magic and why it alone wasn’t enough to protect her, she would. Johnnie could wait. Shecould.

“Thank you.” The abject relief in Abby’s eyes made curtailing her raging curiosity well worth the effort.

“You’re welcome.” Grin wide, she hooked her friend underneath the arms then stood with ease.

“Not you too?” Abby squealed, then laughed after Johnnie set her on her feet. “What is it with shifters wanting to carry me around all the time?”

“Technically, I didn’t carry you anywhere. I lifted.”

“Potato, potahto,” she grumbled good-naturedly, retrieving the towel left on the wicker chaise to scrub at her wet hair. “So, you wanted to talk to me? I’m sorry we got side-tracked after Penny showed up at the apartment.”

“What you had to say was way more important than my relationship status.” Johnnie sighed and rubbed at her itchy eyes with the heels of her hands. “Or lack thereof.”

“Have you been crying?” Abby tossed the towel aside, her dripping mane forgotten.

“Maybe a little.” Or a lot. “Jacob lied to me. Sort of. I mean, he didn’tlielie. Unless you count lying by omission a lie.” Johnnie realized she was cupping the spot on her shoulder where a bitemark once rested, and her stomach balled into a knot. The Mark may have faded years ago, but the lingering memory was proof the truth could hurt more than any bald-faced lie. “Then yeah, he did. I found out tonight he kept some important details concerning his former pack from me.” The sting of tears behind Johnnie’s lids began the instant she met her friend’s guilt-filled gaze—she already knew. “Well, shit.”

“I’m sorry.” She grasped Johnnie’s hand.

“So you know about his…” Regardless of the extent of the rejection she felt, breaking Jacob’s trust by assuming how much or how little Abby knew was out of the question.

“His twin, Jeremiah Grayson.” She squeezed Johnnie’s fingers, her expression earnest. “But I swear I only found out a couple of weeks ago. And I still wouldn’t have a clue if something hadn’t happened that affected my currentsituation.”

“As a Fae halfblood?” More secrets.

“I’m truly sorry, Johnnie.”

“Did you know his brother was declared an outcast and is missing?”

“I heard.” Abby sat on the end of the lounger, her long-sleeve, two-piece swimsuit sopping wet. “Samuel plans to offer him the Clan bond after he’s found.”

“I never doubted it. He loves Jacob.”

“Doyou?”