Page 26 of Inked in Emeralds (Inkbound #3)
Duncan’s eyes went wide, his gaze colliding with mine. There was a good chance our little fellowship was about to implode. The odds of Hook answering were?—
“Smart.” Hook interrupted my thought with the resigned look of a person strangely at peace with some terrible fate. “Because that’s the heart of it, isn’t it?”
She gave him a sad little smile in return. “I’m afraid it is, and I’m sorry for that.”
He fixed his gaze on a spot behind her head somewhere as he spoke.
“I’ve hurt a lot of people. Some intentionally, some by accident.
I’ve tried to make amends for the latter, but the peace I hoped would come with that has eluded me.
To complicate matters, the magic that you speak of isn’t really mine.
Most of my powers are ill-gotten gains earned from the terrible deeds I’ve done, and they come at a cost. Where I’m from, we don’t call those with magic Whispers.
We call them Tideblessed. When I take a life, I absorb that person’s Tideblessing… along with all their memories.”
Billy let out a low hiss and closed her eyes. “Fucking hell.”
“On the nose. It’s fucking hell.” He stared at her long and hard. “Have I answered to your satisfaction?”
Duncan’s throat worked, but he didn’t comment. As for me, I sat on my hands to keep from throwing my arms around Hook and trying to comfort him. He’d made it very clear that wasn’t my job anymore, if it ever was.
“I’m good,” Billy replied finally. “My fear was that your disregard for death would make you reckless with not only your life, but with ours. Again, from what I’ve witnessed, I’m happy to fight at your side. Let’s keep going.” Billy picked up the cards again and shuffled.
If there was a less fun game than this, I couldn’t think of it. I was about to say as much when a bell chimed merrily. We all turned to see the dumbwaiter door slide open to reveal a basket brimming with sandwiches half-wrapped in parchment that we hadn’t ordered.
Fenwick, ever the perfect host.
“I think that’s enough for tonight anyway,” Billy said, setting the deck down with a sigh. “Let’s try to get some sleep, shall we?”
The others agreed, but I stayed silent. The rest of us had been forced to answer a question, while Billy had not only managed to avoid the coals, but she’d also been the one with the high card each and every time.
I’d suspected she was a card mechanic and respected the hustle.
Enough was enough, though. Fair was fair, and if it wound up biting me in the ass, so be it.
“One more round,” I said before I could talk myself out of it. Duncan winced, shaking his head but I pressed on. “Only this time, we’ll pick for each other.” I met Billy’s gaze and held it. “Everyone select a card for the person to your right.”
Billy’s eyes narrowed but she must’ve sensed that I wasn’t budging because she let out a resigned sigh. “Go ahead, then. It’s fine by me.”
Now was my chance. I just need to get super lucky…
“I’m out,” Hook announced, pushing himself to his feet and taking a seat on the couch.
“Me too,” Duncan said, a light in his eyes dawning as he followed suit.
It hit me like a bolt of lightning. They were trying to turn the odds in my favor. Now I had to get half as lucky, because the men were out of the game. It was me against Billy. Fifty fifty. Worst case, I’d have to reveal another secret, but what did I have left to hide?
“Hook, pick for me, Duncan, pick for Billy then.”
Her eyes narrowed as if she were trying to think of a reason to deny my request, but after a brief moment, she shrugged. “Whatever.”
Duncan went first, taking a long time to pick. He looked miserable, and I wondered if he was trying to pick high or low at this point, knowing he was in a no-win situation.
“Ten of diamonds,” he announced as he set the card on the table.
Hook stood and leaned over me, but he didn’t waiver. He stabbed the card closest to me with his hook and slid it under my trembling fingertips.
I gnawed on my bottom lip as I dug at the corner and flipped it over.
The queen of hearts.
I blew out a shuddering breath as relief rolled through me.
I could finally ask about the fairytale book in her bag, find out exactly how she’d gotten it and when.
My hands were trembling with anticipation at getting the answer I wanted, but when I opened my mouth, something else entirely came tumbling out.
“Where are your brothers?”
What the fuck?
It was the wrong question, no doubt about it. And still, as I waited, my whole body was on high alert.
She pinched her eyes closed, and went silent for so long, I was sure she was going to break her own rule and deny me my answer. Then, she pushed herself to her feet and stared down at me, her expression one that told of a heartache so keen, it cut me sure as a blade.
“You’re right, Princess. I had four brothers, and they’re not here with me now.
My whole life, we were thick as…well…thieves.
” She let out a bitter laugh as she wrapped the pendant around her neck in her fist. “They were my only family. My best friends. And my mistake cost them their lives. They’re dead because of me. …”