Page 110 of The Spider Queen

I shrugged. “Like he would even tell me anything anyway. Didyouask Thane about the spider silk stuff? Can you even talk to him?”

“Yes, I can talk to him—and I wouldn’t dare ask him anything.”

I leaned my head against the seat rest and closed my eyes. We were still a few hours from dawn. “My life is never going to be normal again…is it?”

“No, Poppy. It won’t be.”

“I should stop thinking I can go back to being a normal college student…”

“You were never normal.”

I laughed, but it didn’t sound joyful. “You’re right. I am into spiders. Look where that got me.”

Chapter 42

The car coming to a stop jarred me awake. It was morning. I stretched and groaned. Sleeping in a moving metal can, be it a car or a plane, wasn’t very restful. I couldn’t say I cared for it. My neck didn’t care for it, either.

I looked over at Hunter as he parked the car and I felt a surge of gratitude. No matter how tired I was, Hunter was the one who kept us going, even though I knew he was running on empty. He stayed awake so I could sleep. He protected me—at all costs. Grooves of exhaustion bracketed his mouth, and his bright blue eyes were bloodshot.

“Thank you,” I blurted, causing him to still.

“For what?” he asked.

“Being here. I know it’s your duty, your obligation to protect me, but I don’t know if I ever really said thank you. Well, thank you for protecting me, and thank you for making me feel not so…alone.”

He didn’t say anything, but instead just nodded.

What could he say?

That he didn’t hate his duty? That he didn’t plan on seeing it through?

Love and obligation were at war with one another.

I looked out the window. The weak Irish sun had risen, the green hills sparkled with the previous night’s rain, and the quaint cottage sitting on a knoll couldn’t have been more picturesque if it tried.

“Where are we?” I asked.

“About ten miles outside of Doolin—the closest town to the cliffs.”

“Okay. But where are we really?”

“Ah, yeah. Okay. We’re at the Darcys’. They’re—uh—witches.”

“Witches,” I repeated. “Oh, sure. Because let’s bring witches into all of this.”

Hunter smiled. “They’re a little eccentric, but we’ll be safe here. The lands around their cottage are warded. Thane’s enemies can’t get to us here. We can take a moment to rest—”

“I don’twantto rest. I want to go to the cliffs, free Thane, and get the hell out of Ireland.”

“Poppy—”

“Don’t ‘Poppy’ me, Hunter!” I snapped, my temper fraying. “I used to love the idea of coming to Ireland one day and having a good time, but you know what? It’s kind of fallen short of my expectations!”

“You just got done thanking me for protecting you. Now you’re turning on me.” He tried to cover his mouth to hide his smile, but he didn’t succeed and it only enraged me more.

“You’re a—a—”

“What am I?” he prodded.