Page 20

I swallow. My steps slow as we near the end of this street. It meets the foot of the mountain, sloping upward and gradually growing thick with trees. I glance between the final few buildings. They look the same: dull, unassuming, unlit.

“Is he alive?” I ask. I don’t look at Sebastian as I do, even as I feel his gaze on my face. “Is Tessa?”

“The landlord is dead,” he says. “Tessa probably woke the next morning with little memory of the days before, but otherwise, she’s fine.”

He’s so cavalier as he speaks, as if he doesn’t feel an ounce of guilt.

And why should he? It’s clear these vampires don’t see humans as anything more than their personal playthings.

I sense it for myself too. I may be a half-witch, but I am as soft, as breakable as any human.

They judge me for it, look down on me as if it’s a personal failure, rather than basic reality.

“Come,” Sebastian says. He leads me across the street and stands before the final door. He raps his knuckles against it, and it opens immediately.

My eyes widen as I stare at a creature almost as startling as the Nectoa.

It’s a man, his broad frame filling the doorway.

He wears form-fitting leather, criss-crossed with thick belts.

There’s at least one knife in each, I realize, sheathed but no less intimidating.

The blades are different lengths and widths, probably made for gutting unsuspecting witches like me.

I stumble backward without making the conscious decision. It’s not the man’s muscular frame or even the weapons that have me moving. It’s his wings . Massive and black, tinged with dark red at the edges. They’re tucked behind his back, but they’re large enough I can still see them.

Sebastian steps, angling his body in front of mine. I move farther behind him. I’m not against using him as a shield if this guy tries to attack.

“Nicasi,” Sebastian says.

“Sebastian Vulce,” the man returns. His dark gaze flickers toward me, then back to Sebastian. “You’ve brought a human?”

“May we come in?”

“Always.” Nicasi steps to the side, waving for us to enter.

Sebastian shifts, urging me forward. I keep my eyes on the strange bird-man until we’re fully inside and he’s shut the door. Only once he’s crossed the room do I let myself study the building’s interior.

Wood paneling covers the walls, sand-colored tiles line the floors, and strange furniture fills what appears to be a living room, combined with a dining room.

Through one doorway, I can make out a cramped and cluttered kitchen.

Through another, a bedroom with an unmade bed and a pile of clothes in the corner.

“This is not a shop,” I accuse. I drop my voice to a hushed whisper, glaring at Sebastian. “You said we were getting clothes. And unless this man-bird-creature wears a size four, I don’t think we’re going to find what I need here.”

Despite my lowered voice, the bird-man laughs. It’s a loud guffaw that makes his entire gigantic body shake. He must be close to seven feet tall with enough muscles to be three hundred pounds.

“Where’d you find this one?” Nicasi asks. He leans against the wooden table. It only comes to mid-thigh, where it’d probably be at my belly button. “She’s not your usual type. In fact…”

He trails off, sniffing the air like he’s a dog.

“She’s not of the Night Realm at all.”

Nicasi steps closer until I’m forced to cower behind Sebastian again. If this man makes my abductor nervous, it’s impossible to tell. Sebastian stands at ease, both hands in his pockets. He lets me shrink behind him without so much as a glance.

Another deep inhale, but this time, Nicasi frowns.

“Not human,” he says. “Can’t place her smell though. What did you say she is?”

“I didn’t. Now, enough with the questions,” Sebastian drawls. “Get your wares or we’ll look elsewhere.”

A broad smile stretches Nicasi’s mouth.

“Is that right?” he asks, punctuating the question with another booming laugh. “Go ahead. Tell me how many harpies invite you into their home.”

Harpy . I add it to the ever-growing catalogue of Echo creatures. Sebastian wasn’t kidding. They really do have one of everything.

“The wares,” Sebastian repeats.

“What’s your name, sweetheart?” Nicasi asks. His dark eyes settle on me, that goofy grin still in place.

I don’t answer. I’ve always hated condescending nicknames. Sweetheart . Love. Baby.

“Damn, tight leash, Sebastian?” Nicasi asks. He’s clearly teasing, eyes bouncing from me to Sebastian. And still, I find myself seething .

What an asshole.

“I’m not a dog,” I snap. “Or do you even have those here?”

Sebastian curls his arm around my shoulders, tugging me sharply against his side. There’s a warning pinch in his grasp. A reminder that my leash is , in fact, tight.

Nicasi’s smile drops.

“Not human…and yet, not of the Echo,” he says. He tilts his head, eyes narrowing. “Is she?—”

“Nicasi,” Sebastian says, tone shifting. “Some questions are better left unasked.”

A heavy silence hangs in the air as I finally realize my slip-up.

I roll my lips together, frozen as Nicasi studies us for a strained moment.

Then, he turns, disappearing briefly into the attached bedroom.

I hold my breath and look at Sebastian. He doesn’t return my gaze.

His eyes are steady on the bedroom door.

He relaxes, only slightly, once Nicasi joins us again. The giant man drapes a collection of clothes along a short table and the adjacent couch.

“Look quickly,” he says. Any teasing from before has evaporated. “Be gone by the hour.”

With that Nicasi goes back to his bedroom. He starts to close the door, stopping when only a crack remains.

“You were never here, Sebastian,” he says, a note of warning in his voice that wasn’t there before.

“Understood.”

Sebastian keeps his arm around me until Nicasi disappears behind his closed door.

“What was that?—”

“Look quickly,” Sebastian says, cutting me off. “You’ve only got a few minutes. ”

“He’s not worried we’ll steal anything?” I ask. I try to make my voice teasing, but it only sounds shaky.

“Quickly, Grace.”

I swallow, forcing myself not to say another word as I flip through the clothes. They’re not exactly my taste: they’re too bland, too beige, but they’re still better than the ill-fitting black options I had at the manor.

Once I’m done, I drape the clothes over my arm. Sebastian tosses a few strange metal coins onto the table, and we silently depart. We’re no more than a couple steps out the door before Sebastian holds his arms toward me.

This time, I let him carry me without asking twice.