Page 33 of The Cursed Fae

Had Astrid already told someone I'd seen Missy? She'd been so insistent that Morgan not discover the truth, so I found it hard to believe she'd betray my confidence.

“Spirit sighting isn't that common,” Laz pointed out. “Even among the Sables.” He gave me a lazy grin that, combined with the alcohol, gave me the urge to snuggle closer.

Belle and Astrid wandered over a few minutes later, saving me from more awkward moments. The conversation turned toward the arena match on Sunday. Apparently, Brendan and Laz would battle it out in the first round. For rivals, they were awfully chummy.

I turned to Astrid. “Have you heard from Morgan?” I asked under my breath.

“She texted a few minutes ago. She's on her way with Chance. They should be here soon,” Astrid said. “You any good at beer pong?”

I shook my head. “Pretty lousy.”

“Good. Me too. Want to be my partner?”

“Did somebody say pong?” Laz interjected.

“Sorry. Winter's with me, and I have next up on the table.” Astrid linked her arm through mine and led me away.

“Have fun,” Laz called after us.

I flashed a grin over my shoulder. “Wish us luck. We're going to need it.”

Despite her disclaimer, Astrid was excellent at the game. Which was good for us because the balls kept slipping between my gloved fingers. We played Laz's friend Justin and a guy Astrid introduced as Pablo. Both our opponents were exceptionally skilled, sinking shot after shot without issue. By the end of our three-round game, my vision was fuzzy and the cold no longer touched me.

“Best of five?” Astrid asked, her glossy lips forming a perfect pout.

I held up my hand. “I think I need a break.”

“We've got next anyway,” Fern said.

I'd been so concentrated on the game that I hadn't realized she'd joined the spectators.

“Belle looks a little busy.” Astrid pointed to where the other girl stood near the keg talking to AJ.

“Why don't you two play together?” I hiccupped. “I should go find Laz.”

The crowd parted to let me through. I focused on my feet to avoid falling with such a large audience. Away from the excitement, the cool breeze did wonders for my sobriety. I looked around the beach for Laz. My heart sank when I saw him talking to Tina and a girl from my English class. Maybe it was the alcohol, but the way Tina's friend kept touching Laz's arm made my teeth grind.

I turned away from the spectacle and stared out over the water. The smell of seaweed and salt was oddly comforting. It reminded me of beach trips with Lena.

Shit. Lena.

I owed her a phone call. Not even a full week in Arcane Landing and I was already slacking on my end of the best friend contract. Yanking off a glove with my teeth, I pulled my cell from my coat pocket and dialed her number. Straight to voicemail. Well, at least I tried.

Cloud cover overhead shifted, allowing moonlight to shine down from above. The water appeared much clearer than other parts of the Atlantic Ocean. I could even see to the bottom in the shallows. In the distance, a dark, obscure shape loomed: Siren Island. Ray's destination on the night of his death. Somewhere between the island and where I stood, he'd lost his life. And we were partying there as if it never happened. It felt wrong.

My stomach churned. What really happened to Ray that fateful night? The island wasn't terribly close, but it also wasn't that far. The water was calm, with only a few small waves. Even someone with rudimentary swimming skills should've had no problem making the journey. Missy's draining claims seemed more likely by the second. But if someone drained Ray that night, then one of my classmates was a killer. I knew Belle and Laz were there, along with Kora—who else, though? How many suspects should I have on my radar?

A weird sense of foreboding washed over me. Unease twisted my gut into knots. The urge to bolt was undeniable. I wanted nothing more than to run as far and as fast from the cove as possible.

Hands landed on my shoulders. I spun on my heel, fist closed and cocked, ready to lash out.

“Woah. You're more ready for the arena than I thought,” Laz teased. Just the sight of his twinkling gray eyes quieted the rush of anxiety.

I dropped my hand to my side, shoulders sagging with relief. “Oh, Gaia. You scared me. Don't sneak up on people like that. Lucky for you, I'm moving slower than usual. Otherwise, you'd have a black eye right now.”

It was true. The alcohol had dulled my reflexes considerably, while increasing both my paranoia and desire for human contact. Well, fae contact. And there was only one fae I wanted to touch.

Laz stepped closer and wound his arms around my waist. My hands found their way to his chest, which I swatted. Hard. His thick jacket took the brunt of the force.

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