Page 37 of Kisses at the Crossroads

“I don’t need to get naked.” I stripe off the silk shirt. It’s soaked through which should help. I wrap it around two bars and use all my strength to twist. “I’m not strong enough.”

The wind whips wilder, bringing a thick stick the length of my forearm clattering against the outside of my cage. I snatch the wood and wind it into my shirt. This gives me the leverage I need to get the bars to move. “Keep going. Almost there.” I grit my teeth and work the wood and silk until the cage moans and bends. “Maybe you aren’t so mean to me,” I say to the coin. “But I am curious how I’m going to get down without breaking anything.” Not to mention what if Drake’s home and knows I’m on the move? Just the thought of his punishment sends a shiver down my spine.

Ladder down the side of the house.

—>

I look at where the coin points and, sure enough, the top of a ladder peeks over the roof. I squint through the rain. “If you could do something about the rain, that’d be great.” Water pours like a tsunami over me. “Not like that!”

When I have the hole wide enough, I drop my stick and grab my shirt to wrap around my waist. I don’t want to lose a gift from Pike, though I think he’ll understand. I push one leg out of the opening, then the other, and shimmy myself until I’m free. Fear runs through me as I grip the cage while I gain my freedom. What if Drake does something to Ava she can’t recover from? Her fangs were bad enough, but what if he escalates his punishment?

You have to move.

The coin is right. All I can do is take care of Ava if Drake hurts her.

I turn to face the right direction to the ladder, but I can hardly see. “Seriously, if the rain was lighter, I can get to the other side better.”

It’s your cover. Now scramble.

I drop to my hands and knees to make it across the roof easier. Plus, less chance of lightning hitting me, hopefully. Thunder rumbles louder and I scurry as fast as I can while keeping my balance. I have to get out. Get away. Save myself. No one else can do it for me. My hand with the coin heats. It’s as if the coin is telling me it’s helping. That I’m not alone.

Of course I’m not alone. I have Ava, Pike, Frankie Wren, Van, Wick, all the dancers and servers. We can overthrow Drake and make him pay. We just have to get the coven to realize what he’s done. What he’s stolen from me.

When I get to the ladder, I slide over the roof and onto the metal rungs. They’re slippery with rain and moss. It takes all my strength not to fall with each step. On the final rung, I hop to the ground and my knees buckle. I kiss the wet earth beneath me.

Part one done.

Good job.

Get ready for part two.

I curse under my breath because, of course, the coin is right again. That was probably the easy part.

Three. Two. RUN!

I push to my feet at the sound of snarling behind me. I have no idea what chases me, but I hope it’s a sound illusion. My feet pound the wet earth, splashing water and cut grass around me. My wing binder makes it hard to breathe as I run. If only I could fly!

I run toward the street instead of the woods. If I can get to Pike’s crossroads, I can summon him. But I’m all turned around.

My next step, something snaps and hits me in the face. Another snap. The binder warms against me, and the remaining laces fall away. I shuck the evil contraption from my body and my wings flitter out. I run a few more steps preparing for flight.

But as I try to lift, I trip and fall to my knees. “Fuck. The rain.” Makes me too heavy. It’s just fine. I push back to my feet and continue my run. My heart pounds. I just need someone, anyone, to believe me. To listen.

I blink, and red flames appear in front of me. Then a pair of blue flames. And Wren. I push myself harder until Pike’s muscular form comes into view.

“Darling,” Pike drawls out as I leap into his open arms. He swings me around, laughing. “We were just coming to rescue you, but I sensed you moving.”

“Is he here?” Wren asks, watching Pike and me.

“I’m here,” I say.

“He’s here,” Pike answers, softly petting my hair. “Wren’s blocked out. He can’t sense you.”

I rush to my brother’s side, but when I try to touch him to prove I’m here, it’s like we’re two magnets pushing each other away. He looks the same as I remember. Tall, muscular. Long white hair. Same plush lips as me. We’ve always been told we look alike and I can see it.

“I wish I could sense you,” Wren says as he reaches out.

“Soon,” I say and Pike relays it to Wren.

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