Page 41 of Kisses at the Crossroads

Tick.

Tock.

I glare at the clock, willing it to cease its annoying sounds. I knuckle roll the luck coin. it’s my only companion for now.

Look closer.

I squint at the clockface. “Don’t see anything.”

Nothing looks familiar? What did Drake stir your binding concoction with?

I think back, trying to remember the strange design of the stick. “The hour hand. Or maybe the minute hand? It’s been staring at me the whole time.” I shiver in the cold. I’m without a shirt or the wing binder, and Drake keeps his house drafty. At least he keeps his dining room drafty. I’ve been without sunshine for three days, which means I’m weaker than usual too. “Any ideas on how to get free this time?”

I press a hand to the door and gasp when it swings open. “What the hell?” I whisper as I climb out.

It’s good to have me around sometimes.

Drake’s magic is so weak without you, he can’t sustain most of his old spells.

“Good to know,” I whisper as I tiptoe closer to the grandfather clock. I check for surveillance as I go.

He’s wallowing in his room.

“Okay, but how do I do this? I need to destroy the clock, correct?”

Yes. Burn it with fire.

“I don’t have any matches or a lighter.” Everything will be easier once the tether’s gone and I have access to all of my magic again.

Before I can make it halfway through the room, Drake stomps through the door. “You little brat.”

“You don’t own me anymore.” I stand taller. “I’m my own person again.”

“Our tether still stands. You’re too weak and pathetic. The demon just wants to fuck you and leave you.”

“No! Pike is a good person. He’s shown me so much kindness and he loves me.”

Drake rolls his eyes. “He loves the idea of having a pretty little Fae at his side to take his orders. What makes you think he won’t take you to the demon realm to turn you into a slave there? He’s just buttering you up.”

“That’s not Pike! Pike loves me. I know it.” I know it in the way he treats me. In the way he talks to me. In the way he wants to help. “What turned you into such a sour person, Drake? Who hurt you? I could see the man you were before in the beginning. You weren’t cruel. What happened?”

“We’re not talking about me.” Drake growls.

“Why not? We used to talk. But then…” But then Drake turned into the nasty, evil man he is now.

“Get back into the cage and I’ll let you have sun tomorrow.”

I shake my head. “Tonight I gain my freedom. I know my soul aches for Pike, but I also don’t want the possibility of your tether ever controlling me again. So the anchor has to go.”

Drake’s head goes back when he laughs. “How do you think you’ll get that done?” He puts a hand on his hip and waits for my answer.

There’s a slight pull from my chest and something snaps. We both drop to our knees, gasping for air.

“No. No!” Drake’s back to his feet first and lunges at me, but I have the advantage.

I swipe his legs, taking him down again. Drake isn’t draining my magic any longer, so while I haven’t had the sun in days, I’m stronger than I’ve been since I stumbled into this realm. When he tries to fight me, I elbow him in the diaphragm, sending him down again. He coughs and chokes.

“You know something fun about Fae?” I lift a hand, and summon fire as if I never stopped using the elements. “We can tap into the elements when we’re not hindered.”

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