Page 61 of Faerie Trials

“Nice going,” I muttered to myself.

The guards were probably laughing at me.

Why did I always feel the need to start things? I hadn’t even wanted to, but I’d snapped at Mike anyway and on instinct went right for the subject I knew would hurt him the most.

I did need sleep. Maybe a few straight hours would help clear my head and I’d act like less of an idiot. We hadn’t really solidified our plan for mobilizing the suits of armor to carry us, but at least we had a solid direction for the Trial tomorrow. And they were allowing me to compete again. I should be happy for small blessings.

Except when I got to my room, the tiny kernel of a good mood shriveled up and disappeared. Bronwen waited for me there. She did not grin when she saw me. I hurried to close the door before any of the guards trailing me in the hallway saw her.

“We have patrol tonight,” she said the moment we were alone with a sound barrier spell keeping overeager ears from listening.

I slumped down on the bed with a groan. The little chinks in the wall I’d been building since my interviews with Rooker and Claribel began to crack. “Not again.”

“I’m sorry. Selene feels we stopped our watch too early and someone else died. She wants you and me back out there and searching for clues, especially considering our past history with the half-shifter.” Bronwen sat next to me and sighed.

I wasn’t sure what she did all day to keep busy, and she’d never really told me outside ofworking. I didn’t know where she worked or what she did. Funny how I could trust someone so easily without knowing the details of her life.

Maybe that was why I kept getting into trouble.

“I can’t, Bronwen. I’m sorry, really, but I just can’t. Absolutely, one hundred percent cannot,” I told her firmly. “I’m barely making it through the day as it is.” I hadn’t told her about the newest hurdle or my issues with the bureau, although surely at this point she’d heard about me finding the latest body. It was all over the Faerie news network.

“Talk to me,” Bronwen said. She reached out to pat my knee. “I’m here to listen. If you’re having issues, then maybe I can help.”

I puffed out my cheeks, wondering if I should spill about everything or keep a few things to myself. I ended up going through the story from start to finish, with Bronwen listening wide-eyed without interruption. She knew about Madam Muerte and the magic tracker I’d been forced to wear for months on end. She didn’t know about the king pulling me aside to tell me he was reopening the case. I’d even told Bronwen about the brain boost powder and how I’d backslid into some pretty bad withdrawal symptoms. She hadn’t judged me.

When I finally finished, rubbing my eyes and close to tears, she put her hand on my arm. “Tavi, you need to run.” Her hand bit down into my skin as she squeezed. “It’s not safe for you here anymore. I shouldn’t even be here! Have you told Selene?”

I shook my head. “I can’t run. There are too many things I need to do here.”

“Look. The Claw & Fang has sister groups in other villages, other cities in Faerie. We could reach out through the network and find you a safe haven somewhere far away. Somewhere you can hide.”

Hiding sounded amazing right now. It also sounded like an easy out. Too easy.

I appreciated what she was trying to do. How she wanted to help and get me clear of this mess. Unfortunately, I knew better. “If I run, then I look guilty. I’m not guilty. And besides, the king would probably tear the kingdom apart to find me. I have to see this through and do my best to keep my chin up.”

“I know it’s hard for you to be open, Tavi. Especially when you aren’t sure who to trust. I appreciate your trust in me and I won’t betray it. But you need to rest, so why don’t you stay home tonight.”

“What?”

“I’ll find someone else to patrol with me. You rest tonight and I’ll be there to see you at the Trial tomorrow. It’ll be fine.”

“You really don’t have to—”

She patted me on the knee again before pushing off the bed. “I know I don’t have to. Consider it done, anyway. You don’t need to worry about anything else. Well, at least for tonight. There’s not much I can do about the rest of it.”

Those tears I’d tried so hard to keep to myself broke free and trailed down my cheeks. “Bron—”

“Oh, hey, no crying now!” Bronwen drew me forward in a hug, wrapping her arms around my shoulders. “It’s going to be okay. Also, maybe we should find a new meeting place. I don’t want the king to see us together and get more suspicious of you than he already is. No more meeting in your room.”

Luckily, none of the questions the bureau had asked me regarding the attack on Juno had mentioned Bronwen or anyone fitting her description. As far as they knew, I had been alone when I stepped in to help Professor Ians. I needed to keep it that way because I didn’t want my friend involved.

“All right.” I sniffled as I returned the embrace. “We’ll think of something.”

“We always do.” She broke contact and leaned back to smile at me. “Sleep,” she insisted. “I’ll tell Selene we need someone to cover for you for a little while. You need to be prepared to face whatever happens tomorrow. And when this is all over, you and Melia and I are taking a girls trip.”

My face broke into a similar grin. “Where will we go? I can’t take time off work, much less school.”

“I don’t care. Get the time off and we will go to the coast. You haven’t had a chance to see anything outside of this town. It’s time for you to blow off a little steam. Girls only.”

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