Page 25 of White Little Lies

Sebastian lifted a brow. “Andyouknow what’s best for Eva?”

I threw up my arms before they could go any further. “We can’t keep doing this! We all need to be able to work together, and not just in regards to Aaliyah. We have thesamegoal. It only makes sense to tolerate each other.”

Sebastian tilted his head, his dark eyes still on Gabriel. “I tolerateCrispinadmirably.”

“Yeah,” I huffed, “but the contract with King Francis also involves a goblin. Once we have the Realm Breaker, one goblin can go on an exploratory mission to their homeland. To see if whatever this darkness King Francis was talking about has spread.”

Sebastian crossed his arms, leaning back against the wall. If he was worried about the big irritated goblin potentially grabbing him and throwing him out the door, he didn’t show it. “Just because a goblin will be allowed use of the blade does not mean they must help prior to that point.”

Annoyed, I put a hand on Gabriel’s chest, focusing on my emotions for him. It wasn’t hard with everybody all worked up, and him looking sexy as hell with those brooding, angry eyes. He relaxed against my touch, and my palm began to glow against him.

Sebastian watched us blandly.

“With Mistral,” I said, “it’s stars. I don’t know what’s going on with me but it’s like you said.” I stared Sebastian down with my hand still on Gabriel‘s chest. “What happened with Mistral made my magic grow. I don’t know why it has chosen each of you, but it has, and it scares the hell out of me.” I took a deep, steadying breath. “But I want to find my mom before someone kills her. So we are all going to work together to figure this out.”

Sebastian studied us, calculating.

Long moments ticked by, Gabriel’s heart beating steadily beneath my palm.

Finally, Sebastian gave a slight nod. “Very well. I will speak with King Francis.” With that, he disappeared in a cloud of darkness, taking his eavesdropping bubble with him.

I opened and closed my mouth, trying to get my earsto pop at the sudden pressure change, then removed my hand from Gabriel to rub the side of my jaw. “Well, that went over more easily than expected.”

“He wants you to be more powerful, Eva.” Gabriel’s voice was a low rumble. “He will do whatever it takes, whether it’s something you prefer, or not.” He turned and started up the stairs, clearly irritated.

“And why areyoumad now?” I asked after him. “I’m trying to get you a free pass into Emerald Heights.”

Just a few steps up, he paused and looked back at me. “Have you thought, perhaps, that it is not your magic that has chosen each of us,” he gripped the railing to lean closer, “but you?”

He met my eyes for a long moment, then turned and continued up the stairs.

“What the hell is that supposed to mean?” I muttered.

But there was no one around to answer.

10

“Areyou sure you’ll be okay here?” I asked, squinting against the early morning light.

Aaliyah huddled in my hooded sweatshirt, her shoulders hunched as she looked at the gates to the small park. We were several blocks from the lake, and I couldn’t even imagine her walking there herself at night. But she had, with poison in her system no less. And now Gabriel and I were dropping her off, since Sebastian hadn’t returned from his talk with King Francis.

“I’ll be safe once I’m inside.” Her eyes darted toward me, avoiding Gabriel standing at my side.

“But you were probably poisoned by someone in there,” I whispered.

Nymph families were usually large, even when they broke off to live within cities. They would take over parks, but you would never actually see their dwellings.Like night runners, they could shift just enough into another pocket realm where they actually lived.

She met my eyes, then gave a slight nod. “I will tell my parents. They’ll know what to do. Just please don’t tell anyone what I was doing in the park. They can’t know about the packages from Seraphina.”

My jaw fell open at her words. “Oh, wow, I actually forgot about the package.” I started to pull the small parcel out of my messenger bag.

She lifted a delicate, long-fingered hand. She looked so frail and vulnerable in her long white dress, my sweatshirt way too big for her. “Keep it. I can’t bring it back with me.”

“But—”

“It’s okay. My sister will understand.”

I doubted Seraphina would understand aboutanythingthat had transpired, but I didn’t argue.

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