Page 48 of Secrets and Ruin

“Don’t be in such a rush. We don’t get many visitors out here,” she continued. I heard rustling in the bushes next to me, a shadow creeping out too long over the path. “No new playmates or friends.”

“Nope,” I said as I shook my head, trying not to think about who or what was now all too interested in us.

“Not fun ones, anyway, and you seem fun.” Punctuated with a little giggle, chills ran down my spine. “You should come play with me. It’s much better than what you’ll find if you keep following that trail. The others aren’t as fun as me.”

I stopped, unable to keep ignoring the voice.

“We’re not very fun. We’re not here for fun. We’re not here for any of you fae, so leave us be. Let the others know. We’re here for the werecat who claims this territory, who I’ve heard is more than willing to kill a fae for messing with him or his.”

“Damn cat. He’s not here right now, so we are. What will you give me to leave you be?” it asked, something nasty in its voice as it heard the chance for a bargain.

“Nothing. If you continue to bother us, I’ll report you to the Brion, king of the fae and member of the Tribunal. I know him personally. Fought his battles with him and witnessed his second ascension to the throne.”

There was a violent hiss.

“Do you think we recognize the fancy king in this wild place?”

“For your sake, I hope you do,” I snarled in reply.

“No, you mean foryoursake,” it snapped.

Then I heard rustling, growing more distant for a few seconds until the forest was once again silent.

“Well, fuck,” I muttered.

“Yeah, that’s bad,” Landon concurred. “The King Brion play was probably the best one you had, huh?”

“Yeah, it was.”

We silently and unanimously decided to keep moving. After what felt like an hour, Landon tapped my shoulder.

“Was there something you wanted to say before… whatever that was?” he asked.

“No,” I said quickly and immediately smelled the lie in my answer. “Something came to mind, but it’s not something I can say, no matter how much I might want to.”

“Been there before. I get it,” he said, nodding. “No matter how much any of us want it, there’s no world where we can truly be honest with each other without suffering repercussions.”

“You would be killed,” I said in a small voice.

“By whom? It’s not an exaggeration to say I’m pretty good in a fi—”

“Hasan,” I said before he could finish with his bravado, not wanting him to think it was a fight he could win.

Landon growled as his scent filled with a hate for my father so powerful it took me off guard. I knew Landon didn’t like him and had good reason not to, but I hadn’t expected the depth of it. Maybe I just didn’t want to see it. I was struggling every day to find a balance between my werewolves and my family and wanted to believe it was possible. I had to believe because the alternative wasn’t something I was ready to face. Every time I saw the halves of my life rubbed together, it went wrong. This was just another case, and I knew that I was only postponing the fallout, not preventing it by having Davor run interference.

“I’m sorry I haven’t been able to fix any of this yet,” I said after too long of silence. “There’s no excuse, really. If I was better, this wouldn’t be how it is—”

“Don’t give me that,” Landon snapped harshly, stopping on the path, and turning to block me from continuing. Looming over me, Landon was a fearsome man. “Don’t fucking do that.”

“It’s the truth.”

“No, it’s not. How would you have stopped this?”

“I…” I couldn’t think of anything that didn’t make me feel gross at the thought.

I won’t treat people like criminals just because I’m scared. I won’t do it. Everyone deserves a chance.

My chest was tight with pain, but I didn’t speak. Landon studied me for a moment before he realized I wasn’t going to say anything.

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