Page 37 of Evidence of a Folktale

“Olivia…”

“When?”

“The Darling case. He helped us find the boys.”

“The Darling case? You’ve known for that long?” Olivia walked away before whirling around and storming back. “The minute I mentioned I loved him, you should’ve warned me.”

“I couldn’t.”

“What if he’d been cheating on me?” Olivia asked. “That technically would’ve been his secret to tell, but if you’d caught him in the act, would you have just stayed silent? Would you let me plan a wedding to a man who didn’t care enough to stay faithful?”

“OfcourseI would’ve told you,” Bel said. “But that’s different.”

“It’s not! You knew something damning about my boyfriend, and you kept it a secret. I would’ve never dated Ewan if I’d known the truth.”

“He’s a good man,” Bel argued.

“He’s a liar. Just like you.”

“In case you haven’t noticed, my life has been hell lately,” Bel spat. “So, I’m sorry I didn’t tell you about your boyfriend when my boyfriend ordered him to tell you. That was between you two.”

“Why? Because your boyfriend said so?”

“Yes.” Bel got in her partner’s face, unsure if she was mad about Olivia’s accusations or that she was losing her temper. “We aren’t dealing with humans. Our laws don’t apply to them, so to you, Eamon is just some wealthy prick, but in their world, he is a god. He’s one of the most powerful creatures to walk this earth, and men like him kill men like Ewan for trespassing in their territory. But Eamon loves me, and I love you, so he made an exception. He ordered Ewan to tell you in exchange for staying in Bajka unharmed, so I’m sorry I said nothing in between the murders and myownkidnappings. It wasn’t my job.”

“I know your life has been awful,” Olivia hissed. “I worked with Eamon to help find you because I’d never leave you to die, and I’d do it again, but there’s a difference between not wanting you dead and not wanting to be your friend. I won’t ever let you die, but I can’t get past the lies, Bel. You and I had plenty of unchaotic moments together. You could’ve warned me what I was walking into, but you didn’t. So, I’ll work with you. I will always protect you, but we aren’t friends anymore. Stop trying to talk to me.Unless you have case information, I don’t want to hear it.”

“Isobel?”Eamon’s voice drifted through the mansion, and seconds later, he appeared at the top of the grand staircase. “I thought you were staying at your place tonight.” He jogged down the stairs to greet her as Cerberus made a beeline for his toy box in the living room. “Is everything okay?”

“No.” Bel fell into his arms, bursting into tears as he caught her collapsing weight. “I’d hoped her anger would blow over, and we’d work through this, but I think I’ve lost my best friend.”

“Olivia?” Eamon asked, holding her up with one arm to peel her coat off with the other. “She doesn’t hate you. I just freaked her out.”

“But you didn’t hear the way she spoke to me.” Bel stared up at him through her tear-soaked lashes. “I love her, and I thought keeping the truth to myself was best. I figured she would either attempt to broach the subject, or Ewan would confirm their conversation with you, so I stayed silent. But I don’t think she’ll ever forgive me, or Ewan, for that matter.”

“Don’t worry about him.”

“Did I do the right thing?” She shoved free of his embrace and kicked off her shoes as she paced deeper into the foyer. “Was I right hiding this from her?”

“It wasn’t your responsibility,” Eamon said, crossing his arms over his chest as his gaze tracked her erratic movements. “I gave Ewan an ultimatum. The only person responsible is him.”

“But she blames me.” Bel whirled on him. “He disobeyed you, but somehow, it’s my fault. He’s cost me my friend, and I feel guilty. She claimed my omission of the truth is the same as knowing Ewan was cheating and staying silent, and now I’m blaming myself too.”

“Don’t.”

“But I am!” she shouted. Eamon didn’t so much as bat an eye at her volume, and it wasn’t lost on her that she was probably the only person in history to yell at him without consequence. “I hid something important from her, and I’m not the friend I thought I was. I kept your secret because I owe you that, but I don’t owe Ewan, yet I chose him over Olivia.”

“And how would that have worked out for you?” Eamon asked, his stoicism unbothered by her outburst. “What? Were you going to bring a bottle of wine to her house for a girl’s night and randomly slip in a comment about her boyfriend being a shifter between sips? It would’ve landed you in a psych evaluation. It’s why he needed to tell her. His shift can prove his words.”

“I…” She fell silent. He was right. What was she supposed to do? Ask Olivia to pass the cheese and crackers and then blurt out that Ewan could transform into a bear of unnatural proportions?

“I think I need the truth… all of it,” she said. “I want to know what you are so I can decide if these secrets are worth destroying friendships over.” Her desire to learn his story had been warring with her fear of hearing his horrors for a while now, but it was time. If she was going to move forward with this man, she needed to understand who she slept beside. Olivia hadn’t known, and it destroyed her relationship. Bel wouldn’t allow that fate to befall her.

“I promised I’d tell you.” Eamon finally uncrossed his arms as Cerberus jogged back into the foyer, an oversized rope hanging from his mouth. “But is this how you want to find out? Because you feel guilty for something that isn’t your fault and you’re trying to justify your convictions? I want to tell you. Trust me, I do, but not because Olivia’s anger is making you doubt yourself.”

“Her reaction is part of it, but I need to know,” Bel said as Eamon grabbed the toy rope and gave it a tug, Cerberus growling in excitement as he played. Her dog loved him. She loved him. His entire mansion was a love letter to them in both its design and toy collection. She needed to hear the truth about the man she was willing to defend at all costs.

“I need to know.” She crossed the floor and placed a palm on his chest. “It’s time you tell me.”

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