Page 48 of Beneath the Cursed Veil

“You—you thought—” Gods. I couldn’t find the right words. It took a minute to gather my thoughts, and Vareck appeared wary. Definitely confused. I took pity on him and explained. “I read romance novels. Not . . . well, this.” I motioned to the great library. There was no way my type of escapism existed in these walls. Not with how ancient this place was. Books written for women were decidedly modern—which Faerie was not.

“Oh.”

I cracked a smile. “It was a kind gesture. Truly. There are books for everyone’s taste. Mine just happen to be less . . . classic. Still. Thank you.” I couldn’t help the feeling thatwarmed my chest. Before either of us could say another word, a voice I recognized traveled through the open door, turning that feeling in my chest to ice-cold anger.

“So what’s a pretty lass like you doing working for the fae king, eh?”

Immediately, my hackles rose. Kaia rolled her eyes, not deigning to answer him.

I knew I liked her.

“What is he doing here?” I nearly growled, crossing my arms over my chest.

Lou and Kaia drew to a stop just on the other side of the double doors. The leprechaun raised his hands in mock surrender that I didn’t believe for a second.

“Mighty Meera,” Lou said in greeting, ignoring my ire for him, as usual. “How is it that even in Faerie you still look like you stole clothes from a homeless person?”

I dropped my arms, looking down at myself. My mid-rise tapered jeans were cuffed at the ankles. I wore a plain black crop top with an unbuttoned black and red plaid flannel layered over it.

“It’s called thrift store chic, you prick,” I defended, recrossing my arms over my chest.

Lou snorted. “Sure it is.”

“And who are you to crap on someone’s life situation, hm? You don’t know their stories, you judgmental asshole.” There was a time when my family had nothing but the clothes on our backs. When we first came to earth’s realm, we’d had to rely on the generosity of others. I was a baby when we arrived, so I don’t remember it, but my parents never forgot. We all volunteered at soup kitchens to give back to the community that once helped us, and I refused to let him belittle anyone with his narrow-minded bullshit.

“I’ve only visited a few times recently, but crop tops arecoming back in style from what I can tell,” Kaia said casually, as though she were reporting on the weather.

“Only visited the Arcane District to see me, is it?” he asked. “You should come for a longer visit. I could show you?—”

Kaia scoffed, rolling her eyes.

“You know each other?”

I hadn’t realized how quietly Vareck had been watching our interactions until he decided to speak. The gentleness and casual feeling we’d had before was long gone. In its place was something unreadable that I didn’t recognize.

“You could say that,” I grumbled. Lou merely grinned, neither confirming nor denying.

“Lucian has?—”

“Lucian?” I questioned when Kaia said the name. “Since when do you go by Lucian?” I jutted my chin toward him, and Lou shrugged.

“I go by many names, lass.”

“Spoken like a true criminal.”

“Now, now,” he tsked. “Haven’t you heard? I’m turning over a new leaf.”

I cackled like a witch on Halloween. “Since when?”

Lou waved a hand, twisting his fingers. A silver necklace appeared in it. “Since I have something His Majesty is keen on acquiring.”

My heart dropped into my stomach.

No . . .

I whirled on Vareck. “Are you kidding me? You hired him?”

Vareck sighed, running a hand over his stubbled jaw. “Technically I didn’t hire anyone. I sent Kaia to find a faewho might be able to help us.”

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