Page 49 of Beneath the Cursed Veil

I sniffed in indignation. “And that fae just happens to be this asshole?”

“Whatever history is between you, I promise I didn’t know—” Vareck said.

I scoffed. “What’s the necklace do?”

Vareck snapped his jaw shut.

Kaia didn’t answer.

Silence settled in the air, filling me with apprehension. I knew the answer. They’d said it in front of me already.

“Right,” I continued bitterly. “So much for ‘I’m just keeping Kaia busy.’ What a joke.”

“Meera,” Vareck started. “It’s not like that.”

“You’re trying to render me powerless. Excuse me if I don’t believe you.”

He groaned in that rumbly voice of his and my lower abdomen tightened. Nope. Not going there right now.

“It’s just a precaution. We can’t have you persuading everyone the second you get your magic back.”

My jaw tightened, teeth threatening to crack with the pressure. “So you’re going to cut me off from my magic, making me basically human?”

“It’s just until we find Prince Damon,” Kaia interjected, trying to come to Vareck’s aide.

I turned on her. “Oh really?” Then I pointed at Lou. “Why don’t you ask him where Damon is?”

Both Vareck and Kaia whirled on Lou.

“I already agreed to help Lady Kaia once this business with the necklace is sorted,” the leprechaun replied without missing a beat. I glowered.

“That is not what I meant.”

“What did you mean?” Kaia asked.

“Yes, lass. What did you mean?” Lou asked mockingly.Not that they knew it. He sounded serious, but the glimmer in his eye told me he was laughing on the inside.

Him and his damned contracts.

I couldn’t out him as my employer, much as I’d have liked to.

“I’m going to kill you,” I seethed.

“Promises, promises.” He winked.

“All right.” Kaia clapped her hands. “That’s enough. Lucian, Lou, whatever your name is, give Vareck the necklace. Once we can verify it works, your banishment will be lifted.”

I stepped back, my shoe sinking into the soil by the tree.

“I’m not letting you put that on me.”

“Please don’t make this harder than it needs to be,” Vareck said quietly, taking the necklace from Lou.

I couldn’t help it. I panicked. Reaching for my power, I nearly flinched as I called to it, feeling it struggle to fully surface. My eyes flashed green, glowing.

“Break the necklace.”

Vareck’s hand closed in a fist. He lifted it over his head and?—

---