Page 71 of Beneath the Cursed Veil

I sucked in a breath, warmth blooming in my chest, flowing through my veins like molten fire. The boys were already sprinting away, their feet kicking up snow and mud as they disappeared into the shadows.

“Let’s get out of here!” one yelped.

“Go, go, go!”

I barely heard them. My entire focus was on the energy flooding back into me. My head tilted up, a breathless chuckle slipping from my lips.

“Oh, hell yes.” The words purred from my throat like honey.

I stood, flexing my fingers, feeling my power thrumming just beneath the surface. If I ran into the twins again, I was more than ready to give them a run for their money. What it didn’t give me was the power to stay warm, but free of the rope and free of that necklace, my odds of survival were much better.

Stalking out of the alley, I turned my head toward the sound of music and laughter. Dusk was settling in, and a tavern loomed ahead, warm light spilling onto the frozen street. In a town smack dab in the middle of a frozen wasteland, it figured that thriving businesses would be ones that served ale.

I pushed through the door, making a direct line for the roaring fireplace. Heat licked at my fingers as I stretched them out, listening to the hum of conversation around me. The place wasn’t packed, but it wasn’t empty either. A few tables were full, and several patrons lingered at the bar. Eyes flicked toward me, curious, assessing my clothing.

Let them look. I just needed to find someone to help me out of this town after my body returned to a normal temperature. Spotting an empty seat by the fire, I dropped into it, rolling my stiff shoulders.

The bartender walked over, drying a mug with a cloth. “Lookin’ for summer in those clothes, are ya’? Ya’ must be freezin’.”

“Yeah,” I muttered. “Just a little. Got anything to warm me up?”

“‘Course,” he said, nodding. “Wouldn’t be a bar without brown liquor and ale. Comin’ right up.”

I exhaled, sinking further into the chair, my body still thrumming with the return of my magic. It seemed I’d already become accustomed to Vareck’s luxurious bed, blessedly forgetting what it was like on my springymattress. Spending time in a wagon had done a number on my back.

“There ya’ go. I’m Galpin. Gimme a holler if ya’ be needin’ anythin’.” He gave me a nod before moving on to another customer behind the bar.

I took a gulp of the brown liquor, wincing at the burn when I swallowed. The warmth of the alcohol spread through my chest and flowed through my veins. After another few sips, the heat settled, and I no longer felt like a popsicle.

Now I just needed to find a way home. The thought made me pause. Home. Was Faerie home? I meant that I needed to find a way back to the castle. Back to Vareck. But I’d said back . . .home. I shook my head, convincing myself it was just a slip.

I’d find my way back to him, find Damon, then what? Whatwerewe? Weirdly, I was pretty sure I missed him. And not in a ‘I miss the safety of your castle and not being taken hostage in a freezing wagon’ kind of way. Both things were true, but a piece of me missedhim. His company. I wanted his arms around me, keeping me warm.

“Excuse me,” I said, walking up to the counter and taking a seat on an empty stool at the bar. I placed my glass in front of me. The bartender came over, waiting for me to speak. “I need to find a ride out of here.”

“Where ya’ headed?” he asked, throwing his towel over his shoulder.

“Brumlow. Is there a public wagon or something that would take me that way?”

“What in the nine realms is a ‘public wagon’?” Galpin asked, his brows scrunching deeply.

“You know, like a bus?” I said, realizing quickly the barkeep had likely never left Warwick. “Never mind. I meana wagon that would take several people at one time to that location?”

He continued to stare at me, as if I would have a better explanation. I sighed. This was why I liked the Arcane District. Public transportation.

Galpin took the towel and wiped it over the counter. “If ya’ don’t have yer own horse, the only way to Brumlow is by catchin’ a ride with a tradesman.” He turned to look at a parchment on the wall while I took the last gulp of my brown liquor. “They just got back yesterday, so . . . looks to be about two weeks before another scheduled trade.”

I almost choked on my drink. Coughing, I pounded a fist against my chest.

“Two weeks?” I repeated hoarsely, trying to think quickly. That was way too long. I could walk faster than that. I’d freeze, but that wasn’t the point. There had to be another way. “What about a portal? Are there any portals?”

If I tapped into my power and followed the trail, I had no way of knowing how far it would be. The frozen lands were holding me hostage. But if one was close enough . . .

“None ‘round here, I’m afraid.”

“You don’t know of one, or there isn’t one?”

“Isn’ one,” he confirmed, giving me a wary look. “Ya’ all right?”

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