Page 38 of Sigils & Spells

My stomach lurches as an image pops into my head. Rachel and the other students lying lifeless on the ground. Their faces are pale, their eyes wide. The corners of their lips are turned up in the grotesque parody of a smile. The picture is so vivid I could reach out and touch their cold, dead bodies. As a breeze whispers over my skin, I gasp, a little too loudly.

My body stills as I wait for Rowan to come out here and confront me over my eavesdropping. When she doesn’t, I turn and hurry along the corridor. Though I have no idea what’s going on here, I have a really bad feeling about it. I have to get away from this place.

When I finally find the stairs, I hurry up to my room to get my things. I look around and realize I still don’t have my purse. I’ll have to leave without it, but that means I don’t have a way to call a cab, or pay for it either. The only thing I have of value is my laptop. It’s fairly new and cost me a small fortune. If I pawn it, I should have enough money for a bus ticket back to London. of course, I’ll have to find a pawn shop first and I have no idea where the nearest town it. I’ll have to try my luck at hitchhiking.

Deciding the case is too heavy to carry, I grab my laptop and hurry downstairs to the front door. As I get there, a voice comes from behind me.

“Are you going somewhere?”

Startled, I turn to find Val standing in the hallway, the others at her back.

“I… uh…” No excuse for where I might be going comes to mind.

“You heard Rowan and Rachel talking, didn’t you?”

My heart starts to beat more rapidly as Val gives me a semi-sympathetic look.

“You know why you’re here, don’t you?”

“No.” I don’t want to know, either. “I have to go home.”

“You are home, Cait,” Rowan says. “You feel it, don’t you?”

Shaking my head in denial, I fling the door open to find Angus standing on the other side.Shit.I back up a little.

“I just want to leave.” I look at Val, attempting to reason with her. “Please, just let me go. Whatever it is you’re into, I don’t want any part of it.”

“But you are a part of it, sweetie.” As she steps toward me, arms spread wide in a placating gesture, I back farther away. “Your king is waiting. He longs for your return.”

This is completely insane. Val takes another step closer and panic wells up inside of me. Dropping my bag and laptop case, I turn and run along the corridor, hoping to find another way out of the house. I don’t get far before Connor catches up with me. He’s a big guy, strong and muscular. When he wraps his arms around me, I can’t break free, no matter how hard I struggle. As I kick and scream, he simply adjusts his grip on me, flinging me over his shoulder.

“Take her to her room,” Rowan tells him.

Fearing he might drop me, I go limp as he carries me upstairs. When we reach the corridor where my room is located, I start to fight once more. It’s no use. My kicks and slaps make no impact on this hulking brute. He carries me into the room and drops me on the bed. I scrabble off it, but stop as Danny and Alex block the door. There’s no way I can get past the three of them.

Watching me like I’m a wild animal, Connor backs away. He steps out the door and slams it shut. A key turns in the lock. I don’t have to try the door to know I won’t be getting out that way. I breathe steadily to calm myself as I go to the window. I try to open it, so I can get a better view of what’s immediately below me. It’s a big drop, but if there’s anything down there to soften my landing, it might be worth the risk. The window won’t budge, though. It looks as if I’m well and truly trapped.

* * *

Fionn

As the peoplearound me enjoy a lavish feast in celebration of their queen’s imminent return, I feel a strange sensation. It’s something that’s never troubled me before — apprehension. Valenna came to tell me of Cait’s attempt to flee. That worries me. Though they prevented her from leaving, I can’t help but cast my mind back to the night she ran from me.

Sitting back on my throne, at a table on a raised dais at the front of the banqueting hall, I acknowledge the responsibility I bear for my queen leaving Laidir for the mortal realm. I should have seen the signs, put her under closer watch. She’d been restless as rebellion stirred the kingdom, but I’d dismissed her increasing disobedience, thinking she was simply afraid of what might happen. She’d challenged me, not just privately, but in public, expressing some sympathy for the rebels’ cause.

Eventually, her behavior became such a problem, I was forced to confine her to our chambers. The day of her escape, she’d fought me and I’d chained her to the bed, vowing to leave her there until she learned her place. When I’d come for her that night, to see if she would repent, the shock of finding her gone had knocked me sideways. Then I’d heard reports she’d been seen out on Dunshee Hill with Cormac, my most loyal friend, and my emotions turned darker.

“A little wine, sire?”

I look up as the golden-haired serving girl holds out a silver jug to me.

“Just a little.”

I want nothing to dull my senses tonight. I need to experience everything with perfect clarity as I reclaim my queen. I want to imprint the moment on my memory and hers.

The girl pours some of the amber liquid into my goblet and bows low, before turning to serve those sitting at the lower tables. Everyone of high birth from across the kingdom has come here tonight. They all want to bear witness as I make my queen mine once more.

My eye goes to the door as Airgid enters the room. A master craftsman, I tasked him with making two very special items for me. He’s kept me waiting, but he’s one man whose transgressions I am willing to forgive. Nobody can work silver like he does. He weaves his way past the tables and nods respectfully as he places a wooden box on the table in front of me.

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