Page 22 of Highballs & Hexes

She frowned as she contemplated the arrival and disappearance of the tray. It always manifested whileshewas sleeping, but she hadn’t thought to ask Patrick if he was awake for each magical delivery.

She voiced her question.

It struck her as strange when he did no more than shrug his answer.

Things weren’t adding up.

“So you’ve been awake when the food comes?” she demanded, unwilling to let him blow it off. Somewhere inside, she knew the answer was important, but she couldn’t quite figure out why. Once she had all the facts, the puzzle pieces might fall into place.

“What’s it matter if I’m asleep or not? It’s not as if I can make it to the door before they leave.”

He sounded surly, as if he were upset she’d even mentioned it.

“Who delivers it? Is it always the same person?” And wasn’t it queer that she’d been asleep every time? Breakfast, lunch,anddinner. What were the odds? Was she being drugged? And why only her? Why not Patrick?

“I can’t see their face, so how am I supposed to know if it’s the same person?” His scowl would scare another, but she was learning his moods, and his said he was being evasive.

Fi charged across the room and knocked the croissant from his hand. For a second, she was distracted by the quality of their fare. Why were prisoners receiving delicious meals? Shouldn’t they be tortured with gruel and left with scummy water?

“Not two minutes ago, you agreed not to lie to me, Patrick O’Malley.”

“I didn’t lie.”

“You’re not telling the truth, though, are ya?” she snapped.

“If I’d known you were a harpy, I’d have left you behind,” he snapped back.

They were toe-to-toe and nose to nose, and neither was prepared to budge on the subject.

Fi jutted up her chin. “You promised.”

“That word never left my lips, woman. Not once. Promises are for fools, because life is ever-changing, and at any moment, they can be broken.”

“Are you talking about our situation or your own?” she taunted. “I’m not your faithless wife, and I’d appreciate it if you didn’t treat me like I was.”

“No, but you’re Noah’s faithless girl, yeah?”

His comeback stung. “I don’t belong to Noah. I don’t belong toanyman. Nor will I,” she said stiffly. “And I’ve never been faithless. I’ve been the one cheated on and left behind. The one made to feel worthless.”

Patrick’s eyes grew dark with remorse. “I’m sorry?—”

“No. You don’t get to say hurtful things and then apologize like you didn’t mean it. Your intent was to wound and get me to back off.” Proud of her even tone, she lifted her chin and glared. “I won’t. We need to work together to solve the mystery of who abducted us. They’ve the key to Tadhg’s location, too. I’m certain of it.”

“If there was anything to tell you, I would,” he said by way of a peace offering.

“Yeah, and that remains to be seen,” she muttered. Stomping away, she flopped on the mattress and focused on the dull gray ceiling. If she didn’t get out of here soon, she’d go mad. Fi was the sort who needed to keep busy, and without any way to do that, she was bound to lose her temper, too.

“Whenever the food is delivered, I’ve been holding you,” Patrick confessed as he approached the bed. “Our jailor has been long gone before I can untangle myself.”

She turned her attention on him, but remained silent.

“You’re a bleeding octopus in your sleep, ya are,” he teased. With a gentle nudge of her hip, he sat down and lifted her hand to toy with her fingers. “I find myself always having to apologize to you, Fionola. And it’s not what I’m used to. I’ve been alone a great many years and imprisoned by Loman twice in all that time.”

Fi curled on her side and propped her head on her free hand, doing nothing to draw away as he continued to touch her.

“I don’t know how to be human most days,” he said with a rough sigh.

“Why the dig about Noah?”

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