Page 116 of Mirror of Malice
“What?” I screeched.
“Oh, come on. I told you in the sewers that you brought out a side of Penn we hadn’t seen for a long, long time. He came to the tavern. He never came to the tavern.”
“He brought work with him!” I said.
“Baby steps,” Shadow replied with a smirk. “Then he came out to the festival. He danced. He actually moved his feet to the rhythm of a song.”
I shook my head.
“He was playful with you, teasing. He actually flirted,” Shadow said. “I didn’t think the man had a flirtatious bone in his body.”
“He’s got many fine bones in that body,” Driscoll commented.
Shadow tugged at an earring. “And when you left with Jasper, I’d never seen a man so frantic in his life.”
I tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. “What do you mean?”
“He was desperate to get you back, and not because of the mission. He was sick with worry. He lost his mind, doing such stupid things. Why do you think we got caught? The king of thieves never gets caught.”
I stared at the fire, so many emotions rolling through me.
“So now, the only question is,” Driscoll drawled, “do you love him back?”
“No,” I burst out. “Absolutely not. He’s arrogant and stubborn and a liar and.. and...” I swallowed.
Jillian gasped. “You do love him.”
“I knew it,” Driscoll replied.
“It doesn’t matter,” I said. “I’m to be queen of the earth court, and I can’t have a thief as my king.”
“Why?” Jillian asked. “Everything Penn did was for his people. Except the mirror thing, that was more for him. But everything else. He sacrificed so much.”
The opposite of my father.
“Who wouldn’t want a man like that as their king?”
“As their husband?” Driscoll said with a wink.
“I can’t think about this right now,” I said. “I have to focus on defeating my stepmother. Penn left. He didn’t stay to fight for us. Love is not always enough. So, please, just leave it alone. You said you’re here for me, so be here for me and help me defeat my stepmother. That’s what I need right now.”
Jillian, Shadow, and Driscoll shot each other looks before giving reluctant nods.
“Thank you,” I said, laying down and rolling over, not letting them see the tears forming in my eyes and slipping down my cheeks.
Chapter Fifty-Four
The border between Elwen and Mosswood Forest stood before us. Luckily, Shadow had been right. Everyone in Gilraeth was so preoccupied with the return of their princess, they barely took notice of the four strangers making their way through the fire court.
Shadow gave us each a hug as we entered the blackened, gray land of Elwen. “This is where I leave you,” she said. “I have to return home.”
I nodded. “I understand. Thank you for all of your help.”
Shadow hesitated.
“It’s okay,” I said. “This is a battle I have to fight on my own. You can’t help me. Not with this.”
She grasped my hands. “We will meet again.” She kissed my cheek, and then she was off, running toward the long tree line in the distance.
