Page 11 of Wilds of Wonder
“I believe he lives in Fyriad.” I began pacing the way I did when my mind started piecing information together. “The majority of our encounters have happened here, so it makes sense.”
“Well that’s a start.” Leoni’s blue eyes lit up. “Surely we can find a fire elemental in the frost court. He wouldn’t exactly blend in.”
“So when do we start?” Driscoll rubbed his hands together.
“There’s no we,” I said. I worked alone, and that was the way I preferred it. I didn’t trust anyone enough to work with them. “You all have done your duty, and you can go back to Princess Poppy and let her know I’ll get that bolt. I’ll start questioning residents. Discreetly. Finding anything I can about fire elementals who reside here.”
Driscoll sent me a pointed look. “And are you going to do the questioning while wearing that?” He gestured to my nightgown, which barely grazed the tops of my boots. “It might serve as a good distraction, but I’d wager it may be a little too distracting to get the information you want.”
My cheeks burned and I wrapped my cloak around myself. “Right. I probably need to find something appropriate to wear.”
“So go back to your house and get dressed and we’ll meet?—”
“No,” I burst out. Too quickly. Too loudly.
Driscoll and Leoni both stilled.
“We don’t have time.” I looked away. “And like I said, I don’t need your help.”
“We’ve been ordered to help you find it,” Leoni said. “A direct order from Princess Poppy. I’m her captain of the guard, and I won’t disobey.”
Damnit.
“Are you hiding something from us?” Leoni asked as she strapped abelt around her trousers, a sword hanging from it, the steel glinting in the rays of the sun.
“Kinda seems like it,” Driscoll mumbled as he shoved on his boots.
Before I could answer, a loud knock banged on the door. “Open up!” a voice yelled, and my stomach hardened to a rock.
Driscoll stood and started walking to the door, but I ran in front of him. “Wait, don’t.” I flung my arms, blocking his pathway. “Don’t open that door.”
His brows furrowed. “Why not?”
“You’re under arrest for harboring a criminal,” the voice yelled, “and are hereby being summoned by the queen of the frost court.”
Driscoll’s eyes widened while Leoni’s face paled, her hand now resting on the hilt of her sword.
“What criminal?” Driscoll yelled. “There’s been a mistake. We don’t have a criminal in here.” He glanced over his shoulder at us with wild eyes.
“Lady Emory Growley,” the voice said. “Under arrest for the murder of her husband.”
Chapter Seven
EMORY
Driscoll whipped around. “The murder of your husband?” he whispered. “That might’ve been worth mentioning!”
Leoni held out her hand and water appeared in a ball that hovered over her palm, spinning and forming into handcuffs. “Is that true?” she asked with a deadly calm, all business now. “Because if you murdered your husband, I will have to arrest you. I’m the captain of the guard for the princess of the sky court. I can’t aid and abet a criminal.”
“Yes, so you’ve mentioned,” I said. “Many times.”
“Except your princess also ordered you to find Emory and send her to get the bolt.” Driscoll stroked his chin. “That’s quite a moral conundrum.”
The banging on the door made us all jump again. “If you don’t let me in, I will use force!” Ice crackled around the seams of the door, spreading like a web over it.
“I didn’t murder my husband,” I said quickly, hand going to the scarf and unwrapping it from my neck, revealing the bruises.
Leoni’s eyes widened, and sympathyflashed in them.
