Page 5 of Wilds of Wonder
“But we just arrived in the frost court and are in need of some sleep. Hopefully next time we can come a little earlier.” He nudged my husband. “Get some of those eel kabobs before they run out.”
Leoni nodded, eyes shifting to me, and I sent her a glare that hopefully conveyed that she needed to keep her cool... or find it. Keeping it would imply she had it, which she most definitely did not.
“Well, it was a pleasure meeting you both. Emory will see you out.” My husband nodded to me and walked away.
I blew out a breath at the same time as Leoni sank against the wall.
“What is wrong with you?” I hissed. “Are you two trying to get me in trouble? Coming here and talking about the”—I lowered my voice to a whisper—“the bone collector? Spirit Sky’s bolt?”
“Oh, we have other things to talk about as well,” Driscoll said, studying his nails like he was bored. “Like the white rabbit.”
The name sent sparks of panic shooting through me. That wasn’t a name that could ever be uttered in this household. Not a name that could be connected to me in any way. Not when that was the name I was known by for stealing sacred and historical relics and artifacts, much like the bone collector.
I grabbed both their arms. “Out.” I shoved them toward the door, glancing over to see my husband distracted by the piano player.
I swung the door open as an icy blast ripped into our home, flakes floating through the air and melting onto the wooden floor.
“Wait,” Driscoll said. “I’m sorry, okay? We need your help.”
“No.” I grabbed their cloaks from hooks along the wall and pushed them into their arms. “I can’t help you. I’m not who you think I am.”
Driscoll’s brows furrowed, and he shivered as another wave of icy wind rippled past him and Leoni.
“But all those things you revealed about yourself to Princess Poppy...” Leoni started.
“Was a mistake,” I said, thinking back to just a month ago when I’d lost my mind and told Princess Poppy far too much about myself, my interests. This was what I got for meddling. For daring to hope that I could be more than just Lord Growley’s wife.
It hit me in that moment, staring at Driscoll and Leoni as snow whisked around them: the truth. I couldn’t be more. That was painstakingly obvious now. I had no idea how they thought I could help them with the bone collector, with the bolt, but I couldn’t. I couldn’t even talk to them about it without risking losing my freedom.
I thought about the ring in my pocket. How stupid I’d been to take it.
“Meet us at the Haverford Inn tomorrow,” Leoni whispered quietly. “It’s where we’re staying. We’ll tell you everything.” She leaned in. “Where he found the bolt. How he got it.”
“Enough,” I said, tone resolute. “And good night to you both.”
I slammed the door on their crestfallen faces and marched back toward the party, where the fire elemental had summoned a sword of fire that he shoved down his throat to everyone’s delight and horror.
I sank against the wall, legs weak after that encounter. They knew my name. My secret name. The ring in my pocket weighed heavier thanever. I hadn’t been nearly as careful as I’d thought. If my identity got out, it wouldn’t just be my reputation at risk. It would be my life.
I swallowed back the tears gathering and tried to ignore the growing pit in my stomach. It was clear what I had to do, even if it meant giving up the one thing I loved.
Chapter Three
EMORY
Moonlight slashed across my dark bedroom. Outside, snow still fell, the flakes so thick it created a curtain of white. As the dying fire sparked in the hearth, I slipped out of bed and shoved my feet into two white slippers. My husband lay naked in bed, snoring loudly after he’d crawled over my body and shoved himself inside of me, pumping in and out, all while reminding me once again what a failure I was because I hadn’t yet given him an heir.
He didn’t know it, but I secretly took cassroot every month, an herb that prevented pregnancy. I might have been his wife, but I could not bear his child. Couldn’t bring a child into this world in good conscious, not when he’d be the father. It was another little way I could rebel against him.
But I’d taken my rebellion too far lately. I’d been playing at something that I shouldn’t have. All my life, I’d been told what I needed to do. I would be a good daughter and find a wealthy, powerful man to marry, just like my mother had. I’d have prestige. I’d make her proud.
But I’d just had to have more.
I padded across the room and quietly clicked open the door, thenslipped out. Darkness cascaded across the narrow hallway, but I didn’t need light. I knew my home well enough to make my way without it. I’d done this very thing enough times now, but this would be the last time. It had to be.
Driscoll and Leoni showing up tonight was a wake-up call. I might not have liked my life with my husband, but it was the only life I had. The white rabbit, my collection, my passion, it was a lie. Something shrouded in secrecy that I had to do in the middle of the night. It wasn’t me. I thought about the bone collector, the last encounter I’d had with him. My heart thumped hard at the memory.
I’d had too many close calls lately, and my husband was growing suspicious about my “outings.” It was time to give it all up and say goodbye to the white rabbit for good.
