Page 79 of Unraveled
“Who are you?” she asks with murder in her eyes.
“Yvette, this is my sister’s best friend, Monster.”
My expression falls. Is he serious . . . ?
The woman lifts a perfectly manicured blond brow at me, and the corner of her lips twitch. “Monster? What a peculiar name, or is it a pet name?”
“Does it matter?” Ash says, sounding bored. My blood boils as it collects in my face. “She came with us from the plains to celebrate Anna’s birthday.”
Hellion, Anna, the plains? Is he changing their names on purpose because she isn’t someone to trust? Or because he wants to bed her without forming true ties?
“How wonderful forMonsterto travel such a long distance! I bet it would be difficult to travel with a man such as yourself,” Yvette coos, already turning to dismiss me.
I think she means it as a compliment?
A dry laugh escapes my lips before I can stop it, and I straighten my back to be at least as tall as Yvette. “I’m Lia, not Monster.” Alright, not my best attempt at a new name, but I can barely think straight with the storm of feelings inside me. “Apparently, Hellion isn’t bright enough to remember it.”
I glower at him, and his eyes shimmer with amusement. “What is it you want, Lia? Anna was looking for you.”
And here I was, thinking of him as a victim just a few minutes ago. Worrying about his glamour, but I’m just being dismissed.
I do my best to ignore the pain in my chest and the stinging in my eyes. There isn’t a chance in this world I’ll allow myself to rage-cry in front of them. I came here for a reason, and it has nothing to do with interrupting them in the middle of... whatever this is.
“I-I need a minute, in private.” I hate how my voice wobbles, even as I try to communicate through my eyes that this is important, but I’m not sure I’m quite successful. “You know what? Never mind.”
I weave through the crowd of partygoers that fill every inch of the floor, talking loudly while drinking wine and spirits. I crane my neck and spot Nera’s shimmering white dress alongside Finley’s royal blue coat. They’re walking away from the dance floor, toward the door.
Something is off. I feel it drumming inside my stomach. If Ash wanted me to go because it was unsafe, why would he remain?
The whispers of old magic coming down the hall beckon me. I can’t decipher much of what they’re saying other than the same few words over and over again.
If I leave now, I’ll never get another chance to see if there are fae grimoires here, possibly stolen ones. If Ash thinks a book in the Penumbra library holds the answers to break his curse, what if these do too?
I chew on my lip and know I won’t be the one putting anyone in danger. Not anymore. I make my way around the edges of the dance floor and follow Nera and Finley as they get closer to the door.
“Hey, pretty.” I hear a voice from behind me, close enough for his breath to fan over my exposed shoulders.
Still, he could be talking to someone else, so I lengthen my steps to catch my friends before they leave.
“Hold on a second, red.” A hand grabs my wrist and holds me back. Not too hard, but firm enough I can’t keep going without pulling him alongside me.
My skin itches as I turn to meet his gaze. Brown eyes, a round face reddened by the heat of the room, and possibly alcohol. “Please, unhand me.”
“Don’t be like that,” he says with a crooked smile, but doesn’t let go. “I’ve never seen such a pretty thing as you in town. All I ask for is a dance, that’s all.”
My power burns through me, prickling over my skin. A fire spell crouches in the back of my throat. “I won’t say it again...”
“Why so serious, red? I’m just having fun.” He tilts his head and zeros in on my amulet, which is now shining so bright I can see the glow it’s casting over my face. His expression remainsfriendly. His eyes, however, say something else entirely. Sharp like a hunter. “Are you a new sorcerer in town?”
“Don’t let her big eyes fool you into believing she’s defenseless. She will burn you alive if you don’t let go.” Ash’s voice cuts like a sharp knife. Round Face and I turn to meet the king of beasts as he glides toward us, hands deep inside his coat pockets, and his face twists into something dangerous. “If you want to keep that hand, then I recommend you remove it from her person. Now.”
It’s not an empty threat, and Round Face knows it as much as I do. He drops my wrist so fast it’s like I actually burned him. His face loses the redness that was there before, and immediately he’s backing away, muttering something that doesn’t sound like an apology before he disappears into the crowd.
Ash moves quickly, grabbing my hand and pulling me behind a curtain and into an alcove framing a silver suit of armor.
I pull my arm away once we’re safe in the darkness of our hiding spot and only the scent of dust and wine accompanies us.
“I thought I told you to go to Nera?” His jaw tightens as he points in the general direction his sister and Finley disappeared.
