Page 98 of A Court of Hearts and Hunger
“That’s quite the complicated lock.” I blink at the door innocently.
“My partner is paranoid.” He steps inside and extends his hand to me.
I feign hesitation.
“Don’t worry, it’s quite easy to get out from the inside,” says the Cat. “If you wish to leave, you can simply open the door.”
How convenient.
“It’s not that.” I pucker my lips, then look up at him from under my lashes. “I’ve heard what happens to the Seelie who visit this city, this court.”
“And yet you came anyway.”
“I crave some of it—the danger, the ferocity, the fun. But I’m not ready for some of the rougher Unseelie play.”
His face softens, and his ears perk up and swivel forward. “I’ll give you what you need, and no more.”
“Very well.” Tentatively I step over the threshold.
The foyer is quiet, dimly lit by a single pale orb bobbing overhead. While the Cat pulls the door shut, I flick open one of my rings.
My skin feels strange—it’s buzzing all over, as if magic is being laid upon it—or being pulled away from it.
When Caer turns around, his eyes widen. “You—you’re human.”
Shit.
Something in this house removed the Fae glamour Fin placed on me.
Before Caer can say anything else, I crush the tiny pellet inside my ring and blow the sleeping powder into his face.
A startled expression flashes on his features before he keels over, tumbling to the floor.
It worked. Of course it did—it’s Fin’s magic.
Quickly I step over the Cat’s body, seize the lever of the door, and push it down, while pressing hard with my shoulder. It swings slowly open.
I peek out, hoping to see Fin.
The hallway is empty, but I wait, chewing my lip.
A few seconds later Fin gusts toward me with Fae speed, whisking past me into the White Rabbit’s house.
“Well done, sugar,” he says, squeezing my shoulder.
“My glamour’s gone,” I whisper.
“Riordan must have laid a spell on this place to remove glamours. That’s new. But don’t worry about it, sweetness—we’ll be gone from this place soon enough, once we locate the maid. I hope she’s still in one piece.” He nudges the Cat with the toe of his boot, rather harder than necessary.
But as Fin begins to pull the door shut behind him, a large hand in a white-lace glove slams around the door’s edge.
“I had planned to catch one spy tonight,” says the White Rabbit’s deep voice. “But it seems I’ve got two.”
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Riordan surges into the house, the door closing magically behind him. He collars my throat with his hand and rams me against the wall, bruising my wings. I react instantly with a pulse of magic—but my magic stutters and dies before it touches him.
He grins. “I’ve been betrayed one too many times, Sugarplum. No one but Caer and I can use our natural magic in this house. No glamours either.” He glances slightly behind him, on his right, where Clara is standing. She’s back to her human form, looking rather stunned at his appearance. Fortunately our conjured clothing is still intact.
