Page 72 of A City of Emeralds and Envy
“Doesn’t seem fair.” Caer plucks a piece of grass and chews it thoughtfully. “I’ve been wondering why the god-star was able to absorb the witches’ compulsion abilities, and yet didn’t try to steal any of our powers.”
“Maybe he can’t,” I reply. “The witches’ power is a direct gift from the god-stars—isn’t that what the journal says? So it’s more compatible with what he is. But the powers and magic of the Fae—those are different. Fae are born with their own unique blend of abilities, and maybe a god-star can’t take them and use them himself. Even the compulsion power fades for him, though it’s permanent for a witch.”
Riordan’s gaze is still fixed on me, and it has transformed from approval and agreement to admiration and a dark, fierce craving. If we were alone, I believe he’d throw me down in the grass and fuck me soundly, just because he loves my mind. When I smile at him, he licks his broad lips slowly, lecherously, and his fingers twitch at his sides. A fluttering, panicked delight fills my chest. If we can manage this task, living with him for decades in Faerie is going to be the most delicious kind of adventure.
I can’t give up the hope of that future. Not for anyone, not even Dorothy. She can’t possibly love the West Witch—she barely knows him. We’ll kill him, and she’ll find someone else.
Guilt crawls through my heart, because every one of those thoughts is hypocritical and selfish. I fell for Caer and Riordan in a handful of days, andtheywere planning to killme. Who am I to judge the connection Dorothy has with “West,” as she calls him?
Riordan’s eyes are still on me, and I know he noticed my change in mood. Holding my gaze, he says, “We are in agreement, then. We are now concealed from the West Witch, so although he knows our plan, he does not know how or when we’ll enact it. That should give us some advantage. We simply have to reach his stronghold, get inside, and make our way close enough to douse him with this water.”
“I can get close enough.” Dorothy’s tone is blank, dull, emotionless. “I’ll throw the water on him, and then you can kill him.”
“Are you sure?” Riordan swerves his gaze to her.
Dorothy squares her shoulders and lifts her chin. “If I don’t, he will kill me. And what kind of sister would I be if I let this opportunity pass and doomed you to spend your days in a metal shell?”
Riordan is still holding the bottle, but he stretches out his free hand to her. It’s a stiff, awkward gesture, and she takes his hand just as stiffly. But there’s real affection in their eyes—an undeniable bond.
Jasper sniffs, and when I glance at him, the wet path of a tear glistens on his cheek.
“So precious. So sweet,” purrs Caer tauntingly from the grass. “The love of family. Is there anything more beautiful than—agh!” He yelps as Riordan shoves the bottle back into Dorothy’s hands and leaps on him. They tumble over together, wrestling, clawing, and biting until Riordan manages to get Caer in a headlock.
The Cat’s grin widens as Riordan secures his grip. “Tighter,” he says. “I’m almost there…”
“Little shit,” Riordan hisses in Caer’s ear. “Just wait until this is over. I’ll…” But his words are too quiet for me to hear, spoken only for the Cat, who looks both aroused and terrified.
“You wouldn’t,” breathes Caer.
“Try me.” Riordan’s voice is low, rich, and menacing enough to send a tingle of need between my legs.
“Fuck…” Caer whispers. “I’ll be good, I promise. For now.” He winks at me over the constricting band of Riordan’s arm. “And then maybe, after everything is done, you and Jasper and Alice and I can gamble who gets to do—that thing you said—and who gets to watch.”
“I’m in,” I say quickly.
Jasper looks at me, perplexed. “You don’t even know what it is.”
“And she doesn’t need to know,” Caer says, his eyes shining at me. “Our mousie is always ready for games.”
Riordan grunts his agreement and lets the Cat go. “Enough of this. Time is running short, and we still have a long walk ahead.”
25
When I was in the great library, I saw a map of the Isle of Oz on the wall. Once I found what I needed in the books, I took a closer look, and from what I can remember, it seems the map the Wizard’s servants gave Alice is accurate.
I could have left the books behind, but I guessed that Riordan might want to peruse them, to confirm the information I relayed—and of course I was right. Once we’ve passed through the cloudy green barrier surrounding the West Witch’s domain, he opens the history book and begins to read. Sometimes he is so engrossed that he wanders off the road, but Alice or Jasper always steer him back.
Night cloaks the forest through which we’re traveling, its inky darkness disturbed only by the light of the two small orbs that follow Riordan along, enabling him to read and giving the rest of us some visibility. Caer can see in the dark somewhat, but his night vision isn’t perfect.
I suggested that I run ahead to scout the route, then transport back to the group and carry them ahead with me to a farther point along the road—but Riordan advises waiting until it’s light before we attempt that. “You aren’t used to this ability,” he says. “And since it’s based on sight, it’s best to wait until visibility improves.”
It frustrates me that although I can produce enough of a spark to light a candle or a lantern, as I often did back home, I can’t produce the glowing orbs that most other Fae conjure when they need light. Jasper walks beside me for a while, coaching me while I attempt it. But finally I give up and walk at an annoyingly slow human pace, carrying Fiero in the basket that held today’s lunch.
Strange sounds echo through the forest as we walk—screeches and howls, moans and wails. Instead of wandering as usual, Caer slinks close to Alice, muttering, “Sometimes I rather miss my beastly form.”
She doesn’t answer, only squeezes his hand.
I envy Alice. I envy the way she communicates with all of them so effortlessly. The way she forms the center of their fucking little quartet. The way she can so easily demand that I give up the one person who made me feel truly alive again, all so she can secure her happy ending with the three Fae males who seem so besotted with her.
