Page 43 of Orange Spell
There was a chance that Pearl didn’t believe that Birch was dangerous or violent and that she was just saying that because she was trying to get to Curran.It made Curran wonder what she thought of his little act earlier.He hadn’t said outright that she was right, but he’d behaved as if she was.Did she think he was lying or that she’d somehow gotten it right?If she thought he was lying, did that mean she wouldn’t contact him again?She clearly thought that Curran didn’t matter and that he wasn’t strong enough to see through her.
She was wrong.
Curran didn’t say anything until they were back in Killian’s office.Only then did he allow himself to relax and breathe.“Do you think she saw you talking to me?”he asked, turning to look at Marlin.
What Marlin had done had been a risk.If Pearl had seen him, she’d have known that they knew what she was up to.
“She’d already left,” Marlin reassured him.
“It was still dangerous.What were you thinking?”
“That she could hurt you.”
Thatwas why Curran couldn’t be angry at Marlin.He was right.Pearl could easily have hurt Curran, and Curran wouldn’t have been able to do much about it.He wasn’t a fighter.He never had been.
“Can anyone tell me what happened?”Killian asked.
Curran flushed.He couldn’t believe he hadn’t even looked at the king.He’d been too focused on Marlin.
“Marlin didn’t follow the plan,” Birch explained.“But beyond that, nothing happened.Everyone’s fine.”
“Curran?”Killian asked.
Curran sucked in a breath.“I’m fine,” he confirmed.“She didn’t even threaten me.”
“What did she do?”
“She was weird but harmless.She sat next to me and insinuated that my brother’s a violent person.She told me she understood why I wouldn’t want to stand up to him or say anything because he’s so close to you.”He hesitated.“I know we talked about this, but I’m still not comfortable acting as if she’s right.She’s trying to find something against both of you, and she thinks she’s succeeded.She believes I’ve confirmed that Birch is violent and that Killian is covering for him.”
“What did you say to make her believe that?”
Curran explained, even though he hated every word he’d said.This was what they’d agreed on.They wanted Pearl to believe that she was right when it came to Birch.She might not believe it, but something told Curran that she wouldn’t care.She just wanted an in with Killian, and she thought she’d found it through Curran.She probably didn’t care what Curran’s goal was by talking to her.Maybe she thought that Curran didn’t like Birch and was trying to get rid of him.Maybe she thought that Birchwasviolent, after all.Maybe she believed that, for some reason, Curran hated his brother.
None of that mattered.The only thing that did was that they needed her to tell Curran what she was up to.
“Marlin, why don’t you walk Curran back to his rooms?”Killian suggested.
Unlike last time, Curran didn’t argue.He didn’t want to go back alone after what had happened today.He was still freaking out, and he wouldn’t put it past Pearl to have someone jump him in a hallway.
“Won’t Pearl find it suspicious?”he asked.
“Not if you act disgruntled.Everyone knows that Marlin and Birch are close.It would make sense for Birch to ask his best friend to walk you around, especially in your state.Behave like you don’t want him there.I know it’s going to be hard for both of you, but try to act unfamiliar with each other.Maybe Pearl will believe that Marlin is on Birch’s side.”
That made Curran even angrier.“I hate this,” he muttered.
“We all do, but it’s what we have to do.”
“I wish there was another way.”
“It’ll be over soon.My sister is patient, but she’s been waiting for the throne for a long time.She’s not going to wait forever to put her plan to work.”
Killian was probably right, and that scared Curran because he didn’t know what Pearl’s plan was.He wanted to find out, but how?He was already doing everything he could, and it was too dangerous for him to get in too deep.
He was relieved when he could finally leave the office.He liked Killian, and he knew that what he was doing to help was important, but it made him anxious.He disliked feeling like he had to look over his shoulder continuously.He wanted the whole mess to be over, but he had no idea when it would be.
He was silent as he walked, which hopefully made it look like he was uncomfortable with Marlin.Silence was good.It meant he didn’t have to act.
Curran didn’t expect Marlin to say or do anything, so he yelped when Marlin suddenly grabbed his arm and dragged him sideways.He pushed open a door, dragging Curran inside.Curran half expected someone to be attacking them, and he looked around frantically, but the storage room they were in was empty.
