Page 42 of Orange Spell
This was where things got complicated because Curran had to lie.If he told Pearl that Birch would never hurt him and that he wasn’t afraid of him, she’d know she’d lost him.It made Marlin wonder where she’d gotten the idea that Birch was violent.Maybe she didn’t actually think that but was trying to hurt his reputation, and, through it, Killian’s.It would take more than that to get Killian off the throne, but it might just be the first step Pearl was planning for.
“It’s...complicated,” Curran said softly.
“I understand.He’s the king’s bodyguard.”
“He is.Is—is this something you could help with?I’m not saying I need your help, but, you know, if I ever did.”
There was a moment of silence.Marlin held his breath, hoping Curran hadn’t pushed too much.He’d sounded believable to Marlin’s ears, but Pearl was smart.
“It is,” she finally said.“But I might need your help.Your brother is a powerful man, even though he’s just a bodyguard.”
“I don’t know what I can do.I’m not like you.”
“You’re not, but you have something I don’t.Through your brother, you’re close to Killian.”
“And that would help you?”
“It would help me help you, yes.”
“How?”
“You don’t need to worry about that for now.”Pearl started getting up, so Marlin took a step back deeper into the bushes.His side brushed against one of the trees, and he leaned against it to see better.Pearl was still too close to Curran for comfort.
“I’ll talk to you soon, Curran.Remember that you’re not alone and that if you ever need anything, you only have to contact me.”
Curran didn’t answer.He didn’t move or say anything as he and Marlin watched Pearl walk away.Marlin waited until he was sure she wouldn’t see him to push forward.A branch cracked under his foot, and Curran yelped and jumped off the bench.His hand flew to his chest as he glared at Marlin.
“Really?”he asked.“You didn’t trust me to do this?”
Marlin looked around, but no one was paying them any attention, so he reached for Curran’s hand and pulled him into his arms.He felt instantly better once he could hug Curran.“I trust you with my life,” he murmured.“I don’t trust Pearl any further than I can throw her, though.”
Curran relaxed.“She was fine.Weird, but fine.”
“It’s obvious she wants something from you, but she doesn’t trust you yet.You did good, though.”
“I hated every second of it.”
“Everything okay?”Birch asked as he reached them.
Marlin didn’t want to let go of Curran, but he did.Thankfully, Curran hooked an arm around Marlin’s waist and stayed close.
“I’m fine,” he said.“We should probably leave.I wouldn’t want someone to see us and tell Pearl.”
He was right.Marlin should have thought about that, but he’d been more focused on Curran and his safety than on doing his job, which wasn’t great.Killian wouldn’t mind considering the situation, but Marlin would never forgive himself if something happened to his friend.
“Let’s go,” Birch agreed.
The three of them hurried back into the palace.Marlin noticed a few of the guards moving, too, but he didn’t look at them.He couldn’t bear to look away from Curran.Even though he’d been terrified, he’d held his own, and he got results.They might not yet know what Pearl wanted from him, but they were sure she was planning on getting to Killian through the people close to him.It gave them a place to start and a list of people to keep an eye on.If Pearl didn’t get what she wanted from Curran, she might try to get it from someone else.
Marlin hated to think of Curran being involved in any of this, but it might have the best outcome because they knew for sure that he wouldn’t betray Killian.Unfortunately, that put him at risk, but Marlin trusted himself, Birch, and Killian to keep him safe.
They had to.
* * * *
CURRAN RESISTED THEurge to run.Even though he’d watched Pearl leave, he could still feel her presence, and it made him want to hide.Pearl could play nice as much as she wanted, but Curran knew the truth.He knew that she wasn’t a good person and that she was attempting to use him.
It made him angry.He’d wanted to snap at her while she’d been talking, but he’d been able to resist the urge.He hated that anyone would talk about his brother the way Pearl had.Birch had never been violent.He and Curran had bickered their entire lives, but Birch had never raised a hand to Curran, not even when they were younger.Hell, instead of hurting Curran the way Pearl had insinuated, he was overprotective to the point where he made Curran want to scream.
