Page 53 of Orange Spell
He squared his shoulders and stared at her.“We’re both fine.”
“That’s good to hear.”
“As if you care.”
Her eyes widened for just a second.It was enough to tell Curran that she hadn’t expected him to answer like he had, which made him feel smug.It also gave him the courage to continue talking.
“You never cared about me or my baby.You acted like you did because you wanted to get close to Killian.Well, newsflash.I’m never going to allow anyone to use me to hurt Killian.You’ll have to find someone else to do that.”
Her smile turned sharp.“You don’t think I could force you to obey my orders?”
He knew that she could.She’d find a way.“You could try,” he said.
“Is everything okay here?”someone asked, causing all of them to turn.
Taylor stood there, frowning.He was human, so Pearl wouldn’t have any trouble hurting him if she wanted to, but Curran could see people watching them.Pearl didn’t want that kind of publicity.She didn’t want any publicity at all.She wouldn’t hurt any of them, not today anyway.
She gave Taylor and Curran a tight smile.“Of course not.I was just checking in on Curran.I’ll see you soon, Curran.”
It sounded like a promise, and not a good one.Curran stared, willing her to leave.When she finally did, he stayed tense until she turned the corner.
“What the fuck was that?”Deryn breathed out.
“That was Pearl.”
“I know that.Why did she want to talk to you, though?”
“Because she’s angry.I ruined her plan.”
“Are you sure that the two of you are both okay?”Taylor asked.“Because the infirmary is right there.I can ask my brother to check you out.”
“We’re fine,” Curran reassured him.“She didn’t touch either of us.”
“Well, I can’t force you to go to the infirmary, but Icanwalk you home.I won’t take no for an answer.”
Curran found himself smiling.“I’d be happy to have you walk us home.”He didn’t think that Pearl would try anything, but he’d feel safer with Taylor.
Taylor looked like he couldn’t quite believe Curran, but thankfully, Curran was giving him what he wanted.He nodded and gestured at Curran and Deryn to start walking, and they did.
Curran was going to have to tell his brother and Marlin about this, wouldn’t he?God, they’d be so angry.They wouldn’t even be able to do anything about it because Pearl was out of their reach.Until she did something that clearly pointed to her threatening someone or trying to kill her brother, there was nothing anyone could do.
Curran couldn’t keep this a secret, though.His brother would never forgive him if he did.And Marlin, well...he might forgive Curran, but it would take time, and Curran didn’t want anything to come between them.They were moving in together and starting their new life as a family.He wanted to be able to enjoy that, and even though having to talk about Pearl wasn’t his definition of enjoying anything, he’d do it.
Curran didn’t want to start his relationship with Marlin with lies.They’d already wasted too much time over the years because they hadn’t talked to each other.That ended now.
* * * *
MARLIN KNEW SOMETHINGhad happened as soon as he saw Curran’s expression.The fact that Taylor was with Curran also made it obvious.Curran had told Marlin that he’d see Palmer with Deryn, and while Marlin had wanted to go with them, he’d had to work.He’d just arrived home, ready to help Curran move his stuff from the apartment he shared with his mothers to the one he was now going to share with Marlin.
“What happened?”Marlin asked, gesturing at Taylor to come in.Deryn was nowhere to be seen.
Taylor shook his head.“I was actually going to see my brother.I just noticed Curran and his friend talking to Pearl, and I know nothing good ever comes out of a conversation with her.I wanted to make sure they were okay.”
“And we are,” Curran said.“I promise.She didn’t hurt us.She didn’t even touch us.”
“But she wanted to talk to you for a reason,” Marlin pointed out.
“Just veiled threats, like always.”
