Page 37 of A Hint of Delirium

I dug my heels in to stop her. “Ma, stop! If it wasn’t for Ansel, you would’ve been taken and I would’ve been hurt – or worse.”

She whirled on me. “Have you stopped to ask why he was there?”

I furrowed my brows. “What?”

“He’s stalking you, mija!” she exclaimed. “The fae are like predators, which means you’re his prey.”

I stopped and stared at her, wondering if she was right. Was Ansel stalking me? He had shown up at my job last night, but I wouldn’t necessarily consider that stalking. I mean, he lived down the street from the piano bar. But honestly, what did I know? I had the social IQ of a toddler. Because of my so-called schizophrenia, I had never been able to socialize like everyone else.

How did he happen to show up at my house this morning at precisely the right time?

“You’re not necessarily wrong,” Ansel noted as he stepped out of the bathroom drying his hair with a towel. “Faearelike predators, but I don’t consider Vi prey. You’re not giving her enough credit.”

Ansel walked into the living room wearing fresh clothes and smelling of his heady eucalyptus body wash. I could smell him from across the room and the scent curled around me and unlocked something that I wasn’t ready to admit. Unconsciously, I looked him up and down and felt my body flush. I swallowed deeply and quickly looked away, hoping my mother hadn’t noticed.

My mother tensed, her hand still wrapped around my wrist. She warily watched Ansel move around his apartment.

“Usually when one saves another’s life, they get a thank you, not an accusation. You humans are quite peculiar.” Ansel shook his head in disbelief.

“Why were you at our apartment this morning?” my mother asked indignantly.

Ansel leaned his hip against the kitchen counter, crossed his toned arms over his chest, and gave her a confident smirk. “Who were those men?” he countered. “I already know who they were; I just want you to tell me.”

My mother froze as her eyes widened and her mouth fell slightly open. She quickly pulled me behind her to block me from his view.

Ansel shook his head. “There’s no point in doing that. I can take her at any time. So why don’t you tell me,andViolet, who those men were?”

My mother gulped and I felt her hand tremble. “They’re … they’re trackers,” she finally answered. “From the Ancient Order of Leviathans.”

I tugged on her arm but she ignored me, continuing her stand-off with Ansel.

He nodded. “And they came after you and not Vi, because …?” he prompted.

“Because they didn’t know I was pregnant when I left,” she answered slowly. “They have no idea she exists.”

Ansel nodded again as he processed everything, although he didn’t seem surprised. “Then let’s keep it that way.”

My mother let out the breath she’d cautiously been holding. “They know where I live. They know my identity. I can’t stay here anymore.”

He shook his head. “No. You can’t.”

My mom turned in my direction and stared at me, her hand sliding down from my wrist to my hand and squeezing tightly. She pressed her lips together as if what she was about to say pained her. “I don’t want it to be this way. I never wanted it to come to this, but it has. You were right this morning. If we had left for Florida, we’d be on the run the rest of our lives. I don’t want that for you.”

I frowned. “What are you saying?”

“The Ancient Order of Leviathans only knows aboutme. They think I still hold the orb. If I leave now—”

“You’re going to run and leave me behind?” I ripped my hand from hers. “No! You can’t do that!”

“Shhh,” she quieted me and placed both her hands on my cheeks. “This is only temporary. I promise.”

“Don’t make promises you can’t keep!” I shouted.

She gave a shaky smile. “I promise, Vi, I’ll be back. But I have to get them off my trail. Offyourtrail. It’s the only way to keep you safe.”

I shook my head adamantly. “I don’t understand why you’re running from them. Aren’t they supposed to protect the orb?” I looked between her and Ansel. “Didn’t your people give it to them to protect? Why are we running from them? Aren’t they the good guys? Shouldn’t they be helping us?”

Ansel looked at me with pity. I hated that look.

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