Page 59 of Dark Sun (Wicked Lovely 6)

Aislinn raised both brows. “Truly? That’s your response? I knew faeries matured slowly, but . . .”

When he said no more, Aislinn turned to Chela. “I’ve renovated a few things. Expanded my immediate domain.” She kept her voice casual as if it was of no consequence to rebuild a section of the city. “Would you like a tour of the area I’ve made to show my welcome of the Hunt?”

Chela’s smile did odd things to Aislinn’s belly.

“Of course,” Chela said. “Oh, Summer Queen?” She waited until Aislinn was looking directly at her. “There was another halfling with him. I could smell—”

“I’ll kill you if you touch her,” Urian said.

Aislinn smiled, knowing in that moment that she looked as vicious as Tavish had accused her of being. “When you are rested, would you collect her for me? Perhaps my uncle would be more willing to make the necessary vows if he had a bit of incentive . . .”

Urian struggled, throwing his entire body against the restraining force of the Hounds who had hold of his arms. “I’ll rip your hearts out and feed them to you while you’re dying. I’ll--”

His words cut off as Chela surged forward and punched him hard enough that he was suddenly limp.

“Hold this,” she said to one of the Hounds, and then she extended her hand toward Aislinn. “Show me our new digs, Ash. Then we’ll figure out where to put that one and go fetch his paramour. Her scent is all over him. It shouldn’t take long to retrieve her, but we could use a rest before we go.”

Aislinn nodded and led the Hound toward the building that she’d renovated.

ChapterTwenty-Six

Katherine

When she walked into the apartment, Katherine saw her mother and aunt exchange looks, and her gut reaction was to apologize. They had rules, and she knew that. A text wasn’t enough. She knew theyexpectedher to apologize.

She didn’t, though; the fact was that she wasn’t a child. She’d followed their rules, hidden away from half of her heritage, and she’d had no idea that there were other options.

“Curfew was—"

“Absurd.” Katherine interrupted her mother. “It’s absurd to even have a curfew at my age. I’m not a kid. You might treat me like one, but I’m not. I’m in mytwenties.”

“Kitty Kat . . .” Octavia Miller looked like someone had just stalled her heart. “The fey age differently, so I just didn’t know how mature you were. Do we use mortal numbers? Court those years? Or are you like them? A few decades is barely adult to a full fey. Better to be safe, right?”

Guilt flared, and Katherine tried to sound less confrontational as she continued, “I get it, but I’m not one or the other. I’m half, and I amnota child. I’ve lived you way for all these years, now . . . I’m going to go away for a while.”

“Because . . .?” her mother prompted.

Katherine didn’t look away. “I told you I met someone.”

“Is he human? Or . . .not?” Aunt Ida looked around, peering into shadows as if she could see the unseen by sheer willpower. “Or is he here right now? Hidden from us but here?”

Katherine shook her head. “I wanted to talk to you without him. And I want to pack a few things before I go.” She shrugged, trying to act like this wasn’t hard. She didn’t want to hurt her mom or aunt, but she also couldn’t stay here. She was completely certain of that. In a gentle voice, she added, “I’ll check in with you periodically, so you don’t worry, but it’s time for me to go. Past time, really.”

Her mother looked like tears were glimmering in her eyes. “You’re rushing it. You can take baby steps. Get a place. Jose said the apartment on the ground floor is about to come open. Ida and I were talking. You’d still be here, but your . . . friend could visit in your own place that way.”

Katherine looked at them, and the words she wanted to say warred with her love for them. They were her family, her shelter, and she felt a fierce loyalty to them. She sat down with a flop. “I love you, yougetthat, right?”

They nodded.

Her mom started to say something else, but Katherine didn’t want to fight. “I’m notasking,Mom.I’m telling you. I’ve changed. I feel it. I can’t hold the steel on the shutters now. I am sure of it. It’s like something in me that was a bonfire waiting for a spark. And I woke up.”

Her mother stared at her with an awkward sort of understanding. “Your sort of faery is prone to—”

“Lust,” Katherine finished.

“Yes, that. It doesn’t mean you have to leave home for that,” her mom said.

“It does. It means exactly that. I want to go with him. No one is coercing me, tricking me, or anything. I want to go.” Katherine didn’t know how to explain, but she felt an insistence inside that she wander. Maybe Urian woke it, but it washerimpulse.

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