Page 8 of Land of Ashes


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“No.” She yanked it back, her brows creasing. “And what are you going to do, throw me off a moving train?” She motioned out the window. The train had just passed the city boundaries and was picking up speed.

“Szar!”Shit!I hissed, hitting the table with my fist. “The next stop you are getting off, turning around, and going home.”

“I can’t.”

“What do you mean you can’t?”

“It’s no longer…” She shifted in her seat, her jaw tight. “Safe for me.”

“And what does that mean?”

She folded her arms, not answering.

My gaze went over her again, and it dawned on me that she never went back to where she was staying. Tension and slight fear hinted in her eyes. The metal band, which appeared to have no clasp, was still around her wrist. Goblin metal was fae kryptonite, nullifying our powers. Yet, she was still healing and didn’t appear as drained as other fae might be, which tickled the back of my brain.

“The men last night.” I tilted my head, nodding at the goblin cuff on her arm. “They killed your friends, but they were afteryou. Why?”

Her jaw tightened.

“Did you know them?” Nothing from her. “By your earrings, I’m guessing you come from a wealthy family.” Her silence continued as I went on. “But a pair of earrings isn’t enough for five Russian Mafia types to invade a pub. Plus, they never tried to take anything from you or anyone else…” I sat back in my seat. “Which tells me they weren’t there to rob. They came purposely foryou.” I paused. “Daddy is more than wealthy, am I right? Use the kid to get ransom money? How close am I?” I chuffed, feeling like I hit the target dead on.

Her dark brow arched up. “It wouldn’t be mydaddy’smoney. It would be my mother’s.” She leaned over the table, her lids narrowed. “But it’s not money they want.”

“Please. Money is the only thing people want.”

“What aboutsex…” She purposely slid over that word. “Love? Respect? Power?” Her eyebrow went up, stirring me in my seat with irritation.

“Like you know aboutanyof those,” I said.

“And you do?”

“I know plenty.”

“Right.” She huffed. “Was that what you called last night?”

My mouth opened and shut, an irritated a child was putting me in my place. I blamed it on my sluggish mind, but something she said finally hit me.

“I didn’t spend all night in a brothel on top of that.”

“Wait.” I sat up higher. “How the hell do you know where I was last night?” I inclined closer. “Were you following me?”

She shrugged a shoulder.

“What? Why?” I wagged my head in disbelief, my skin burning in my cheeks at the idea.

“I told you, I couldn’t go home.”

“So you followed me?” Heat crawled up my throat, imagining what she might have heard or seen. I enjoyed leaving the curtains open, not minding an audience to my punishment. “What the fuck is wrong with you?”

A smirk played on her lips. “Are you worried I saw what kinky, disgusting shit you do in there?”

“First, there is no shame in kink.” I held up my finger like I was reprimanding her. “And second, I’m more worried about why you are stalking me.”

She looked out the window, not replying.

“You don’t even know me,” I exclaimed.

“I have an instinct about people.” She looked down at her clasped hands. “It’s something I’m actually good at.”

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