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Kellan rubbed the pad of his thumbs against the back of my forearms. “Someone is out there,” his deep voice hit my skin.
The equal amount of sadness and fear swallowed me whole.
The quick movement from before jolted across the yard and stopped in my view. Kellan hissed under his breath.
A man that resembled Fern stood in the back yard. A fae they called them? The point of his ears was sharp underneath his hair. He wore a low-slung ponytail and a suit. Was he going to sell us something? He looked ready for it.
Oddly enough, he looked like he wanted to kill both of us and like he could do it if he tried.
“Ernest,” Kellan said without moving. “I hope you have insurance. This may get ugly.”
Ernest stopped his stirring at the table and walked over to the window. “Do you know this fae?” he asked.
Kellan hadn’t let go of me and when he stepped back, he pulled me with him. “I stabbed him the first night I got here. He was pimping out Fern.”
The image of his journey to get me sounded scary. I would have to make sure my dad paid him generously.
Ernest looked over at Kellan for several seconds. “Then let me get my things. This fae isn’t leaving here today.”
Chapter Nineteen
Kellan
Josie stood still in front of me, her gaze lingering on the fae ready to tear me to pieces outside the window.
I didn’t blame him. I did stick a knife into his leg but with good intentions. Fern definitely led him here without knowing.
She stood in the corner of the room, staring at the window from the distance. The fear on her face put shards of anger in my stomach.
The bastard thought he would come in and wreak havoc? He was sorely mistaken.
Josie moved in front of me, her backside brushing against my front and sending my resolve into pieces around me. My fingers tightened around her elbows, and the friction warmed my blood.
I groaned under my breath, stepped away, and guided her with me. Mr. Ernest seemed in no hurry as he walked into one of the back rooms and disappeared.
Josie’s soft, worried sighs climbed my spine like a white-hot tap dance to my neck. I couldn’t look at her because I knew those too-blue eyes would break me.
She’d imagined the most ungodly things. I wanted to break this guard around me, press her against the wall, and kiss her.
I was surprised she hadn’t run away after my glass-breaking incident.
But hearing Fern tell those tales that I knew to be true hurt me deeply. Deidamia had fed off my family that day and killed my entire village.
That was only the start of it. Afterward, she’d ruined what was left of my pathetic life.
“What’s going to happen?” Josie sliced through the silence. “I take it that he’s here to kill you?”
“He’s here to take me,” Fern whispered, sliding down the wall to sit on the floor.
I let go of Josie’s elbow and stepped over to Fern. “He will not take you. Do you understand?”
Fern looked up at me. “Yes.”
The heat of Josie’s stare felt heavy. I stood, attempting to hold myself together while Ernest walked out with a giant sword. It looked odd in his hands, but he seemed comfortable with it.
“All right,” he said. “Let’s go meet our friend. You girls stay inside, and do not leave. Holler if anyone comes inside.”
Josie made a face of shock and fear at this man’s nonchalance. I didn’t know his skill set, but I assumed by his age that he had plenty.
