She knows that attack wasn’t a coincidence.
Another sign she’s too naive to be out here.
“No.” I shake my head, still feeling the vampire’s heat seared into my palm. “That was a Midnight Fae, Aura.”
“He went straight for me,” she says, pressing a palm to her throat, eyes unfocused. “He didn’t hesitate.”
“You’ve pulled a lot of attention lately,” I say. “Being up on that stage every night. You’ve been recognized, and she knows who you are. Where you are.”
Her eyes snap to mine. “You mean...Mal?” The name comes out a dry rasp.
I hesitate, then nod.
“She meant to kill you with that curse. She’s sent a lackey to finish the job.”
“Well...” her eyes are wide and glazed with fear, “fuck.”
Couldn’t have said it better myself.
Chapter 18
Found by the Enemy
AURORA
Mal. The Midnight Fae who cursed me. She’s trying to finish the job.
My parents caught her hovering over my crib, speaking a death curse onto me, but it didn’t work out the way she wanted.
Then again, Midnight Fae aren’t supposed to be able to wield magic.
After she was banished by her absolute asshole of a father, King Charming, she mysteriously developed a dark, unstable ability.
“Surely not,” I protest. “It can’t be her.”
Talon looks at me with a flat expression, like he’s talking to a child.
Maybe that’s what I’m being. A child, trying to hide from the monster who doomed her.
Before I can react, Talon disappears into my bedroom. He grabs my bag and starts opening drawers, pulling out my clothes and shoving them in the pack.
I stop at the threshold, holding myself up by gripping the doorframe.
“What are you doing?” My voice sounds far away to my own ears.
“We’re going back,” he says without ceasing his motions.
Panic flares in me. I rush forward and grab the pack from him. Talon’s gaze jerks up to meet mine, but he doesn’t let go.
“No. No, we aren’t going back.”
His mouth opens then closes, and I can feel the frustration building in him. “Aura!” he finally bursts in exasperation. “We need to go back to where you’ll be safe. You’re starving here. You could hurt someone, or worse, you could get hurt. Do you know what finding you in the shower like that did to me?” His eyes blaze with orange embers.
“And now Mal is sending vampires to kill you?” He shakes his head. “No. We are leaving. Tonight.”
The finality in his voice breaks my heart.
“No.”
