I passed.
I vomited my guts up the moment I was alone in my room, but I passed.
And the next day, the Librarian stared down her nose atmy grimoire, like she could tell it was tainted with the life force of an innocent and treated me like dirt.
She still treats me like dirt.
So if I want to rub her contract in her face a little…taunt her…I will. And I won’t feel the least bit guilty for it either.
I raise my cup again, only to stop mid-motion as I catch sight of—no. Surely not?
Why is Anthea here?
My cup clatters back to the table, making me wince. She doesn’t search out the noise. In fact, she’s not noticed me at all. I reach into my bag, slipping my hand into the pages of my concealed grimoire.
“Onvosobli.”
The invisibility spell coats me as I abandon our bags and stride across the street to the shop Eddy disappeared into. With luck, I can find her before Anthea does. Magic only knows how she found us…
Only my sister doesn’t head for the ramshackle store with its bright display. She walks right past, her high ponytail swinging from side to side as she continues down the street.
I hesitate. I’m here to defend Edlynn, but Mother wouldn’t send Anthea out to this insignificant little slice of nowhere unless it was for good reason. Benny will want to know what she’s up to.
Anthea’s eyes are glued to her phone. She pauses every so often, turning left and then right. Is she following a map?
So even Anthea doesn’t know where she’s going. Interesting.
Eventually, she looks up, sliding her phone into her pocket as she ducks under a wonky wooden lintel.
“Really?” I mutter under my breath. “A pub?”
I don’t think I’ve ever seen my sister enter one, let alone somewhere this rustic. She’s much more at home in cocktail bars and upscale nightclubs.
Then I catch sight of a familiar red-black mop of curls, distorted by the crown glass windows.
Leo?
Without thinking, I dart through the open door, dodging past the few patrons who’ve gathered to watch the game on the flatscreen on the near side of the room, and heading for a spot in the corner. From here, I can see the back of Leo’s head and most of the rest of the room. The space is cramped, made worse by the low ceiling and oversized furniture. If I’m here for too long, someone is going to bump into me.
Still. I have to know why the Ó Rinn heir is meeting my sister.
Anthea takes her time grabbing a drink from the bar and meandering to his table. She’s dressed for business, but there’s enough suggestiveness in the way she walks that I know she hasn’t yet written off seducing him to get her way.
She wants something.
But when she sits down, Leo speaks before she can. “You’re sure Parriarch Ackland has what I need?”
Anthea smiles, and it’s only because I know her well that I can pick up the relief in the expression. “Of course. And he’s willing to help you. If you come to the dinner he’s organised on Friday, we’ll have everything ready to break your ensorcellment.”
“Friday?” Leo scoffs the word. “What’s wrong with now? It’s a wee bit time sensitive, in case you’ve forgotten.”
My sister toys with him, sipping slowly at her drink. “The parriarch is a busy man.”
Whatever Leo says in reply is lost to the groans of the football fans as their team fails to stop their opponents from scoring.
Anthea chuckles, shaking her head. I’m forced to dodge another of the patrons, almost knocking over a chair in the process.
Stars, this is a bad idea. I know who she came to meet and why. Now I need to get back to Eddy before she ends up in trouble.
