Page 115 of Fallen Court

If Dante—a damn vampire—was the most levelheaded of the trio, I couldn’t help but worry. Part of me was tempted to ship Shaw back to the academy, where I wouldn’t have to deal with it every time he did something senseless. Because if he didn’t start using his brain, he was going to wind up like one of the ghosts haunting the city tonight.

Rounding the street corner that led to La Belle Dame, I stopped short as Cate closed the door to the teashop. The séance was over; I’d missed the entire thing. But she was still in New Orleans. Still safe behind the ward.

Something in my chest lurched at the sight of her. It took me a moment to realize it was my heart, the organ having gone unused or ignored for so long that it caught me off guard every time it made its presence known now. Something it had taken to doing since the day she showed up at the Avalon.

Slinging her purse over her shoulder with a frown, she shoved her hands in her pockets, her downcast eyes on the street as she started home—completely oblivious to the world around her. She didn’t even see me. Fear coiled in my gut, urging me to spring in her direction and protect her. I tamped down on the instinct, knowing she would kick my ass if I suggested she couldn’t handle herself, but it took more effort than I’d ever admit, even to her.

I leaned against a streetlamp on the corner. Despite the orb of enchanted firelight flickering in its wrought iron lantern, I remained half hidden by shadows. Most of them poured out of me, conjured by the frustration I couldn’t quite stem. She was only a few steps away when her head whipped up in surprise, a fleeting smile curving her lips. It was gone in an instant.

“Anyone tell you it’s bad manners to lurk in the shadows?” She hoisted her bag a little higher as she closed the distance between us.

“That might be a problem, since I am the shadows.” My hand twined with hers, and some of the weight I felt lifted. “The car isn’t too far.”

Her eyes drifted to the star-flecked sky overhead. “I don’t mind walking awhile.”

We both needed a break from the constant chaos and drama that seemed to plague our every waking moment. “I assume that awhile means you don’t mind taking the long way.”

“Not at all.” But her smile seemed haunted.

I waited for her to tell me about the séance, but she remained silent as we worked our way farther riverside, where the scent of the water hung in the air. We’d reached the Moon Walk, a winding promenade that traced the dark ribbon of the Mississippi, before she finally began to tell me what had happened. The story came out in fits and spurts.

“There was more.” She shook her head after a long pause. “Gran said something else. I think she asked me a question.”

I frowned, releasing her hand so I could wrap my arm around her shoulders. Tugging her closer, I kissed the top of her head. “It’s late. You’re tired. I bet you’ll remember in the morning.”

“I guess.” But she sounded uncertain. She tilted her face, meeting my eye. “Someone else was there.”

Her words stopped me. I willed my voice to remain even. “Who?”

Cate tugged her bottom lip between her teeth like she was reconsidering mentioning anything.

“Cate?”

“Goemon,” she whispered, and my already wary mood darkened.

But that didn’t make any sense. “He can’t be dead. Members of the Hunt don’t die.”

“He wasn’t,” she said, continuing quickly at my confusion. “He projected himself or something.” I listened as she told me about his cryptic warning. “Does it mean anything to you?”

“Other than I’m a dead man walking?” I regretted the joke the instant she cringed.

“The Cabal,” she said. “Do you know who they are?”

I searched my brain but came up empty-handed. “No,” I admitted with a shake of my head. “But I have a very long list of enemies, princess. It wouldn’t be a Friday if someone didn’t want me dead.”

She pulled free from me. “And how bad must these enemies be if someone who’s magically bound to kill you is warning you about them?”

“You might have a point.” I held out my hand. She stared at it for a minute before she took it with a huff. Better than nothing.

“Do you believe him?” Cate asked as we continued along the path. “That the Cabal is real and they’re after you?”

I blew out a long breath. “Yeah, I do,” I said a bit begrudgingly. Goemon had saved my life twice. Now he was delivering warnings. “For whatever reason, Goemon seems to want me to live. I don’t think he’d lie about this.”

“Then why can’t he help more? Maybe convince the rest of the Wild Hunt to ignore the memento mori?”

The pain in her voice sliced through me. “It doesn’t work that way,” I said gently. “For either of us. He’s as duty bound to the Hunt as I am to my court.”

Cate buried her face in my shoulder. “He joined it, right? So, if he really wanted to, he could leave. You’re giving up your throne.”