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"You lost me at 'although. '"
He nodded, apparently satisfied. "Yes, that works out nicely. Now that you have come to the Faerie Realms of your own free will, which was my queen's stipulation, it opens all sorts of possibilities. " He held out a hand. I didn't take it, couldn't take it, and his smile had a strangely soft edge. "Now, now, Evelyn. No need to be frightened. "
I clenched my jaw, glaring. I was not scared of him. And I wasn't scared to finally get some answers. Oh, who was I kidding. I was terrified. There were so many things I could find out that I didn't want to know. Nothing good would come from what he was about to tell me. But that didn't change anything. I had to know.
I gave him my hand.
He tucked it in the crook of his elbow with a condescending pat. "I do believe I missed this. " He turned and we walked through a door that was now in front of us. A panicked yelp sounded and I was nearly knocked over as Jack grabbed me, barely making it before the door closed.
Reth sighed impatiently. "Must he tag along?"
I couldn't believe I'd forgotten to demand it. Five minutes with Reth and I was already being stupid. "Yes, he must. "
Jack took my free hand and the three of us walked together through the darkness. I wanted to ask where we were going, but I didn't want to give Reth the satisfaction of hearing how terrified I was. He'd know the second I opened my mouth.
He opened a door and we stepped out into blinding sunshine. I was disoriented, like when you go to a movie in the afternoon and come out to dark night. How did it become day again? It was late when we left my apartment. Were we on the other side of the world or something?
"Faerie Realms screw with time," Jack muttered, as though reading my mind.
"So where are we?" We had come through a white cinder block wall, facing a massive parking lot. I glanced up and down, wondering what mystical place had such demanding parking
needs. And women's restrooms?
Reth, rather than answer, walked along the sidewalk. Jack and I had to scurry to catch up. As we turned the corner, I stopped dead in shock. Of all the places to learn about who I really was-what I really was-this one hadn't crossed my mind as a possibility.
We were at a NASCAR race.
"What on earth are we doing here?" I should have known better than to trust Reth. He'd never been one for jokes, but of course he'd pick now to get a sense of humor. No doubt he thought this whole thing was hilarious. He turned to me, no trace of laughter in his real eyes, shining beneath his faerie-hiding glamour.
"I think it high time you meet your father. "
Chapter Thirty-Six
Family Reunions Always Suck
My father?" I stared at Reth, trying to process what he'd said. "I'm going to meet-I have a father? And he's here?"
The pack of multicolored logo-plastered cars roared past on the track, separated from us by a massive chain-link fence and a maintenance area. It was too much to process. In spite of Reth and Vivian's claims that I had been "made," I had a father. A father who was going to NASCAR races instead of, say, taking care of me.
Reth surveyed the scene around us, his face a picture of disdain. "Unfortunately, yes. This way, please. " He wove his way through the crowds wandering to and from their seats. I nearly got beer spilled on me three times, but everyone moved for him, most (male and female) pausing to stare dazedly at his glamoured glory.
"So," Jack said as we started up an infinite set of concrete steps through the stands, "this is exciting!"
"Can we not talk?" I was finally getting some answers, and I was scared bleepless.
Reth turned to a section of booths that looked far nicer than the aluminum benches everywhere else. He opened the door to the first and gestured for me to go in. Trembling, I walked through. The plushly furnished booth had four armchairs and a side table littered with empty Coke cans.
In the center chair overlooking the race sat a man with shoulder-length hair such a rich brown it looked like polished wood. His back was to us and he leaned forward, intent on the race.
"Do be a good boy and get me something to drink?" Reth asked Jack, shutting the door in his face before he could come in. The man in the chair hadn't turned around yet, and Reth narrowed his eyes in annoyance. "Lin. " The man waved us away with one perfect, slender hand.
A faerie hand.
My stomach sank. No. No, not that. Anything but that. It couldn't be-he couldn't be-I couldn't be. Reth put his arm around my shoulders, steering me gently down the two steps to the window. When Lin's face came into view there was no denying it. His glamour was fuzzy, as though barely there, and his face had all the faerie features. Far-too-big almond eyes, delicate nose, full lips, ageless skin. But his eyes, an unnaturally emerald green, were ringed with red as though he hadn't slept in days. I'd never seen a faerie besides damaged Fehl look anything but pristine.
"Lin," Reth said again, his golden voice hard.
"Oh, go away. Thirty-three's making a pass. "
