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“Both of us?” What did he mean by that? She’d left Claire at home.
“Claire followed you.”
“How did she get past the fish?” Sophia asked. Sophia had bribed them with clothing. Men who could only walk the earth on the night of the full moon desired clothing over all else.
“The same way you did, it appears. When we get home, I’ll have to replace my whole blasted wardrobe.” His fist struck the arm of the chair with a halfhearted blow. Then he exhaled heavily. “What were you thinking, Soph?” he asked softly.
Sophia crossed to sit gingerly on the edge of the bed, across from her brother. “They wanted to clip my wings,” she said hesitantly. She’d completely bungled her last mission. All because of a music box she’d clumsily tripped over. The music had caught her attention for a moment, and then she’d found herself in the clutches of a child. It had taken all of her magic to get out of the situation. And had caused untold amounts of trouble.
“And now they most assuredly will,” he said, as he sat forward and looked at her. He looked at her a bit too hard. With too much pity for her comfort. “This mission wasn’t meant for you.”
“Claire wasn’t in trouble. She has nothing to prove. She can stand to lose this one.” At least that’s what Sophia had told herself all week. Ever since she’d arrived from their land.
“She’s not very pleased with you.”
Sophia could just imagine Claire stomping her feet and throwing a fit at the very thought of losing to her little sister. “She’ll survive it.” Sophia dropped to her knees in front of Marcus. “Don’t you see, Marcus? This was my last chance. I have to do this right. I can’t lose my wings.”
“You think the Trusted Few will let you keep your wings if this works out,” Marcus said, his face softening with understanding. “Soph, this won’t change their minds. If anything, it’ll put you in their sights.” He rubbed his eyes with his closed fists. He looked tired. Guilt poked at Sophia for a moment.
“Where’s Claire?”
Marcus shrugged. “I haven’t found her yet. I only arrived today. I suspect she arrived yesterday. But I’m not worried. She’ll be here soon, I’m certain.” He sighed heavily. “How is the mission going? Have you spent a lot of time with the child?”
She’d spent a lot of time with the child’s father. But not necessarily the child. “There are a lot of layers to this mission,” Sophia began.
Marcus let his eyes drop to peruse what she was wearing. “Is that a man’s dressing gown?” he asked as he jumped to his feet. He looked toward the door. “Just where have you been, Soph?”
“It’s not as bad as it looks,” she started. But he held up one finger to silence her.
“Tell me you haven’t broken any of the Unpardonable Errors.”
“I haven’t! I haven’t broken a single one!” She hadn’t let anyone see her in faerie form, not even Anne. Nor had she used her magic to cause harm, even though she wanted to do terrible things to the duke’s brother. She had protected her dust. And although she wanted more than anything to tell Ashley what she truly was, she hadn’t. And she couldn’t fall in love with a human. That would just be tragic. And in opposition to her very nature. “I haven’t, Marcus. I swear it.”
“Whose robe is that?” Marcus asked.
“It belongs to Anne’s father.”
“The Duke of Robinsworth?” His brows drew together in consternation. “Were you alone with him, Sophie?”
“Only for a moment,” she said hesitantly. A moment each day. Every moment she could steal. “He’s out of isolation,” she tossed out. “I did accomplish that.”
“He’s a well-known hermit,” Marcus said. “He rarely shows his face in public.”
She lifted her nose in the air. “He does now.”
“What did you do?”
“He likes me,” she whispered. And a grin tugged at her lips despite the fact that she tried to hide it. She couldn’t. The fact that he liked her made her supremely happy. “He came out of seclusion. For me.”
“And this is a good thing because?” he prompted.
“His daughter is forced into seclusion with him. It won’t be until he returns to his rightful place in society that she can take hers. She can’t heal with him here in hiding.”
“Have you found out the truth of his situation?”
“Not yet.” She held her finger and thumb up, and indicated the small space between them. “But I’m this close. This close, I promise.”
“Soph, I think you should return this mission to Claire.”
