AllFreeNovel
Share Us
She nodded. “I’ll talk to your father. And when things have calmed, you should talk to him, too. Apologize.”
I would. As soon as possible. Because walking around with a bellyful of guilt was going to get very old, very fast.
“Be careful tonight,” she said, wrapping her arms tightly around me before I could respond. “We both want to handcuff you to Cadogan House, keep you safe. But that wouldn’t do anyone any good.”
She pulled back, brushed fingers against my cheek. “We are very proud of who you’ve become. But never forget where you came from.”
• • •
With those words in my head, I walked back through the House, found Connor waiting outside, one leg slung over Thelma. Hisarms were crossed, and there was a very serious expression on his face.
“What’s wrong?” I asked.
“Nothing.” He uncrossed his arms. “I’ve got work to do for Alaska, but I wanted to talk to you first.”
I didn’t like the second mention of Alaska, and still didn’t want to think about it.
“I wanted to talk to you, too. About last night—I’m sorry about the attitude. You were trying to help, and I wasn’t ready to hear it.”
He looked back at me, brows lifted. “Is Elisa Sullivan, the bossiest of the bossy, apologizing to me?”
“I’m not bossy. I’m decisive.”
At that, Connor rolled his eyes.
“But yes, I’m apologizing. I know you were trying to help, and I appreciate that you’re on my side. It’s just hard to take advice after dealing with this for a long time on my own.”
“I’m sure it is. The bigger point still stands: You don’t have to deal with it alone.”
I didn’t believe that for a second—especially since he was the only person who knew the truth and he was leaving—but I could appreciate that he cared. “Thanks.”
“Listen, Lis... Theo seems like a good guy, but the fairies are dangerous.”
“He’ll be there on behalf of the Ombudsman,” I said. “They may not respect me or Lulu, but I imagine they’ll think twice before going up against the entire city.”
“And Theo?”
My brows lifted. “What about him?”
He looked at me quietly for a moment. “Can he handle himself?”
Given the pause, I wasn’t sure that was the question Connor really wanted to ask. And it occurred to me—maybe a little late—that I didn’t actually know the answer. Surely Yuen wouldn’t send Theo to the castle if he couldn’t handle it.
I settled on, “We’ll find out.”
“That’s not a very good answer.”
“It’s the only one I can give you. We have to go to the castle because we don’t have any better options. Riley’s still behind bars, and my parents’ House is being used to further someone’s violent agenda.” I gave him a halfhearted smile. “Don’t worry, you won’t have to rescue me again.”
“I didn’t mind rescuing you the first time,” he said. And there was something different in his eyes. Emotion I hadn’t seen before and wasn’t entirely sure what to do with. “But you don’t really need rescuing, Lis. You just need a good partner.”
I wasn’t prepared for the intensity of his gaze, and my instinct was to turn away, to put space between us that would give me time to think.
“You don’t need rules for this,” Connor said, and grabbed my hand before I could turn.
I looked back at him, watched his eyes darken like storm clouds over a cold, deep sea, his gaze so intense he might have seen through to my soul—and felt the sudden, wild hunger that rose up in response to it.
Connor watched my face, thumb stroking the sensitive skin on the inside of my wrist.
