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The phone rang, disrupting their small space of hope. Belatedly, she realized it was hers and picked it up quickly. Then she wished she hadn’t and had prepared better.
“That was quite a show you put on,” Duncan praised. “I just keep getting impressed with every little thing you throw at me, Alexa, to the point that I’m no longer as eager to get away from you as I was back then.”
The need to scream and demand for her son clung to her system until she was in pain, but she kept it locked tight. She expected pain from the callous dismissal but only felt disgust. Outwardly, she didn’t let either affect her voice, keeping it casual.
“How impressed are we talking about?” she asked.
“Impressed enough to ask for a chance to meet you. Alone. By the way, I will know whether you are alone or not.”
“All right. Give me a time and a place,” she agreed. “I will come alone. Can I talk to Archie?”
“We can discuss that during the meeting. See you soon.”
“Fine. See you.”
When she hung up, she held up a hand before they could speak.
“I will come alone,” she repeated, gaze landing on Edmund. “He will know. He can’t hurt me—not if he wants a cooperative Archie in his hands.”
The idea of Archie alone with the Fae sent her stomach roiling, and she had to close her eyes. Hands wrapped around her waist and pulled her closer until she was leaning against a strong, hard body, where warmth seeped in from him to her.
“I am devastated at the idea of you meeting that madman on your own, my love,” he whispered. “But I think you are right. He will know if any one of us is around. Unless…”
“Concealment!” Charlie exclaimed, hopping to the center. For the first time, the scowl was gone as excitement entered his features. “I know how we can get help!”
Edmund studied him, then nodded. “Tell us about it. Between meeting up with the not-so-pretty asshole and trying to track down the other Fae to find Archie, we need to have all our plans in place.”
It didn’t take long for their plans to be smoothed out and the hours to pass with nothing to do but wait. In that waiting, Edmund steered her to their bedroom and cradled her in his arms, the quiet comfort coating her like a blanket as she wept her frustrations against a pillow. He didn’t ask questions or bring attention to it, seeming to understand her need to vent and soothing her as he rubbed the side of her waist. Finally, she fell into an exhausted sleep before being woken up by someone shaking her shoulders.
“It’s time,” Edmund said.
She shot up and got dressed. In no time, she was making her way towards the meetup spot, where nerves assaulted her the closer she got. Behind her, a small argument started between Edmund and Charlie in hushed tones, distracting her enough to slow down and eavesdrop.
“Are you sure she is coming?”
“If she says she is coming, then she is,” Charlie said firmly.
“I see.” There was a meaningful pause. “Is this the woman that perhaps you were having study sessions with?”
“That’s not—” Charlie sputtered, caught off guard and turning a beet red. “It’s not—she doesn’t go to school.”
“Ah. So, it’s a different woman that you are trying to court.”
“I’m not courting anyone,” Charlie protested.
“I see. You are already dating someone, then…the study session partner, not the one we are meeting today.”
“We arenotdating.”
The way the red spread over Charlie’s body clued Alexa in that while it wasn’t an official type of dating, something was going on between the two. She sheepishly turned away when her brother gave her an accusing look, then smiled at the knowledge that he was growing up. Then sadness hit her hard and made her steps waver, one Edmund caught on to as he took her hand immediately.
“Okay?” he asked.
“I will be,” she said, desperate to believe that things would work out.
They paused when a figure blinked into view before them, running as fast as she could. The young woman was frail and ethereal, cluing them in to her nature, but Charlie stepped forward with a sigh of relief and tugged her closer.
“Daria, finally,” he greeted. “Why did you take ages?”
