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I staggered, trying to get my balance, and my ears rang with a strange rushing sound. A cool breeze whipped over me.
Disoriented, I blinked, looking around.
I stood in the center of town by the bus station. Dawn was breaking over my city. A bus rolled out of the terminal, starting and stopping, releasing little black clouds of exhaust.
Newspapers tumbled across the street, buffeted by the wind. How did the magical Unseelie mirror choose this bus station? I suppose it was the center of town, and it was our main public transportation.
My thoughts trailed off.
An elderly woman with plastic bags on her feet was pushing a shopping cart full of cabbages in my direction. She scowled at me, then muttered, “We don’t need your kind around here.”
I reached up to touch my horns and found they still jutted from my head. At least I didn’t have the wings out.
When I looked down at myself, I was wearing a white dress soaked in river water and other people’s blood, and it was pretty much transparent on me. Dirtcaked my bare feet, and I held a sharp shard of mirror that could probably be considered a weapon. In short, I looked like a living nightmare.
My stomach rumbled, and I glanced at the McDonald’s across the street. Holy shit, that would taste amazing right now, but I didn’t have money, and they’d probably call the police.
I started walking. From here, it was about a mile to my old apartment, but that was where Andrew lived. There was no way I would show up looking like I’d had a nervous breakdown. Like I’d fallen apart, unable to handle the shame of the nude photos he’d shared.
It was only another mile more to Shalini’s place. I broke into a run, hoping to get back there before any police officers stopped me with awkward questions. The sidewalk felt cold and grimy beneath my bare feet, and I tried not to think about what I was stepping on.
Gods, I missed Torin already. My mind kept flicking back to the feel of my fingertips on his chest, the glorious smell of him.
As I reached the emptier streets closer to her apartment, I slowed a little to catch my breath. The only people out this early in the morning were a few joggers who studiously avoided my gaze.
Don’t look at the half-naked lady.
Once, I’d enjoyed running through the streets for fun. Now? I don’t think I’d go back to it. What was the point of jogging when you could actually fly?
At last, I turned onto Shalini’s street, and my stomach clenched.
Great ash goddess…
There they were, dressed in tidy gray Lululemon outfits, practically matching: Andrew and Ashley. Out for a morning jog.
I stopped walking, practically freezing in place. Ashely grabbed Andrew’s arm, and her face went pale.
I knew I looked like an absolute monster right now.
Why did this encounter feel more horrifying than a month in the Unseelie dungeon?
I winced and gave a slight wave to Andrew. Unfortunately, the happy couple now stood between me and the entrance to Shalini’s apartment.
I cleared my throat and pointed at the gate behind them. “Just going to Shalini’s.” I really didn’t want to get closer, to have them inspect the absolute state of me and ask why I was covered in blood.
Andrew’s nose was wrinkled, his eyes narrowing like he couldn’t quite believe what he was seeing. “Ava, what happened to you? The gossip columns said you had a nervous breakdown after you were dumped. Is that, like, a psychotic break?”
My jaw clenched. “Is that what they said?”
His gaze darted to the top of my head. “Was it the horns? I didn’t know fae had horns.” His lip curled with obvious revulsion. “Did they cause the breakdown?”
Ashley’s blonde hair was pulled into a ponytail so tight it tugged at her features. Still gripping Andrew’s arm, she cocked her head, her forehead wrinkled. “Are you…okay?”Her voice sounded unnaturally high-pitched, and her words were slowly enunciated, like she was speaking to a confused child.“Should we call someone to come get you?”
“I’m fine. I can’t really divulge what I was doing,” I ventured. “It’s fae stuff. Magic. Top secret. You wouldn’t understand.” I didn’t realize how insane that explanation would sound until the words were already out of my mouth. “Never mind,” I said sharply.
“What are you holding?” asked Andrew. “Why are you…where are your clothes? Where are your shoes?”
“It’s not really your business, though, is it?” I snapped.
