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Sai’s lips pinched at a smile. “No.”
“Good.” Neia grabbed Elisa’s hand and dragged her over the hill, their forms turning into shadows that blended in with the edges of the forest.
“Come on,” Sai said. “Let’s do as her highness suggested.”
I tried to form words but couldn’t think of what to say. For song’s sake, who were these people? Sai walked towards the woods. As I followed, my skirt caught on a branch, and I yanked it, tearing the hem and ripping off some lace. I sighed but nothing to do about that. When I had my money back, I could buy a few dresses, though nothing as fine as I preferred. I would purchase something practical. I could live with that. All the benefits Mother used to lure me into her lifestyle—beautiful outfits, the finest foods, the ability to live like queens—wouldn’t tempt me. I relished the luxuries, but those came at the expense of manipulating, stealing from, and abusing humans. I would choose an honest life instead.
“Is Neia your boss?” I asked as we eased into the forest. Things scuttled and screeched as leaves feathered over my arms. I stepped in closer to Sai. I’d never been in a forest at night and the shadows seemed menacing, each swathe of darkness possessing sinister secrets intent on undoing us. Sai leaned in so that our shoulders brushed, as if he could read my unease and wished to soothe it. There seemed to be some connection between us I couldn’t explain, like how the moon compelled the night creatures forth.
“Neia is not my boss.” Sai chuckled, his voice low. “We’re friends.”
“She seemed in charge.”
“Yeah, well…” Sai’s voice still held the warmth of humor in it. “I’ve made quite a few poor decisions tonight. I believe she was correct that I’ve lost my right to decide.”
A slip of guilt rippled through me. “I’m sorry.”
He laughed, the gentleness of it loosening my tensed muscles as an owl screeched in the distance. “Neia’s known me for a long time. She won’t desert me over one evening of off choices… even if they’ve been particularly poor for me.”
He put his hand out to pause my steps and my eyes struggled to adjust as he brushed away leaves that covered several knapsacks. “And now”—he gestured to the ground—“we wait.”
An uneasiness whipped through me, but as I sat, my arm brushing against Sai’s as he lowered as well, the sense of certainty that had drawn me to him in the first place flooded my senses. I didn’t know what stirred between the two of us, but I needed to brush it off. Tomorrow I’d part from him and his friends and start a new life of my volition, free from others deciding for me.
CHAPTERFIVE
NEIA
“I’m going to quit,”I said.
Elisa laughed though her focus remained on the wagon that had parked outside the mud-flecked brick jail. We waited behind a copse of bushes at the top of a hill. The half-moon creeped out above the clouds and washed the sandy yard in front of the building into a dusky blue. The night watchman and jailer had discovered the empty cart, the first ringing his bell. A party of half a dozen men gathered with horses, and they trundled into the darkness, but not before they’d locked Lira’s purse in the building. With a single padlock.
Too easy. It was almost a joke.
“I can’t imagine the day you and Sai aren’t squabbling like siblings and getting each other into trouble.”
“Into trouble? We’re currently getting him out of it… as usual.”
She cocked her head, her copper curls shifting with the motion. We’d wait to see if anyone else stirred near the building before approaching it.
“Normally Sai’s trouble is related to a job.”
“I don’t like this girl,” I said.
“Why? I like her.”
“You like everyone.” Elisa saw the good in every being and situation. It was something I found charming about her but my irritation with Sai overtook any positive feelings about the siren.
“She seems sincere. And scared.”
“She’s a distraction.” I pulled a branch back and rose onto my tiptoes. “And I don’t care for how Sai acts around her. It’s… unusual.”
“Do you think she could be his Attala?”
I clicked my tongue. “A siren? I think not. Anyway, Sai doesn’t think he has an Attala, despite his mother’s wishes.”
“I’m of the belief that all fae have Attalas.” She pressed a kiss to the corner of my jaw, and my body tingled. I’d normally argue. Believing in a magical other half who balanced a being seemed ridiculous. Until I met Elisa, at least. I would believe in fanciful ideas if they included her. She was my fairytale. My life story had two phases. Chapter one was before I’d met Elisa, and chapter two was after. The only thing I cared about was living in the second one for as long as possible.
“You’re only making my point about distractions, Lis.”
