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“Maybe. Or maybe it was just to get to me. Maybe they knew I’d come after you.” I reached out and wrapped my arm around her to pull her close. She leaned her head against my chest, and I buried my face in her hair.
“Hate to break up the reunion,” said a voice at the cell door. I looked up and locked eyes with Nigel.
“You,” I said, tensing.
“Nigel!” Evelyn said, stepping away from me. “Wait. What are you doing here? Can you get them to let us out?” I hated the sound of relief in her voice, but there was no time to warn her now.
“I’m here to escort Evelyn to the party,” he said.
“No,” I said. I reached for Evelyn’s hand.
“What are you doing here with these people?” She squeezed my hand and didn’t let go.
“She’s not going anywhere without me,” I said.
“Oh, don’t worry. You’re coming, too. Your escort will be along to retrieve you shortly. She’s a bit delayed. She just found out that she lost a few of her favorite pets today,” he said, looking at me.
Great. The demon woman was coming for me. I didn’t know who she was, but from the talk in the arena, I anticipated the worst. I turned toward Evelyn.
“Eve.” I tilted her chin up so I could meet her eyes. I didn’t like the idea of sending her with Nigel, but she’d likely be better off with him than with me right now. “Be careful.” I kissed her once and let her go. I had a sinking feeling that we were about to be the honored guests in a very dangerous game.
13
Nigel openedthe cell door and offered me his arm. He led me down the corridor, away from the cell, away from Liam. I’d almost been convinced that Liam was telling me the truth about the spirits until Nigel showed up, looking sharp in his dark jeans, button-down shirt, and sweater. But now I only had more questions.
“You didn’t answer me. What are you doing here?” I asked him.
“Maybe I came to rescue you,” he said. His short dark hair was swept back off his forehead in a perfect wave, and his imperfect nose and sharp cheekbones created odd shadows on his thin face as we moved through the torch-lit corridor.
“I’d like to believe that, but how did you even know I was here?” The last time I’d seen him he’d been backing away from me. Come to think of it, he’d been backing away right after he’d seen my bracelet. Liam had warned me about Nigel. If Nigel was associated with this place, perhaps Liam had been right. I tried to pull away from him, but he held my hand in place.
“Ah, ah. Better not run. You’re new around here, and it looks like no one warned you. It’s best to stay home on the nights around the solstice. You never know what or who you might run into out there.”
“Who, or what, are you?” I asked. “And are you really here to help? Can you get us out of here?”
“What? And miss the festivities?” He let go of my hand to adjust his tie.
“I’ll take that as a no, then.” I twisted away from him. “If you won’t help, then take me back to Liam.”
He reached out to grip my forearm, tugging me back to his side. “Liam can’t help you, either. Even he knows that you’re safer with me than with him. Why else do you think he let you leave with me?”
“Then tell me what’s going on.” This was insane. “Are those really spirits of dead people? Are you one of them?”
He laughed. “There is more to the world than you ever imagined, Evelyn. Yes, spirits are real, so are faeries and demons. You’ve met some already, and you’ll meet more tonight.”
“But you’re not, right? Are we the only humans here?” I asked.
“Who? You and me?” He seemed surprised at my question.
I nodded. “And Liam.” Liam had to be human. I’d seen him naked. There’s no way he was a ghost, and I think I would have noticed horns or wings or whatever.
Nigel laughed. “Evelyn, my girl, I do believe that you’ll be the only human guest at the party this evening.”
I blinked as my brain tried to process what he was telling me. “So, you’re…you’re one of them?”
He waved his hand in the air above his head, and two tiny black horns materialized. “No. I’m something else. Technically, I am half human. But the other half—the better half, I’d say—is demon. They call my lot cambions.”
I took a step backward and gaped at him. He had horns. And he was half demon. And spirits were real. This was too much to process. I was about to turn and bolt away from him and back to Liam when he grabbed my arm.
