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Alina.
That was what that creep had called me.
“I’m Ivy. You guys are fucking with the wrong person.” I tried to breathe steadily, needing to retain logic. Stan had taught me that fear and panic were my worst enemies, especially if I was restrained. I had to be able to think outside the box, which wasn’t possible when emotions were guiding me.
“She doesn’t remember.” Lilidh took a step back and placed a hand on her chest, scrunching the fabric of her flowy pink dress.
“Oh, I remember perfectly.” My breathing remained rapid. “Some tall, handsome, creepy man drugged me and brought me here so you three could make me feel like I’ve lost my mind. Just let me go home to Nashville and the gym.”
Cara leaned over me, and I tensed, waiting for a poke or a smack. “She doesn’t remember Dallas. Interesting.”
“Forget that.” Lilidh waved a hand. “What is this Nashville and gym?”
I wanted to scream, but that wouldn’t accomplish anything. They’d likely make the vine cover my mouth and then drug me all over again. If I wanted to have a chance of getting free, I would have to play along.
“That’s your question?” Enid shook her head. “I’m more curious about why she’s wearing that”—she gestured at me—“and why she smells like decay.”
At least Enid’s questions were legitimate. I’d roll with that. “The costume’s for Halloween, and Isa said that if Ember and I didn’t dress up, she’d disown us. I opted for a comfortable look that could hide—” I cut myself off. The last thing I wanted to share was that I had a knife strapped to my thigh. “That I could move in more freely, so I opted for this pig onesie. On my way to the party, some drunk stumbled into me and spilled her cheap-ass beer on me. It doesn’t smell like decay. It’s just yeast.”
“Pig?” Cara sat on the edge of the bed.
They were really playing up the fae angle. “A pig is a delicious animal us ‘humans’ eat. Or keep as pets.”
Heels clacked somewhere outside the room, and all three women tensed. Enid flicked her wrist, and the vines receded.
They seemed nervous, and I dreaded whoever was coming. “What’s going on?”
“Your sister is here. She’s back from the meeting she was called to before Dallas brought you here.” Lilidh hurried past the door closest to the bed and opened the second one, then disappeared inside.
Enid tossed the covers off me, and Cara moved quickly past the column on the left. She held out a hand, and I wanted to smack it away. But if they were acting this way about my “sister’s” arrival, I had to act the part. Taking her hand, I let her help me to my feet.
The door closest to us opened.
If I’d thought these women were gorgeous, they had nothing on the woman who entered. Long red hair wove down her back, and a crown of golden vines adorned her head. Her dress was dark red, its neckline embroidered with gold and cut in a low V, revealing her ample cleavage, with a golden frayed belt that emphasized her tiny waist.
“Queen Orla.” Enid curtsied. “I hope all is well.”
“It will be.” Orla nodded, her hazel eyes focused steadily on me. The corners of her lips tipped upward. “Alina.” She moved toward me, holding out her arms. “It’s been too long. How I’ve missed you.”
I stepped backward, and the back of my thighs hit the mattress. “My name is Ivy, not Alina.” Hopefully, she’d listen.
Her smile fell, and her arms dropped. “Are you trying to be funny? Fifty complete cycles, and you’re being icy?”
Based on what chilly meant, I had an idea of what she was getting at. If Winter fae had a dry sense of humor, I imagined they weren’t very warm either. “I don’t like touching people I don’t know.” I’d never had to explain this before. Everyone at the gym was the same as me. We touched during classes only because we were learning to defend ourselves. Outside of that, we respected each other’s personal space.
“I’m your sister.” She crossed her arms, pouting. “We know each other better than anyone.”
I wasn’t sure what to say, so for once, my mouth remained shut. I suspected anything I said would make this situation worse.
Her fair skin blanched at my nonanswer, disapproval evident in the rigid set of her jaw.
I’d opened my mouth, unsure what would come out, just as Lilidh sashayed back into the room, carrying a green and slightly orange off-the-shoulder dress.
“I was thinking this would be a strong look for Alina when she presents herself back to the High Court.” Lilidh beamed.
Orla clasped her hands in front of her. “That’s perfect. It’s something she’d pick out for herself.”
I never experienced fear like this before. Wearing that thing would be my worst nightmare. I stiffened and laughed, sounding like a hyena. “Okay, joke time is over. There’s no way I’m wearing that.”
