Page 43 of Endless Terrors
Thank you, Laurie, I thought.
While the two of them spoke, Gil approached me, his hands shoved in his coat pockets. “You free for a chat?” he asked.
I nodded and reached for my own coat. “Sure. I’ll walk you down.”
Feeling Laurie’s eyes on me, I turned and followed Gil out.
When we stepped into the cold, the vampire didn’t speak right away. The clouds had thickened since I’d seen them through the window, and there were faint flurries now, too. I stopped beneath the lip of the barn, seeking protection from the wind. Gil was still silent as he faced me. He rubbed his jaw, and the ends of a tattoo peeked out from beneath his sleeve. Then he raised his gaze to mine, and the joke I’d been about to make vanished from my head.
“I’ve never had a normal family,” he said abruptly. “To be honest, I never had much interest in it. Nicky was the closest I ever came. But then I ended up in that small, white room with you, and I finally got it. The point of all this. Meeting you has made it easier, losing Nicky. Going through all this newborn shit. You’re like the kid sister I never had, Sworn.”
“Meeting you made all of this easier for me, too,” I said, disarmed by his sincerity. But I couldn’t bring myself to smile. There was something in Gil’s voice that made my heart fill with pain. I searched his expression and fought the urge to look away. “Why are you telling me this?”
Gil shrugged. “I just thought you should know.”
With that, the vampire turned and walked into the gathering storm. I’d expected more, and I half-expected Gil to stop. But he was gone. Safe. I let out a breath and felt my shoulders sink.
I turned to go back inside, and I halted at the sight of Laurie. It felt like there was a hummingbird loose in my chest. “I’m surprised you’re still here,” I said, recovering.
My voice sounded normal enough. But Laurie didn’t pick up on my cue, or respond the way he should’ve. The way I’d hoped he would.
“I’m always here, Fortuna. Even when I shouldn’t be,” he murmured.
He drew closer, and I stood utterly still, my eyes rapt on his face. Laurie studied me back. A look flitted across his expression that I’d never seen before, and for a moment, my friend seemed like a stranger. Before I could ask him about it, Laurie raised his hands and took hold of me. I felt his fingers on the sides of my neck, his thumbs resting lightly against the line of my jaw. When I didn’t protest, Laurie began to lower his head.
Adam’s training kicked in effortlessly, and I moved in a blur. I twisted Laurie’s arm and wrenched it back, flattening him against the side of the barn. He made an amused sound and turned his head. His austere features started to bubble and shift.
Within seconds, I was holding Sorcha Cralynn.
“What gave me away?” she crooned.
“Besides the change of clothes?” I said icily. “There were a few things. Your smell. Your expressions. And then you touched me. That was your big mistake, really. Ever since he became king again, Laurie has been very, very careful to keep his distance. He hugged me once, I think.”
I held her there for another second to make my point, then I let go. Sorcha stepped away and straightened her coat. My nostrils flared with resentment as I watched. Her composure hadn’t slipped, not once, and I hated that I had such a small effect on her.
“Good. He’s being smart,” Sorcha said.
“What is that supposed to mean?” My voice was practically a growl. I knew I was falling right into her trap, but I couldn’t help it. I never could when it came to Sorcha.
Her lip curled. “It means you’re dangerous. To anyone who loves you or wants you.”
“Oh, is that why you broke my heart? To protect yourself?” I demanded, and Sorcha rolled her eyes.
“Your delusions got tiresome a long time ago, but now they’re bordering on tragic. You didn’t love me, you stupid creature. I just bruised your ego. There’s a difference, although I doubt you’ll ever experience rejection again, so no point in learning, right? Everyone falls in love with the great Fortuna Sworn,” she mocked. Voices sounded through the wall behind us, and we both went quiet, listening. After a moment, Sorcha stepped close again, and her tone became harder than I’d ever heard it. “Remember this, Nightmare. Even if he gives in and goes back to you, he will never completely belong to you. There are some things too wild for cages, and Laurelis Dondarte is one of them.”
“You care about him,” I observed, looking at her with raised brows. “Wow, Sorcha Cralynn is actually capable of loyalty. Who knew?”
Sorcha’s haughty expression changed for just an instant, revealing something akin to guilt—or regret—before she tossed her hair and turned her back on me. I followed her gaze and realized Laurie stood in the doorway of the barn. Sorcha had obviously sensed him before I did. How much had he heard?
The Seelie King gazed at the two of us with a remote expression. “Time to go, Sorcha,” he said.
She didn’t argue. Without another word, Sorcha sashayed over to Laurie, then slowed. As she passed him, she skimmed her finger down his arm. There was something sensual about it, and there was familiarity in the touch, too. Like she’d done it countless times. Just before Sorcha pulled away, she glanced over her shoulder. Her gaze met mine.
Then she said, “Ta-ta.”
She waggled her fingers and slipped away, moving soundlessly over the snow. Her hips swayed back and forth. Laurie and I stayed where we were, watching Sorcha head for the trees.
“Wicked little thing,” Laurie said, his face still impossible to read.
