Page 2 of The Never List
“I suppose I can let you off this one time,” he says finally, stepping to the side.
A fraction of breath works its way into my lungs, and I take a step away—
He grips my wrist so hard it stings as he jerks me back. His sword clangs against the stone wall right in front of my face, stopping me dead.
It takes every ounce of willpower I possess to bury the power rising in my veins. It would be so easy to release a sharp blast of wind and toss him into the wall opposite us. I could knock him out and make a break for it.
But then he’d know my secret.
“On one condition,” he says.
I reaffix my smile. It’s my only armor against him right now, the only thing keeping him from looking deeper at my lies.
“As long as I can see you when you’re done leeching the free drinks,” Turner says. “I’ve never been with you when you’ve been drinking,” he continues. “I bet that’s all kinds of fun.”
Acid claws up my throat, and my cheeks hurt from the effort it takes to keep grinning.
“Midnight,” I say, even though I want to tell himnofor the hundredth time. Tell him to go fuck himself. Tell him he can’t keep doing this to me. Can’t keep threatening to arrest me if I say no—but he’d just use it as an excuse to take me in right here and now, haul me down to the prison and lock usbothin a cell.
I can’t risk that. I have one shot—
“Midnight,” he says, sheathing his sword and releasing my wrist. The blood flows back so quickly it burns. “Right here.” He indicates the alley as he takes a step away from me.
I walk as briskly as I dare to the edge of the alleyway.
“Don’t be late,” he calls from behind me. “You know what happens if you are.”
My hands tremble as I glance over my shoulder, nodding at him. I won’t be late; I won’t be here.
If I’m lucky, I’ll find out what happened to my sister. If I’m not lucky?
Then Turner will be the least of my problems.
2
Rylee
Ibarrel through Ivy’s door and slam it closed behind me as if Turner had chased me the entire way here. He hadn’t, butdamnhim for rattling me so deeply. I rub at my now sore wrist, sucking in deep breaths to calm my nerves.
“What happened?” Ivy asks, eyes wide as she rushes across the room toward me.
“Turner,” I say, and it’s answer enough. My friends know my history with him.
“Asshole,” she says, glancing at the fresh dusting of purple on my wrist in the shape of his fingerprints.
“I’m fine,” I assure her. “I just need a moment.”
Ivy nods, gaze on mine as she inhales, breathing with me until I’ve found a way to shake off the anxiety.
“Better?” she asks.
“Better,” I say on a sigh. “It’s a blessing Turner didn’t arrest me when he caught me crossing the border.”
“Hopefully that’s a sign the goddesses are on your side tonight.” Ivy grins at me. “Want to see it?”
“Yes, please,” I say, relief uncoiling the tension in my body. Distraction is exactly what I need right now.
And then focus. Because Ivy’s right: I really do need the goddesses on my side tonight.
