Page 95 of A Touch of Poison
“No, you didn’t say it out loud.” His mouth twisted in the ghost of a sardonic smirk. “But you’re right, sharing your thoughts with the wrong person could get you killed.”
If I didn’t say it, that meant… Heart leaping, I scrambled away, banging into the countertop. No. No. Not in my head. That wasmyspace. “Get out. Out!”
He flinched like I’d struck him, but raised his palms. “Ouch. Shit. Message received.” He pinched the bridge of his nose. “In my defence, you were thinking very loudly.”
But he still stood between me and the door.
And he could read my fucking mind.
Despite my shaking, I managed to draw the miniature pistol from my thigh holster. I would shoot him if he tried to stop me. I thought it hard—let him understand I meant it.
“I’m not even reaching for you right now, but I could still hear that.”
“Good. Then you know I want you to get the hells out of my way. I don’t know why you lured me—”
“Lured?” He laughed. “You stopped and helped me when I was…” A muscle in his jaw rippled. “I wasn’tluringanybody—I was too busy trying not to lose my mind. There are too many thoughts out there. I’m not what I once was. They break through too easily.”
I glanced past him to the door. “So you can hear everyone?”
He scowled. “Unfortunately. Wards make this place my sanctuary… until human women come along with suchloudthoughts, that is.”
Being able to read minds sounded like a great gift, but seeing the shadows under this fae’s eyes, I understood.
It was as much of a curse as my poison.
And it made sense. I struggled enough with my own thoughts—I didn’t want anyone else’s, thanks.
“Fine. Sorry for thinking so loudly.” I lowered my pistol, ready to raise it again if necessary. “That means I can go, then?”
He stepped to one side, arms spread. “You always could.”
“Perfect.” I strode for the door, only looking away from him when I reached it.
“You know, I can help you.”
I paused, gripping the handle. “What do you mean?”
“With forgetting.”
I whipped around. “What makes you think—?”
“I heard you.” He shrugged, looking a little younger now his face had relaxed. “I don’t know everything. I only see what someone’s thinking at that exact moment. But I know enough. That woman did…” His gaze flicked to my fingers, and I tucked them under my armpits, not wanting to see them even in the periphery of my vision. “Well, I saw it. And I know you can’t escape it. But what if you could?”
My pulse quickened. “Are you saying, you can take away a memory?”
“If you want me to.”
I narrowed my eyes at him. “And why would you do that? The kindness of your heart?”
Fae were not kind.
He snorted like he found the idea as ridiculous as I did. It was oddly comforting that he didn’t try to persuade me. “No. But I owe you for helping me. You’re here in Elfhame, so you must know welovemaking bargains.”
I eyed my fingers. Jaw clenched, I managed to focus and not see what Elthea had done. Still, my skin crawled, because Iknew. And there would be more. “I helped you. You help me.”
“That’s how it works.”
“Say it. Say exactly what you’re going to do, so I know you’re not twisting around some deception.”
