Chapter 13 #3
I left the library, knowing full well I’d speak to no one about my thread—and I hoped Marshall Peabody didn’t either. Hiding in plain sight meant that I had to dull the shine of my fate-thread. If that resulted in a faulty diagnosis of melancholy or anemia, so be it.
I retraced my steps out of the tunnels until I reached the cemetery. There was no sign of the dead fae, Vale, or the earlier struggle. Everything appeared as it was when I first entered.
As I walked toward the river, I unleashed my mind and let it wander.
Why did the Thornborn attack us? Did they have anything to do with Belinda and Judd?
There was no obvious connection. Belinda was a mermaid.
Judd was a werewolf. I couldn’t imagine any circumstances where they’d have a reason to interact.
It was all very strange and the more I tried to brainstorm answers, the more frustrated I became.
I was grateful when I spotted the yacht ahead and was able to give my brain a rest.
A new captain awaited me. She was a petite brunette with a snub nose and flawless skin. From what I could glean, she was some kind of shifter.
“Welcome aboard, Miss August. I’m Nina, your captain for the return journey.”
“Hi Nina.”
“How was your visit to Savannah?” she asked.
“It was a day.”
“Sounds eventful.”
“You have no idea. Would you mind taking me back to Evermore now? ”
“That’s my job. You relax and I’ll get us there in no time.”
No time sounded good to me. I stood at the railing and let the water spray my face as the yacht sailed toward the island.
It had been years since I’d been involved in the death of another.
I didn’t relish the old, familiar feelings that came with the experience.
Technically, it was self-defense, but my feelings were complicated, nonetheless.
When I arrived at Evermore, I vowed to do no harm.
To start fresh. The Thornborn were dredging up emotions I buried long ago.
By the time we docked at Evermore, I was more than ready to shower, curl up under a cozy blanket, and forget the whole day, except for Harriet. She was cool. Vale, on the other hand?—
I didn’t want to give the demigod and his impressive jawline another thought.
I walked home from the dock, trying to avoid conversation with anyone who spotted me. Thanks to the investigation, I was a wanted woman. All the gossipmongers wanted to see if they could wrestle a new nugget from my firm grasp. If only I had nuggets to give.
I found Jinx pacing the front porch when I arrived home.
I smiled at the familiar sight of the bright yellow door amid the Caribbean-blue cottage.
I once told Judd it was like stepping into the sun.
He said I could paint the door, but I’d have to petition the HOA to change the color.
I quickly decided the yellow didn’t burn my retinas as badly as I thought.
“What’s up, Jinxy?” I asked.
The cat rubbed against my leg; I felt the vibrations of her soft purr against my skin.
“Were you worried I was going to end up like Judd?” I unlocked the door and entered the dark cottage. I didn’t bother to flick a switch. I dragged myself to the refrigerator and inspected the paltry shelves for the quickest options. I lacked the energy for meal prep.
I abandoned the fridge and checked the cupboard.
A can of tuna looked back at me. It would have to do.
I pulled the tab, opened the can, and tipped a bit of tuna and the excess juice into the cat’s bowl, where Jinx was stalking the area like a lion at a gazelle watering hole.
The cat practically knocked me over to get to the food. Tuna was her love language.
I didn’t bother to dump my tuna into a bowl. I added a dollop of olive oil, sprinkled salt and pepper on top, and ate it straight out of the can with a spoon. Classy, thy name is Maya.
“I’m sorry I neglected you.”
Jinx purred like a Corvette engine. The pleasant sound quickly morphed into a horrific gag that deposited a hairball at my feet.
“You really know how to choose a gift,” I told her. Like sneezes, the cat’s hairballs often came in sets of three, and I waited to see whether this was a solitary effort.
Thankfully, it was. I ripped a paper towel off the roll and cleaned up the mess.
I rubbed the top of Jinx’s head. “You’re lucky you have pretty privilege. We can’t all the say the same.”
An image of the green Celtic knot flashed in my mind, immediately ruining my appetite.
I fought Thornborn today, a group I thought I’d never encounter again.
What would the survivors tell Vale? Probably nothing.
I was confident I’d left my past behind me, but if I was wrong, everyone on Evermore was in danger and I would be powerless to protect them all .
I tossed my purse on the chair. I missed the mark, and it landed on the floor, spilling the contents in its wake. Jinx meowed.
“No kidding,” I said, and bent down to retrieve the items. I noticed a sparkly object amid the rubble.
The comb I’d taken from Belinda. I had no reason to keep carrying around her personal effects.
There would be no spell that required her DNA.
Belinda was gone and nothing would bring her back. Not even a mender.
Still, it seemed wrong to toss it. Someone might decide later they’d like a memento of her.
Maybe even Buck, once time had passed. I dropped the comb into a clear plastic bag and stuck it in the kitchen drawer for safekeeping.
Laughter died in my throat at my poor choice of words.
The reality was a bitter pill to swallow, but I had to accept that nothing and no one were safe.