Chapter 1 #3
I leaned down, one hand on the car door. "I'll be right behind you," I said, making sure he could read my lips through the glass. "Don't say a word to anyone until I get there. Not one word."
He nodded, and I stepped back, letting them close the door between us.
The cruiser's engine rumbled to life, and I stood there in my fancy bridesmaid's dress, watching the taillights disappear down the long driveway, already mentally preparing for the battle ahead.
The moment the cruiser headed down the dirt road, I spun back toward the reception. The candlelight glowed like a beacon against the darkening sky, the music had started up again, light and happy. As if an Orc hadn't just been arrested at his brother's wedding for a murder he didn't commit.
I found them clustered near the edge of the dance floor—Argon, Tori, and Ruka.
Argon's massive frame was hunched, his green skin ashen in a way I'd never seen before.
Tori had both hands pressed to his chest, speaking in low, urgent tones.
Ruka stood beside them, his usually calm expression tight with worry.
"Sarah." Argon's voice cracked when he saw me. "This is my fault. I should—"
"Stop." I caught his arm, my fingers barely spanning half his bicep. "Don't say another word. Not here, not now, not to anyone."
His amber eyes—so like Kael's, yet somehow completely different—were wild with guilt and panic. "But he didn't—"
"I know." I squeezed harder, making sure he felt it. "I know exactly what happened, remember? Right now, Kael hasn't dug himself so deep a hole that I can't get him out of it."
The lie tasted bitter on my tongue. Kael had nearly confessed in front of Dawson. Nearly handed them everything on a silver platter. But Argon didn't need to know how close his brother had come to destroying everything.
Tori's hand found mine, her grip desperate. "Sarah, please—"
"I've got this." I met her eyes, willing her to believe me. "Kael kept his mouth shut when it mattered. That's what counts. Now I need you all to hold tight and enjoy what's left of your beautiful wedding day."
"Enjoy?" Argon's laugh was hollow. "My brother just got arrested for—"
"For something I'm going to fix." My voice came out sharper than I intended, but it had the desired effect.
They all stopped, focused on me. "You two just got married.
You have a hundred guests wanting to celebrate with you.
So go back in there, cut your cake, dance with your wife, and let me do my job. "
Ruka's hand settled on my shoulder, warm and steady. "You're sure?"
"I'm sure." I wasn't, but they needed to hear it.
Jordan appeared at Ruka's elbow, swaying slightly, a champagne flute dangling from her fingers. "What'd I miss? Where's Kael?"
"Arrested," Ruka said quietly.
"Shit." Jordan blinked, processing. "Well, that's not good. Hey, has anyone seen Kelsey? I've been looking everywhere—"
"She's probably passed out somewhere," Tori said, a hint of exasperation breaking through her worry. "She was hitting the Orc ale pretty hard."
Despite everything, I felt my mouth twitch. Kelsey had never met an open bar she couldn't conquer, and Orc ale was roughly five times the potency of human beer. She was probably curled up in a closet somewhere, blissfully unaware that the evening had gone to hell.
"I'll check on her later," I said. "Right now, I need to go."
I gave Argon's arm one final squeeze, pressed a kiss to Tori's cheek, and headed for the parking area, my heels sinking into the grass with each step. I felt eyes following me—those who'd witnessed the arrest, who were probably already wagering if I would be able to save Kael.
Let them talk. I had bigger problems.
My car was parked at the far end of the lot, and the walk gave me time to shift gears. Crisis manager to defense attorney. Friend to professional. The moment I slid behind the wheel and closed the door, the silence hit me like a wall.
I sat there for a moment, hands gripping the steering wheel, and let myself feel the full weight of what had just happened.
Kael was in custody. Dawson had him. And I was about to walk into that sheriff's station and pray to God that Kael had actually listened to me for once in his infuriating life.
I started the engine and pulled onto the dark mountain road toward Franklin, my headlights cutting through the night.
Forty minutes. That's how long it would take to get to the station.
Add another twenty for me to swing by my condo and change into something more professional.
An hour. An hour to hope that Kael had kept his mouth shut.
An hour to dread the inevitable moment when I'd walk in and find him flirting with whatever female deputy was on duty, because that's what Kael did. He flirted with every human woman he met.
Everyone except me.
Which was fine. Perfectly fine. I was his lawyer, not his—
Not his anything.
My hands tightened on the wheel as I took the curve too fast, the tires squealing slightly. I eased off the gas, forced myself to breathe.
This was going to be a very long night.