CHAPTER THREE
Three days later, I stood outside the Seaside Motel.
We arrived in Maine near sunset, just as Dracula had directed when he’d called to say Collith and I had been summoned.
As I stared at the quaint, slightly deteriorating building, knots of apprehension tightened in my stomach.
I wondered what we were getting ourselves into, and if this would be a repeat of my other experiences when I’d met a Fallen monarch.
It hadn’t exactly gone well with Astrid, or Belanor, or Luther.
And now I was about to stand before an entire group of them.
Collith opened the door of the motel room for me, and I wasn’t startled by the sight of a figure already standing inside.
When Collith had come to the loft so we could walk to the Door together, he’d mentioned that we were meeting Laurie near the Order’s headquarters.
The Seelie King was a member, of course, so he was expected to be in attendance.
I’d hidden my reaction from Collith, but it would be the first time Laurie and I had lain eyes on each other all summer.
My heart had reacted at the thought of being in the same room as Laurie again, just as it did now.
He turned at the sound of our arrival, and the first thing I noticed was that he was wearing black.
I’d seen Laurie in black before, but never quite like this.
His muscled legs were displayed in tight leather, and his dark shirt looked like it was from another time with its billowy sleeves and neckline ties.
His piercing eyes were enhanced by the thick lines he’d drawn across his skin like war paint.
They were striking, and jarring, and maybe a little frightening.
Which was exactly what Laurie had intended, no doubt.
“You have something on your face.” Laurie leaned close, his brows drawn together as he examined me.
His fingertips skimmed my cheekbone in the barest of touches, and a whisper of heat drifted through my stomach.
A heat which promptly vanished when Laurie said, “Ah, I see now. It’s admiration.
Here, darling, let me get that drool at the corner of your mouth. ”
“We should get your head checked. You’re seeing things.” As I pushed his fingers away, trying to act normal so neither of them would notice my uneven pulse, I spotted a paper cup in Laurie’s other hand. “Oh, thank God. Is there coffee?”
He took a sip and grimaced. “There’s something. I’d say it tastes like dirt, but at least dirt has some flavor. Remind me why we couldn’t meet at the Hilton? There’s one down the street.”
“Because we’re only going to be here for an hour,” Collith said, giving Laurie a hard look. “An hour, Laurelis. We can’t be late for this.”
Laurie rolled his eyes and flicked his wrist in a dismissive gesture, as if Collith were being totally unreasonable.
“What are we doing here for an hour?” I asked, my eyes darting between them.
Laurie looked at me as if the answer were obvious. “I brought what you’re going to wear tonight. Get your head out of the gutter, Fortuna. Are we just pieces of meat to you?”
I didn’t grace this with a response. “Bathroom?” I said, pointing.
Laurie nodded, his eyes gleaming. I walked past him and slipped into a dark room on the right.
I flipped the light switch and turned. As promised, a black garment cover hung on a mounted hook.
Just as I was about to close the door, Collith said something that made Laurie laugh.
It rang out through the stillness, and I found myself smiling at the sound.
I left the door open a crack and hurried to get undressed.
Once I’d returned to the main area, I faced the dingy mirror on the wall.
The dress was blue and silver. It looked like it was made of metal, with intricate designs carved onto every inch.
When I’d put it on, I’d been surprised to find the material was soft.
The sleeves were long and nearly transparent, clinging like a second skin.
The design was cut in such a way that my entire back was exposed, but the train covered most of it.
It dragged behind me, not like a wedding gown, but like a cape. A ridiculously long, heavy cape.
“This is a different look,” I remarked, still studying myself.
Laurie shifted, and his face appeared next to mine.
His rings flashed as he tucked a wayward strand of my hair back into place.
“This is a different audience,” he informed me.
“We aren’t just trying to intimidate some old faeries tonight.
We want you to appear powerful but pure.
Untouchable but righteous. It’s not an easy thing to achieve. Luckily, you have me.”
“Do I?” I murmured, looking at his reflection.
The words just slipped out. In an instant, I wished I could take them back, yet …
I wanted to know the answer, too. Laurie went still, and our gazes met in the glass again.
The room became so silent that I could hear sounds from outside—a seagull’s call, and the rumble of an engine.
My wild heartbeat, which had begun to quicken at what I saw in Laurie’s eyes.
Before he could answer, the door behind us opened.
Collith’s familiar scent greeted me, instantly comforting.
He moved into my line of sight a moment later, his pale face filling the space on my other side.
His hazel eyes seemed darker than they’d been an hour ago.
He was on edge, and the fact that I could see it meant my own apprehension wasn’t exactly unwarranted.
“The envoy should be here any minute. Are you ready?” Collith asked.
I fought an urge to swallow, knowing the faeries would hear it. I bent and picked up my train, then straightened and squared my shoulders. Resolve hardened in my stomach. “Ready as I’ll ever be, I guess. Let’s go.”
“Fortuna.” The seriousness in Collith’s voice—more than usual, that is—made me turn. His jaw moved, the muscles flexing with tension. “If these creatures find out you’re not only the creator of this beast, but that you’re capable of making more things like him, they’ll see you as a threat.”
“Would they kill me on the spot or at least make it a nice, civil execution?” I asked lightly.
“That’s not going to happen,” Laurie interjected.
His voice was cool, but something in it reminded me just how deadly the Seelie King was beneath that pretty, smirking facade.
I smiled at him faintly and put my hand on his arm in silent gratitude.
It was the briefest of touches, just a slight press of my fingers, but Laurie’s eyes burned as if I’d done so much more.
My own eyes darted away, and I was careful not to look at Collith as I walked toward the door.
We left the motel in a tense silence. Collith and Laurie seemed to know exactly where we were going.
They led me past the docks and down to the beach.
Once we reached the sand, I paused to adjust my hold on the dress, making sure none of the ends would drag over the dirt.
We began to walk alongside the shore. Despite the reason we were here, I couldn’t help noticing the beauty of this place.
The dying light cast shadows and color over the water, drawing my eyes to it.
Farther out, I saw something that didn’t belong.
I nudged Laurie, keeping my eyes on the lines of red amongst the calm waves. “What does that circle mean?”
His head turned, following the direction of my gaze. “A cruise ship supposedly went down there. It was blocked off for safety reasons,” he said.
“Supposedly?” I repeated.
But this time, Laurie didn’t answer.
We walked the rest of the way in silence. Laurie was texting, and Collith’s eyes roamed constantly, following every movement, every sound. Eventually the sand ended in a dark outcropping, and I realized that a figure stood near it. The envoy Collith had mentioned, no doubt.
“What are the odds that you two will let me do most of the talking?” Collith asked us under his breath. Laurie snorted and I just gave him a sweet smile. He sighed and said, “Right.”
As we approached the still figure, Laurie put his phone away.
At first glance, the envoy seemed human.
The fading sunlight touched her features and I noticed the crow’s feet extending from the corners of her eyes.
If I’d had to guess her age, I’d have put the stranger in her late forties or early fifties.
She had shoulder-length blond hair and an hourglass figure, and she wore a brown pantsuit. I couldn’t sense any power around her.
Honestly, if it hadn’t been for where we were, I would’ve assumed she was like any other human soccer mom.
“Well met,” the envoy said, giving us a warm smile that made me think of Emma. “Welcome to Raas. My name is Honey. I am the keeper here, and I shall be your host for the evening.”
“So formal,” Laurie murmured.
Honey beamed at him. “Laurie, dear, it’s so good to see you.”
I waited for them to hug, but Laurie just winked at her.
Honey was blushing when she searched us for weapons.
I’d left all mine behind tonight, since I was trying not to seem like a threat.
The others had evidently done the same, since Honey turned away empty-handed.
We all started walking toward the dark outcropping, and I held back all my questions, knowing I’d probably get answers in a minute.
As we drew closer, I realized there was an opening in the rocks similar to the Door back home.
Honey slipped into the darkness, and I did the same, followed closely by Collith and Laurie.