She doesn’t stop me as I pull away, and I skip down the stairs quietly. I almost make it to the front door without incident when someone grabs my wrist just inches shy of the door knob clenching tightly.
“Where do you think you’re going?” Mrs. Collins, our foster mom stares at me with sharp angry eyes.
I swallow and take in a long calming breath, summoning my magic. It’s annoying, but glamouring her won’t be overly difficult. The darkness outside is closing in, and I only have moments before it could blow this place to bits, with me inside it.
“Oh!” I tilt my head innocently and breathe out long and slow, magic shimmering through the air. She sucks it in, chest heaving and then blinks rapidly. “You told me I could go out for a breath of fresh air—don’t you remember?”
She blinks, eyes glossy. “No.” Her voice is sharp. Firm.
I narrow my eyes and then swallow.That can’t be good. “What?” I can see the magic at work in her so why didn’t she—
“You have somewhere to be, Caelynn.” I recognize the strange echo layered behind each word, and I suck in a breath.
I rip my arm from her grasp and leap for the door, realizing a beat too late why my magic didn’t take effect.
Because Mrs. Collins has already been glamoured.
***
IRUN OUT INTO THEnight. Dark tentacles wrap around my soul like an old friend. It feels so good it sends a shiver down my spine, overcoming the panic.Dammit do I miss the night. I miss the magic.
I don’t have time to appreciate the welcoming because I am not alone in the darkness.
Caelynn, a hissing voice wisps through the wind, but it’s not the inhuman sound that scares me the most. It’s the soft—human—footsteps following behind me.
I whip around and grab Raven by the upper arms and drag her into the brush beside the road. “Ow!” she squeals.
My heart clenches. “God dammit, I don’t care if I die,” I say aloud in my anger. It would be an escape, in a way. “But I won’t allow you to die because of me.”
“If you’re running away, I want to come.” Her voice quivers.
“If I die, do you want to die too?”
“You promised you wouldn’t leave me!” she says desperately, tears welling in her eyes. “Don’t leave me,please.”
I suck in a breath, ignoring the pit in my stomach. That was another stupid promise. I don’t want to leave her, but I’ll break any promise to save her life.
“We have business to attend to, Caelynn,”the voice slithers from the inky blackness on the open street. The dark spirit is waiting for me. It wants me out in the open.
I press my forehead to Raven’s, my eyes closed, trying desperately to remain calm. “Stay here,” I hiss. “No matter what you hear. No matter what happens to me. Don’t move until the sun rises—then go back into the house.”
“What?” Her voice trembles.
“Trust me, okay?”
My heart slams into my chest, and I leave the coverage of the trees.
I could run. The creature even knows I could. He can track me when I’m sleeping and my guard is down. But if I veil myself, I can hide from anyone and anything.
Only problem is—I can’t hide Raven. Not now.
I step out into the streetlight and take in long breaths, my head held high.
“Ahh, you are ready to face me, are you? Because of the human. Interesting.”
My stomach clenches, and I summon every ounce of energy I have into my act. “You said you had business. I’m intrigued.” I place my hand on my hip. I don’t want his thoughts anywhere close to that girl.
Black smoke swirls in front of me, forming the silhouette of a man. I know better. This is not a man. This is the spirit of an evil fae. It’s the form I’ll take one day, when my time comes. Which very well may be today.
