Was it Nettle’s enchantment that had compelled him to kiss her back? Or had he kissed her because he wanted to?
It doesn’t matter. Stop thinking about it.
She’d been under a spell. That was why Hawthorne’s kiss filled up her hollow places. That was why, even now, she wanted to do it again.
A blush bloomed in her cheeks.
You were enchanted. It wouldn’t be the same. You would definitely hate it.
Panicking, she looked to Sable. “Thanks for lending me your horse.” Her voice sounded tinny in her ears.
Sable’s eyebrows lifted, making Emeline remember that Sable didn’t know about their trip to the Song Mage’s house. ThatGrace hadn’t told her and probably hadn’t asked to borrow her horse.
She would let Grace explain.
Grace reached for the mare’s reins. “I’ll take her.”
Emeline released the horse. Sensing Hawthorne’s gaze, she was about to turn and leaveimmediatelywhen Grace touched her elbow. “Thanks for sticking your neck out for me.”
Emeline swallowed, nodded, then said good-bye and started walking. She needed to put as much distance as she could between herself and Hawthorne Fell.
TWENTY-FOUR
THE NIGHT PRESSED INaround Emeline as she traversed the city’s cobbled lamplit streets trying to find her way back to the palace. She scanned the façades of the white row houses on either side of her, hoping for a familiar landmark.
As she walked, Emeline ran her thumb over the twisted shape of the copper butterfly pin. Trying to remember why it was so familiar. So much of what they’d found in the Song Mage’s house didn’t make sense. The mass-produced pin. The manacles in the cellar. The way her song seemed to provoke the Vile.
The Vile had been terrifying, but it wasn’t her monstrousness that captured Emeline’s thoughts again and again. It was the moldy mattress. The rusted chains fastened to the wall.
As she traced the shape of the pin in her pocket, she wondered who had been kept down there.
Suddenly, she was standing before The Acorn, its copper nut-shaped sign hanging over the door, its windows bright with lamplight.
This was the third time she’d passed it.
Emeline hugged her arms. It was getting colder and darker by the minute, and she was clearly …
“Lost?” said a familiar voice from the shadows. It sent a wave of sensation rushing through her. She was suddenly back in thathallway, pressing him up against the wall, running her hands over him …
She straightened, swallowed, then smoothed out her voice. “What are you, stalking me?”
“Don’t flatter yourself. Rooke and I are here for a drink.”
She turned to find both Hawthorne and Rooke stepping out of the shadows.Oh.
“Wemighthave been following you.” Rooke grinned. “In case you got lost on your way back.”
“Well, I’m not lost.” Avoiding their skeptical gazes, she turned back in the opposite direction, quickening her pace along the cobbles.
She heard Rooke say something to Hawthorne, who growled something in response.
Seconds later, Hawthorne caught up to her. Easily. She glanced over her shoulder to see Rooke enter The Acorn without him.
“I’ll walk you back.”
Please no,she thought.I don’t have the strength.
“You’re having drinks with Rooke,” she pointed out, still walking.
