Page 135 of Sun-Kissed Fangs
Róisín slowed down slightly. Only for an instant, before she vanished around the corner.
Sticking her hands in her pockets, Maya headed back the way she’d come. Aleksander was standing in the same spot as when she left, though the crowd behind him had grown.
“How did it go?” he asked.
“Well. I think.” She ran through everything said at the meeting, favoring the practical details. “Winter’s ready to move. Just waiting for your signal.”
Aleksander looked up at the dark sky. The wind was stronger now, transforming the falling snow into frozen needles.
“Then we’ll give them one.” He put his hand on Maya’s shoulder. “But you won’t be here to see it. If I had known how this meeting would have turned out, I would have sent Harper home hours ago. This storm isn’t safe to drive in. Harper will be stuck here until it passes.”
An ache tightened around her heart. She hadn’t thought that far. That Harper would be at more risk from this plan unfolding. She had been too focused on making Kieran pay that she’d forgotten they hadn’t yet won.
“Can I go see her?” she said quickly.
Aleksander’s expression softened the slightest bit. “I was about to tell you to do just that. With her this close, you’ll be all but useless in a fight.”
She hadn’t ever seen his eyes look that warm. The King of Chains was supposed to be a hard, ruthless man. As hard as the steel that made up his Court.
She might not be the only person who’d learned a thing or two since coming out here.
“Thank you, Aleksander.”
“No. Thank you, Maya.” He gave her a gentle push. “Now go. Before I change my mind.”
She pushed through the gathered Chains, a choir of barked orders following her. As she broke clear of the crowd, the distant howl of a wolf mixed with that of the winter wind.
Chapter 32
Harper cursed as yet another flame refused to catch. Rather than bite into the stacked logs, the fire just ate the bundled-up paper, giving off a bright glow before turning to smoke.
She should have listened better when Lucas raved about all his scout stuff. Since she didn’t see the appeal of being stuck in the middle of the woods with no power and no cell service, she hadn’t paid attention.
This sudden storm had summoned both conditions. The wind had turned howling, and then the lights had all gone out. As had the electric heater. The cabin was turning into an icebox.
“Any luck?” Nell asked, blowing air onto her hands. Harper sneered.
“Does it look like I’m having any luck?” She threw the extinguished match into the fireplace. “It should not be this hard. If we freeze to death because I’m less skilled than a caveman, I’ll be fucking pissed.”
Nell’s eyes drifted to the far corner of the living room. Evie was looking out the window, standing so still that she could be mistaken for a statue.
“What about you?” Harper asked, a pang going through her chest when Evie flinched. Harper had barely raised her voice.
“Still can’t get a signal.” She brushed her hair behind her ear, fingers trembling. “But a few texts made it through, so… that’s something.”
She wasn’t even supposed to be here. Neither was Nell, for that matter. They had shown up a few hours earlier, with barely any warning, and with the explanation that they wanted to see the cute cabin Harper kept sending pictures of.
Only Nell sold that reason as genuine. Before she’d even said hello, Evie’s eyes had flicked to Harper’s neck, and she’d let out such a deep sigh it sounded like she’d been holding her breath for the entire drive.
“Maybe it’ll clear up soon?” Evie mumbled. “It might not be that bad once we’re out in it. If we drive now, we could be back in Chicago before midnight.”
Harper looked out at the howling storm. The snow was so dense that their cars were barely visible, even though they were parked just a few feet from the cabin.
“Driving in that would be suicide.” Harper got to her feet. “Though staying here isn’t much better. I’m freezing already.”
Nell turned on her phone flashlight. “Do you know if this place has any candles?”
“In the basement. The Chains keep emergency supplies down there.” Harper grimaced. “Just steer clear of the fridge.”
