Page 99 of The Lure of Wolves and Whispers
When was the last time something made me laugh?
I can’t remember, but it feelsgood. It feels easy, and I let the smile linger after another sip. “This might be the best thing I’ve ever tasted. What is it?”
Aoife offers a small smile back. “Hot chocolate. Melted down from bitter bars shipped from the Leon Republic and sweetened with milk and sugar. You like it?”
“How could anyone not?” I study her as I take another sip, thinking. Aoife has nothing to gain from helping me or being kind to me—or to Talon.
But she’s kind. She’s been nothingbutkind since the first moment we met.
She very likely saved my life that night she stopped me from trying to kill Neve.
Maybe I want to see some of those girls dead too.
A figure in black shifts behind her shoulder, a mess of dark hair almost—maybeexactly—like Wolf’s peeking out beneath a dark hood as the gardai swarm around the crowd.
The cup slips from my hands.
TWENTY-FOUR
It can’t be him. He wouldn’t risk it.
Not in a crowd like this.
Would he?
My eyes fly over the bodies, all the blades sheathed in fine leather and jeweled hilts at hips. But none of them are the simple black leather jacket and hooded cloak I swear I just saw.
“Maeve!” Talon shouts as I push my way into the crowds, but I’ll be right back. I just need to see…
None of the eyes narrowing on me are green, but I swear he was justright here. I saw him blending into the shadows of a stall hung with inky-green-and-white banners that sells what look like nuggets of precious metals. A thin swirl of smoke twists from the edge of the banner, voices rising as the vendor shouts for help to put out the sudden flames. A rush of gardai carrying buckets press in as the flames spread, devouring the banner.
Stupid, irrational fear twists a cord around my neck.
Could the Lady of Shadows pry every one of our names out of Wolf with the torture Talon warned me about if the gardai ever catch him? Would he break, under the pain?
I think I would.
A shudder rips down my back. I can’t even imagine what shewould do to me—what she would do to Finn—if anyone realized why I’m here.
A shadow shifts at my side—but it’s not him.
Disappointment tastes as bitter as ashes. A quick rush of apprehension follows. Wolf and me… we’d tear each other apart in a heartbeat, and not in a good way.
We would absolutelydestroyeach other.
Wouldn’t we?
Another shadow nears, this one with a dark hood pulled up to hide their face. And now it’s not just apprehension twisting in my gut—it’s fear.
A third one slinks up, then a fourth.
They’re flanking me, like dogs herding sheep, and a surge of dread floods my limbs.
I can’t run, can’t escape. Not here. The crowd is too thick, bulging with the rush of gardai around the burning stall and nearby vendors rushing to protect their wares.
My chest goes tight.
I cut diagonally through the crowd, pushing toward the edges of the fencing yard. The sand fades into long grass, and I can just make out the curve of the path back to the castle behind a thick copse of rowan trees, not far from where the grounds jut from the sea cliffs.
