Page 71 of For the Strange and Surprising

“How do you know his name?”

“Poko is a guard,” I explain. “I don’t understand what he was doing out here, other than talking to himself. His mental state hasn’t been a concern before, but his aggression is a problem.”

Ada gives me a careful grin, like she thinks I’m losing the plot. “He wasn’t talking to himself, Ecaeris. He was having a heated conversation with a gray blob of mist. It’s the same thing Connak and I saw surrounding the beast at the waterfalls.”

“I didn’t see anything,” I retort.

“And? There are at least two of us who can. I have no idea what it is or why I can see it, but I don’t like it.”

“How do you expect me to believe you so easily?”

I close my eyes as I shake my head, knowing my tone didn’t convey what I intended. I’m not trying to be an asshole, but that’s how it sounds.

She scoffs and turns to leave. “You don’t want to believe me. You still think I’m a Shade on a one-woman mission to destroy the entire Mongrel tribe.”

“I don’t think you’re here for nefarious reasons,” I admit, choosing my words carefully now that she’s irritated. “I feel like you’re not being honest, though. Until that changes—”

“You’re going to feel how you feel.” She shrugs, lips turned down in a disappointed frown. “No one can argue with that, but don’t let what you think you know mislead you.”

“I’m not being misled. I’ve been watching you close enough to understand who you are.”

Her mouth twists to the side, angry and disbelieving. I’m not going to apologize for being protective of my people, but I am second-guessing some of my decisions.

“Have you? Because from where I’m standing, it sure seems like your past experiences cloud your current judgment. You’re so preoccupied with accusing and proving me to be something I’m not. But in all that, have you stopped even once to listen to anything that I’ve said?”

“I’ve heard everything.” I emphasize each word with a step closer to her.

“You’ve heard what you want to hear, and then twisted my truths to fit your prerogative. That’s not the same thing.”

Ada shakes her head and smiles at my silence, but it isn't the sweet, feisty snark I’m used to getting from her.

“I’m constantly reminding myself to be thankful for what I’ve got, what I’ve had, the opportunities that I’ve been offered… But you cast the first stone, Ecaeris. You should be thankful I don’t have any rocks to throw back right now.”

23

Adelaide

I stomp away from Ecaeris, hoping my instincts lead me in the right direction. I don’t know which way that is, other than away from the royal ass, but he's harder to get rid of than a ouija board.

It doesn't matter how many times I throw him out. He bounces right back like that seventeen-dollar demon I accidentally bound myself to when I purchased the novelty gift to talk to spirits from beyond the grave.

The joke is on me. I should have read the fine print.

I mean, he's an attractive demon in the shape of a Mongrel... I just wish he came with a mute button or a bottle of Tylenol.

I scoff at myself.

How do I expect him to believe me so easily?

I don’t even believe half the shit I’ve seen or found out, but here I am… traipsing through the forest of a brand new world in a freaking dress while the Mongrel prince follows me around like he’s concerned for my safety.

Well, fuck him.

“Do you have to make so much noise?”

I seethe at him as I step on every dried leaf in my path. And when I move low branches out of my way, I hope they slap him.

He thinks I’m hiding something, not being honest? Of course, I am! It’s called a whole two decades of life on Earth. I’m not simply volunteering those stories when I don’t want to relive some of the memories.