Fae of the South (Court of Crown and Compass Book 3) by E. Hall (libby ebook reader .txt) 📕

Kiki smiles. “But you already were covered in ink once before.”

Through the haze of my arrival at the Victorian safe house, I recall them talking about the false king’s curse.

“But this would be my choice.” Soren glances at Lea. “I’m going to get the word free in case I forget. It’s the truth and the truth cannot be wiped away.”

Kiki smiles. “I understand.” She turns to her sisters. “What if we get Court of Crown and Compass tattooed somewhere? We could have the artist draw us a symbol.”

“We’re missing our fourth sister. We should wait until she’s with us to induct all of us into the court together,” Val says. “If she lives in Borea, she’s never had Oreos. We’ll have to come back.”

“Or a slice of New York pizza. We’ll have to take a tour of the best things in the city. You know, when this is all over and life returns to normal,” Kiki says.

“What’s normal?” Callen asks.

In turn, they each describe their version.

Callen describes a cottage by the sea. Soren, Raven’s Landing flourishing. Kiki likes that idea. Val talks about all the people having enough: food, laughter, work. My gaze lands on the shadowy girl in front of me. I recall our conversation at RIP Jr and how we’re so different.

The others follow Soren inside.

Lea says, “How did Ivan initiate you?”

I shake my head. “He didn’t make me do anything. But you know what the others were saying about their normal, I’m afraid we’ll never have that again.”

“I suppose you’re right.”

I tuck a piece of Lea’s hair behind her ear.

“But I’m not sure I want normal. I want you.” I dip my head as Lea lifts onto her toes.

Again, we kiss.

No, we may never get normal, but I’ll take this forever.

Chapter 27

Leajka

After Soren got his tattoo, we met Heather. It was like an interlude, marking the time before and after. Interesting that he chose the word free. Our freedom hinges on whatever happens next.

When we leave, there’s debate about whether we should all travel to Borea or if some of us should stay here.

When I speak, my voice is faint and is a contrast to the power knit into my shadow. “My sights are set on Glandias. I want to find her and lead her falsely, making her expose the whereabouts of the stones.” And destroy her in the process.

“We don’t know where she went,” Callen says.

Kiki takes my hand. “I can find her.”

Soren argues against Kiki dreamweaving because of what could be lost.

“Our options are we start there or we go to the vampire palace in the Southlands,” I say.

Callen rubs his chin. “I’ve been privy to meetings and reports about the status of things there. Dropping in blind may not be wise.”

“What other choice do we have?” Val asks.

“I’m going to try to locate Glandias through her dreams. If that doesn’t work, we’ll go to Borea,” Kiki says, making a decision.

Only Soren argues.

It’s twilight as we head back to the penthouse. The scent of one of my favorite pizza spots in Brooklyn wafts out the good stuff. I’ve never been able to walk by at this time of day and not grab a slice. Unfortunately, since the rending of my shadow, I have no appetite.

The others pop in for some sustenance while Tyrren and I wait in front. I’ve always felt like an outsider, except with him.

He grips my hand as we lean against the brick wall. “Don’t hate me for being Captain Obvious, but life took a weird turn, huh?” he says.

The old me would’ve laughed. “Definitely weird. But also it feels inevitable somehow.”

He bites his lip when he looks at me. Suddenly, I’m not sure if we’re talking about the current supernatural state of affairs or us.

A group of surly guys walk toward us, taking up the sidewalk, jostling and joking. I have a strange sense of nostalgia. That used to be my life—hanging out with Tyrren and a crowd of rowdy vampires. I glance over my shoulder at my sisters and the guys through the window. This is my life. I have melancholy that I can’t shake. No surprise since my light was extinguished. Strangely, I feel less rageful. Mostly, I feel numb.

One of the guys bumps into me. His eyes land on mine and linger.

Tyrren tilts his head as if to say move along, buddy.

The guy’s lip curls up at the corner.

The scent of rotting trash replaces the garlic, cheese, and dough from the pizza parlor.

The hair on the back of my neck lifts. “Tyrren, life isn’t much weirder than the night we went on the joyride in the Lamborghini.”

He stiffens beside me, picking up on what I mean.

Disguised as a human, I hold the demon’s gaze steady in mine. “Sorry, you’re too late. My shadow has already been rended.” As soon as the last word is out of my mouth, I kick the demon-guy clear across the sidewalk. He slams into a parking meter.

The others close in on us. There are four of them. We’ll have to keep them away from Kiki and Lea, leaving four of us to fight.

The door to the pizza shop swings open. Without hesitating, Val swings and punches the demon in the face. “Get away from my sister.”

“I don’t have a shadow so—” I start.

“All the same, they better learn some respect.”

Tyrren Hulks-Out and tears the head from the one who approached me. He holds it aloft and the demon morphs into a slimy, ribbed slug-like creature.

Callen jogs forward and says, “Tyrren, I’ll have to teach you how to play punchball sometime. You set this up perfectly.” At that, he wails the