“I wasn’t pretending,” Des growled.
“Then why not speak to me directly?” She hitched the bag on her shoulder, her eyes darting toward the crowd.
“Where are you heading?”
“I hardly see how that’s any of your business.”
He leaned closer, lowering his voice so the remaining devotees couldn’t hear. “My commander tasked me with keeping an eye on you until your uncle returns.”
At this, her eyes widened, her lips parting slightly, drawing Des’s gaze. Was she merely surprised, or was she concerned that he would glean what she was up to? She schooled her features before he could decide. “That’s not necessary. I’m sure you have far more important things to do than follow me.”
“Oh, I do. That’s why I’m here. I want to know when your uncle will return, so I can get off of babysitting duty and do my actual job.”
Her eyes narrowed at the wordbabysitting, but she was distracted by a flurry of activity across the square.
“Your uncle?” he prompted.
“I’m not sure when he’s going to return. He’s visiting a friend, and I haven’t had word from him in the week he’s been gone. But you needn’t concern yourself with me, sir. I’m perfectly capable of taking care of myself. Consider yourself relieved of duty.” With that, she turned on her heel and began to stomp away, realized she was heading in the wrong direction, and abruptly changed course.
Des, who wasn’t used to having someone walk away from him without being dismissed, felt his blood begin to boil. Aurelie Blake was impertinent, uppity, and insubordinate as hell. He was preparing to go after her and demand a better answer when he heard a muffled scream nearby.
“Demon!” someone shouted.
Blood and bones, in broad daylight?Things were even worse than he thought if demons were brazen enough to attack during the day.
More screams, the inevitable shoves and flying elbows. Someone stomped on Des’s foot. And still, he didn’t take his eyes off Aurelie. This was his opportunity to get the true measure of her. She had three options: run, like some people were doing; get behind the demon hunter, as many others had; or take the opportunity to get away from Des. The latter would be a foolish choice if she had nothing to hide. It would be even more foolish if she did.
Aurelie glanced back at him once, smirked, and disappeared for good.
Chapter 12
Aurelie
Finally, Aurelie thought as she emerged from the crowd and studied the card Everard had given her, thumb stroking the gilded lettering. She almost felt sorry for Des, thinking she didn’t know he was there. As if the man could easily hide. It was like an elephant trying to crouch behind a rosebush. All week at dinner, she’d spotted him from her uncle’s window, leaning against a tree and looking as though he’d rather be anywhere else. The day he’d trailed her to the carpentry shop, she’d been tempted to lead him on a wild-goose chase, just for the fun of it.
But as smug as she felt about Des’s terrible sleuthing skills, she knew he had far better things to do than trail her. This was a waste of his time and effort, and if she’d thought he might actually listen to her, she’d have told him so herself.
It was easier than expected to lose him in the crowd. Truth be told, she had no idea people made such a fuss over the Iron Guard. But she couldn’t have Des following her all the way to Everard’s house. If she accepted this commission, a demon was inevitable. And Des needed to be well clear of Wisteria University when that happened.
She’d spent the week drawing a detailed schematic of the interlocking plates, reading up on engraving, and even scouring the library for books on runic magic. Unfortunately, the card catalogrevealed a rather gaping hole on the subject. Someone, perhaps her uncle, maybe the king himself, had ordered all the books removed. Professor Sheldrake had only a few old tomes on Elder Vansion, which he’d lent to Aurelie under the strict proviso that she keep them well hidden.
“I hope you know what you’re getting into, girl,” he’d said as he handed them over.
“Not at all,” she replied. To her relief, he had laughed.
Aurelie knew little of the world, but she was sure of one thing: she was put on this planet to create. To accept otherwise was to believe she was as adrift as dandelion fluff, as pointless as the young aristocrats who spent their days gossiping in cafés. Her parents had shown her that a life well-lived included fulfilling work, joyful pastimes, and loving relationships.
But what if life, what if joy, what iflovedidn’t exist for Aurelie outside of Wisteria University? She knew Uncle Leo wanted what was best for her, but if he truly believed a man like Miles Viridian could make her happy, then he didn’t know her at all. She knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that she couldn’t make Miles happy. She couldn’t even make it through a single dinner with him.
This past week, her thoughts had returned again and again to her parents. If she didn’t accept this project, if she didn’t at leasttryto create something great, she would be denying the gifts they had given her. She would be dishonoring their memories by settling for a life she didn’t love.
More than death, more than social ostracization, Aurelie feared inertia. That she would never move forwardorbackward, but that she would spin in circles, finding herself trapped by thewalls society had built around her. She wanted what Professor Sheldrake had said. She wanted the earth-shaking creation that would change her world. She didn’t want to open a door—she wanted to bring the walls down entirely.
Despite her conviction, she quailed when she reached Everard’s tall, narrow townhouse. Located on Marigold Street, the house was wedged in like an afterthought, tucked between two homes several times wider. Painted black with a decorative gabled roof, it had the appearance of an old grandfather clock warped from age. She checked the address again. This was definitely it. Now all she had to do was knock.
Aurelie couldn’t help feeling that at least one other human should know where she was. If she went into this house and never came out, Uncle Leo wouldn’t know to look here. And now that she’d lost Des, even he wouldn’t know what had become of her.
But that was the point, wasn’t it? Because Descouldn’tknow she was here. Mustering her courage, Aurelie walked up the steep staircase to the front door and clapped the knocker three times. It wasn’t until after she’d released it that she recognized the shape: a leering demon.