Snippetsfrom the last few hours flickered through my mind. Seeing the Queen. Speaking with Aveen’s father. Going back to the castle only to find Meranda waiting by the gates with a message from my human. I hadn’t hesitated, evanescing directly to Meranda’s shop in Graystones. The sounds of Aveen’s pleading voice had sent me into such a panic, I’d been convinced the Queen had somehow found her.
But when I’d rounded the corner and saw a man pinning my human to the wall, I’d snapped his neck like he deserved.
My eyes flashed open, finding a beautiful face darkened by shadows only a breath away. So stunning, even through her tears. If anything, the depth of emotion in her eyes made her even more so. Like an endless well I could drink from for the rest of my days. To feel so acutely and to express those feelings without reservation. How could I do anything but marvel at this woman?
The back door banged, startling me out of my reverie. A harsh reminder that when I’d died, the two of us hadn’t been alone. I searched for the man who’d stabbed me in the back, but he wasn’t in the narrow stairwell.
Neither was the one who’d attacked Aveen.
Then I remembered: He’d been her lover.
All those tears… Were they for him or for me?
I eased upright, my chest still burning from the bastard’s iron blade. Aveen said my name, but I’d already lumbered to my feet to check the back alley for signs of my attacker. “Where did the feckin’ coward run off to?”
Aveen’s lips rolled together. “Calm down.”
Like hell I would. I needed answers and wouldn’t leave this room until I got them. “Where’s the body?” I demanded.
She winced. “I told him to go away.”
She told a body to go away? That didn’t make sense. Unless… “He’s a true immortal.” The man I’d killed—herlover—had been one of us. I readied my blade. This time, I wouldn’t be caught unawares. His life was forfeit the moment he touched what belonged to me. “Where is he?”
“I don’t know.”
I inhaled her bitter truth. “What is his name?”
“I don’t know,” she repeated.
Beautiful liar… “Tell me his name this instant, or so help me—”
“So help youwhat? What are you going to do to me?” She rolled her eyes and shook her head the way Eava used to when we were children in need of scolding. “Honestly, Rían, I think you’ve lost your bloody mind.”
I had lost my mind. Overher. And now her former lover was back, and she was upset over me killing him. She shouldn’t have been upset. She shouldn’t have cared at all.
“His name, Aveen.”
Her sigh of irritation turned into a glower.
Fine. She didn’t want to tell me? I’d find out another way. There had to be at least one other person in this forsaken town who knew him. I stalked out of the stairwell and into Meranda’s shop.
My interest in this bastard wasn’t solely borne of jealousy. If the bastard knew the Queen, he could tell the witch that Aveen was alive, and we’d be right back where we were six months ago.
“Rían! Get back here—”
As if I’d listen to her when she was covering for him. Meranda stood behind the counter, arms crossed and frown menacing. Not sure who she thought she’d scare. My mother was the Phantom Queen. Menacing frowns were like smiles around the Black Forest.
“There was a man here. Blond hair. Pirate’s brand. Scar across his eye. Who is he?”
“Don’t tell him!” Aveen twisted the back of my shirt in a pitiful attempt to drag me back.
Meranda’s chin lifted as her gaze met Aveen’s. “I’m not going to.”
What was it with these obstinate women banding together? I pinned Meranda’s feet to the floor with magic so she couldn’t escape. She may have been a witch, but she wasn’t a true immortal. One careful swipe of my blade and she’d be relegated to the underworld with every other person who had crossed me. “Do you want to try again, or will I carve out your heart and send it to the Queen?”
Aveen’s fist slammed into my spine. “Rían! Let her go!”
I would—as soon as one of them told me what I needed to know. “His name, Meranda.”