2 Hungry, Hungry Hoodoo (15 page)

“They can’t,” he said flatly. “Does it actually matter who did this?”

My eyebrows pulled together. “Of course.”

He nodded. “You strung along two men who are used to getting their way before you became a changeling. Now the human you were engaged to is dead. They’re the two most likely suspects. Unless there were others…”

“Not that I know of.” I frowned. “But Michael and I were over. How could he matter?”

Holden gave me a look that said it definitely mattered.

“Well, if this is all about jealousy, why aren’t they trying to kill each other?”

“They are. Cheney wants to kill the rebel leader, but when you said that was you, he didn’t lock you away and he didn’t drop the idea of killing your partner. He still intends to kill Jaron as soon as he finds out who he is. And Jaron wanted you to kill Cheney and take control. Neither of them is willing to turn the other cheek.”

“So I can’t trust either of them?”

He shrugged. “Do what you want.”

I flopped down on the couch and crossed my legs. “You aren’t very good at giving advice.”

“I don’t care how you live your life so long as you don’t involve Liv in whatever you have going on. If you want to kill Cheney and take the crown, fine. If you want to publicly execute Jaron and take the crown, more power to you. If you want to leave them both and get the fuck out of here, I’ll make Baker help you. Just make up your damn mind.”

I stared at him for a long moment. I couldn’t decide if he was an awesome friend to have or just mean. “I don’t think it’s either of them.”

“Because you have reason or because you don’t want it to be?” He lifted an eyebrow. “Look, I never wanted to get involved in any of this. I don’t care about what’s happening to you.” He gave me a pointed look. “However, I’m here and I’m going to help you because Olivia cares. Loving someone else changes you. You do things and want things you never thought you would.”

“What’s your point?”

He glowered. “My point is, love makes you do stupid things that are against all sense, reason, and character. No matter what you think you know, you can never really anticipate what someone you love is capable of.”

“So who can I trust?”

Holden rolled his eyes. “The less people you trust the better.”

“Well, you’re just a ray of sunshine.”

Holden smirked. “Maybe, but I’m still alive.”

“And if Olivia were here, what advice would she give me?”

He shook his head. “To follow your heart, but trust me, that only leads to trouble. Olivia is the last person you should take advice from. She only sees the good in people.”

Holden started for the door before turning around. “Do you still want to break the bond?”

I nodded.

“Baker knows someone he thinks can do it. I’ll send him here tomorrow.”

“Thank you.”

Holden walked out and nervous excitement nearly made me forget the dull ache. One day from now and I would be free.

“Where’s your focus?” Sebastian asked as he reached down to help me off the ground.

I ignored his hand and his comment as I pushed myself up, despite my protesting muscles. “Again.”

Sebastian stepped back. “No. Enough for today.”

Despite Sy’s objections, I’d returned to the castle like everything was normal. Cheney and I were pole fighting on a balance beam, but I couldn’t hold my attention long enough to compete. My mind kept drifting back to Michael’s lifeless form and wondering if Holden would find anything this morning. Breaking the bond tonight was never far from my mind either. And before I knew it I’d be on the floor with both men staring down at me. “Again.”

Cheney frowned and jumped down from the beam. “Sebastian’s right. You’re half dead.” He put his arm over my shoulder and I felt a moment of peace. I hated that he had that effect on me, but it wouldn’t be for much longer.

“Fine. If you guys are quitting, I’m going to hang out with the girls.” I charged toward the door. I needed to be away from him and the temptation of relief before I started second guessing my decision. Cheney fell into step with me.

“Come with me for a moment.”

“Where are we going?”

“It’s a surprise,” he said, a mischievous glint in his eyes. I hesitated. I didn’t want him to give me things. “Trust me.”

That was the kicker, wasn’t it? I didn’t trust him. I couldn’t. I wanted to believe in Cheney, but my memories struggled with what the bond made me feel, leaving me in a great ball of confusion. I followed him toward his office, my throat dry. When we walked through the door I immediately recognized the elf inside.

I stopped and stared.

“Selene,” said the musical voice that should have been familiar, but it wasn’t.

“Tahlik,” I said coldly and he flinched.

“So you do remember him,” Cheney said.

I glanced over. “I told you I didn’t want to see him.”

“The last time we met, Selene, things were different—”

I held up a hand to stop him. “You made your position clear.” I turned and walked away from them both. How could Cheney blindside me like that? This time he didn’t come after me. I stormed down the hallways until I got to the girls’ quarters. I brushed past the guard standing outside of their room and flopped down on the couch next to Devin, who looked as exhausted as I felt. “Have you heard anything about Michael?” Leslie asked.

I looked up into four sets of concerned eyes. “He’s dead.” I chewed on my thumbnail and stared toward the door. How could Cheney bring my father here on top of everything? I’d wanted a relationship with him since I was a child, but when he brushed me away as if I were nothing my idealized vision of him was stripped from me. Who could I trust? Cheney said the elves had forgotten about that church and that he was the only one who went there. Would he have left a body there for me to find? It seemed so obvious.

“What the hell is wrong with you, Selene?”

Startled, I whipped around to Jessica. “Nothing. Why?”

“Exactly.” She threw up her hands. “You’ve always been reserved, but this is ridiculous. You were with Michael for months and now you have no feelings about him being dead? Why are we staying here, but you’re not?”

I looked around the rest of the group, completely flabbergasted.

“I think what Jessica means is that you aren’t talking to us. You used to let us in. You would have told us about Michael. Now even when you sit near us, you’re off in your own world,” Devin explained, patting my leg. “I am still having dreams. I don’t understand them, but whoever did this isn’t done yet.”

Katrina didn’t say anything but gave me a look saying I needed to fill them in.

“You’ve changed,” Leslie said.

“And not for the better,” Jessica grumbled.

“Enough, Jess.” Leslie threw a pillow at her. “We love you, Selene. We just want you to trust us like you used to.”

I sighed. They were right. I had been a bad friend. “I’m sorry. I do trust all of you. There’s just so much going on right now, and I’m not sure we can talk here.” I widened my eyes for emphasis.

“I thought the castle was safe. That’s why you wanted to bring us here, right?” Concern colored Devin’s face.

I needed to explain so much to them, but I couldn’t say half of it here. “Do you guys want to go for a walk?” Confusion washed across their faces, but I nodded toward the door and smiled. Slowly they all got up and followed me out. I waved the guard away when he went to follow us.

He shook his head. “The Erlking decreed I am not to leave them.”

“And I’m telling you to go.” I glared at him, but the guard didn’t budge.

“What’s going on?” Cheney’s voice came from behind me.

I turned my glare to him. “Your guards don’t take orders from a lowly half-elf.”

Cheney’s shocked gaze met my angry one, but he didn’t say anything. He waved the guard away.

“We’re going for a walk.” I turned to leave and he caught my arm.

“Your father is still waiting for you.” My friends exchanged confused glances at Cheney’s words.

“Then he will wait longer.”

Outside it was easier to breathe. I led them deep into the surrounding forest until I felt we could safely be ourselves.

“I’m sorry I’ve been absent.”

“I thought your father was dead,” Devin said.

I frowned. “No, he’s not dead. He just didn’t want anything to do with me after my mother died.” I launched into the whole story, sharing everything about Cheney and Jaron, though I left his name out of things. They listened in silence as I spoke, a rare feat for them. When I finally finished, Katrina was the first to respond.

She smiled. “Your life went from like zero to hot mess in about 2.3 seconds.”

“So this isn’t your dad, it’s the elf’s dad,” Jessica said.

I laughed and the icy shell that had been surrounding me cracked. I knew why they thought I’d changed. As my memories came back, I’d let too much distance grow between me and the people who kept me grounded. I was inadvertently letting the elf half win. I already felt my burden lift just by talking to them.

“Well, this is great. Now you have family again.” Devin hugged me.

“So what happened to Michael?” Jessica asked.

“I don’t know. I have friends looking into it.”

“Again with the mysterious ‘friends,’” Kat griped, but her smile said she was joking.

“But you think Cheney could be involved?” Leslie asked.

“It would make sense, but I’m having trouble believing he’d do something like this.”

“What can we do to help?” Devin asked.

A cheesy grin covered my face. “I love you guys, have I mentioned that? If I start pulling away again, call me out. Call me out every time.” I wanted to hug them for reminding me who I was and what was important. “Other than that, keep doing what you’ve been doing. Keep your eyes and ears open, and let me know if anything suspicious happens.”

“Can do,” Leslie said.

“And be careful. If someone here is involved, they have no qualms about killing humans.” I looked back toward the castle. Would breaking the bond change things? Right now, if I died, so did Cheney. If Cheney was behind this, was I destroying my only layer of protection? “And be ready to leave any minute.”

We went back before nightfall. I slowly made my way to the room where my father was, on the off chance he hadn’t left, while the girls headed off in pairs in different directions back to their quarters, hoping to be able to eavesdrop on more people. I had my doubts that noisy, clumsy humans would ever get the drop on elves, but at least it kept them busy.

I opened the door slowly. Tahlik was still there, sipping a drink across from Cheney. Cheney smiled when I walked in. “I told you she’d come,” he said and Tahlik looked up.

“I’m sorry I left so abruptly before.”

“I wanted many times to see you, Selene. You must understand that.”

I struggled to keep a bitter smile from my lips. “Must I?” I walked over to them and Cheney gave me his chair before retrieving another. “Because I don’t.”

Tahlik stared at me. “You are so much like your mother—always right to the point. But remember, dear, I am your father. You should show me respect.”

I shook my head. “You aren’t my father. Edward Warren was my father. He died when I was seven, but at least he was there. At least he was a part of my life. You. Well, you were a sperm donor.”