Atone: A Fairytale (Fairytale Trilogy) (15 page)

Becca shoved her hands in her jeans pockets and looked down at her sneakers. “Most of it was.”

She heard the rustling of his fur as he turned to look at her but she refused to look up from her contemplation of her Converse as she whispered, “It wouldn’t hurt if it wasn’t true.”

“It’s not true. Or at least it’s taking things that are true, like that you’re smarter than pretty much everyone, and you’re stronger—stronger than me by a huge margin—and twisting them. And who am I to criticize anyone for being emotional? I’ve got nothing else to blame that outburst on but emotion.”

Becca looked up at him. The sunshine streaming through the windows behind him. “Yeah?”

“Yeah. I’m starting to find it kind of unbearable that you haven’t forgiven me…for how I was before. Not that I’ve any right to even ask you to. Or to be angry that you haven’t.”

“It’s a portal,” she blurted out. That wasn’t what she’d been meaning to say. She actually wasn’t sure what she’d wanted to say.

“A portal?” Nicholas looked confused. She didn’t blame him.

“Yes. As it turns out, the mirror is not merely creepy and full of beastly magic, it also happens to be a portal to the Fae Realm.”

“Like Alice’s looking glass?”

“I guess, but with more bad ass fae. Like seriously, I talked to this guy who’s like guarding the portal or whatever, and it seems that there are a lot of fae who aren’t happy that you’ve brought it out of hiding.”

“So they’ve cursed me?”

“Well, technically no. The beast thing is a byproduct of the protection spell that’s built into the portal. They want it closed. There’s a stone—a gem—he didn’t give me a lot of specifics, but was there anything with it or on it when you found it that looked like it could fit right there at the top?” She pointed to place where the claws curved together at the very top of the mirror’s frame. She’d noticed the gap in the spell before, but had always assumed it was just part of the way the spell was woven. She could see now that something was missing—that another piece could fit.

“No. I don’t remember anything like that.”

“Are you sure?”

He growled in frustration. “No, I’m not entirely sure. Everything since I’ve come into contact with the damn thing has been twisted. My memory is hazy at best.”

“It’s really important. It could break the curse, change you back.”

“I realize that.”

Becca bit her lip. She wanted to push him, to make him remember somehow. Maybe there wasn’t anything for him to remember. Maybe the stupid gem was laying, undisturbed since the twelfth century in a cave somewhere in France. “You always reminded me of my mother’s ex-boyfriend.”

Nicholas started. “What?”

“You asked me why I always hated you. I didn’t tell you the whole truth. Most of it was what I said—the stuff with Alex and everyone—but also ‘cause you reminded me of him.”

“Did he hurt you?” There was a dangerous edge to Nicholas’s voice.

“No.” She smiled sadly. “I mean, not physically or anything. He broke her heart… and she let him keep breaking it for years. He wasn’t capable of being faithful, I guess.”

“And I remind you of him.”

“You used to at least. You’re different now.”

“As in big and hairy and with a tail?”

Becca laughed. “Well there is that. He did kind of look like you, too pretty for your own good.”

“Pretty? Ouch.”

“I’m just telling the truth. You were prettier than me,” she teased.

“No. I wasn’t.” Nicholas’s eyes were serious.

Becca swallowed uncomfortably and looked away. “He never would’ve said he was sorry. And I guess I didn’t expect you to. It took me by surprise.”

“I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be. And don’t be angry that I haven’t forgiven you.” She finally looked up into his face. “Because I already have.”

~

She didn’t say anything as she entered the darkened mirror room later that night. She quietly walked over to where Nicholas sat in front of the windows and sat cross-legged on the floor next to him. She was starting to think of it as their routine. This was the third night in a row they’d found themselves sitting here, talking about things she’d never thought she’d talk with anyone about. Let alone Nicholas Hunt.

“Pretty night.”

“It is.” There was a note of sadness in his voice.

Becca looked down at the city, the leaves of the trees at the edge of the property were moving slightly in the breeze, dancing against the lights. “Let’s go outside.”

She felt him turn to look at her in surprise. “What?”

“Let’s go outside,” she repeated, excitement starting to seep into her voice. “It’s dark. It’s late. No one is going to see you.” She turned to look at him, she could see the indecision in his eyes—the longing mixed with fear. “You’re not going to hurt anyone. I’m the only here.” She grinned at him saucily. “And I can handle you.”

“I don’t know.” His eyes flicked back to the window and she could tell how much he wanted to go.

She pulled out her phone and thumbed to her weather application. “It’s pretty cool. Not even seventy degrees. It will be warm for you, but not too bad. You can do it for a little while. And there’s a breeze.” She looked back up at him with hopeful smile. “Come on, it will be fun.”

His eyes searched her face. “Okay.”

“Okay! Come on!” In spite of the lateness of the hour she felt energetic, like she’d just woken up. She raced out of the room and down one side of the front double staircase, skidding to a halt in front of the front door. She yanked it open, sighing at the relative warmth of the outside night air. She looked behind her to see Nicholas coming down the stairs at a much more sedate pace. He still looked concerned.

“It’ll be fine. Don’t worry.”

“You’ll stop me if I—”

“Of course,” she cut him off. “Nothing bad is going to happen.” She shrugged out of her hoodie and hung it on the door knob. “Except you not being able to keep up with me.”

“Somehow I doubt that.” There was a smile in his voice. Becca held the door open for him and then followed him through. She left the door open just a fraction, not enough to let all of the cold air inside escape into the night, but enough that they could push it open quickly to get back inside if they wanted.

Becca took a deep breath of the night air as she joined Nicholas on the porch. He was standing stock still on all fours, his ears cocked.

“Pretty sure there’s no one here.”

“Yeah.”

“Isn’t it nice? Not too hot.” Usually she’d have said it was cool, but compared to the interior of the house it felt balmy. The breeze ran like silk across her bare arms. She felt like she’d been cooped up inside forever and she couldn’t imagine how Nicholas felt. She moved past him down the steps of the porch, then stopped at the bottom and looked up at him with grin.

“Come on.” Then she took off, running across the grass and around to the side of the house where the huge lawn sloped down to the trees. Even though it was past midnight there was enough ambient light that she could see well enough to not run into any obstacles. Though the grade of the lawn was so gentle that she didn’t really need to worry.

A blur shot past her, and she laughed as she realized it was Nicholas. He moved faster than she’d ever seen him. He was right, he didn’t need to worry about her keeping up with him. She was already getting out of breath from her own run across the grass. She slowed down to a walk as he bounded over the lawn and then wheeled around and ran back toward her. She didn’t blink as he bore down on her. He stopped at the last possible second, his teeth flashing in smile.

“Sorry, did I scare you?”

She snorted and crossed her arms. “Hardly. First time you’ve really stretched out?”

He nodded. “I’ll have to try harder.”

Becca laughed out loud at that. “To scare me? You’d have to try a lot harder.”

A deep rumble echoed through his chest and Becca was momentarily surprised to realize it was laughter.

“You’re sure you want to push your luck like that?” he teased.

“Hmm.” She placed her hands on her hips and cocked her head. “I don’t think I’m the one pushing my luck.”

“Oh really?” He crouched to spring at her, not noticing the violet plants silently twining their way through the grass and around his back legs. Becca smiled at him, blinking her eyes in an exaggerated show of innocence. He jumped toward her, stopping mid-air when the violets tightened around his legs. He fell back down to the ground with a yelp.

“Oh my god!” Becca rushed over to him, letting her magical grip on the flowers go. “I’m so sorry, I didn’t mean—
Ooof
!” She tumbled to the grass as he grabbed her around the waist and pulled her down.

“I can’t believe you fell for that again,” he laughed. “Amateur.”

Becca blinked up into his face as it hovered over. “That because I expected you to play fair.” A giggle escaped in spite of her best efforts to look stern.

“That was your first mistake.”

“Oh no, I’m sure there were plenty before that,” she assured him. He might not play fair, but she didn’t grow up with younger brothers who towered over her by the time they were twelve just to give up after a first take down. She smiled sweetly at him and then rolled quickly to her side and out from under his arms. She scrambled to her feet and took off toward the trees.

She could hear him behind her. He wasn’t going as fast as he could, she knew he’d pass her in a few seconds if he really put the speed on. So she stopped dead. He shot past her before he could stop himself and when he turned back around she was surrounded by a semi-sheer wall of violet power.

“Now who’s not playing fair?” He stalked around her magical boundary.

“You outweigh me by what? A couple hundred pounds?”

He flashed his teeth in another grin. “I haven’t stepped on a scale recently.”

She snickered. “I bet it’s a lot.”

“Well, you are short.”

“Hey now…I’m petite. Short’s a little harsh.” She bit back a laugh as he touched a paw to her magical wall and snatched it back with a quiet curse.

“What’re you, like five feet even? I think short’s an acceptable description.”

“Now you’re just being mean.” She crossed her arms over her chest and stuck her tongue out at him. “Five feet. Whatever. I’m 5’3”

He laughed outright. “No you’re not.”

“If I stand up really straight,” she admitted. “And wear shoes. Barefoot, I’m 5’2. So yeah, compared to you, I guess I’m short.”

“I’ve no idea how tall I am.”

“6’1,” she answered. He raised his brows at her. “Well, you know, not like this—“ she waved a hand vaguely at him. “I meant normally.

“I know how tall I am normally, but I wasn’t aware you did.”

“It was on your license.” She wasn’t sure why she sounded defensive. “And about a foot taller than me was what about I’d guess.”

“Uh huh.” He was still walking around the filmy purple wall. “I’m even taller now. Think I could make it over your little wall?”

Becca’s eyes widened as she did the calculation in her head. He might be able to. The image of him leaping over it caused her to dissolve into helpless giggles. Her wall collapsed around her in a shower of sparkling purple. Nicholas took advantage of its collapse and charged her. She braced for the collision, but instead of the hit she expected, she felt herself being swooped up in his arms. He tumbled to the ground, cushioning her against his body as he fell. She ended up on top of his chest. It was disturbingly comfortable position so she rolled off onto the grass and propped herself up with an elbow as she looked into his face.

She felt like she was drowning in his eyes. He may have never looked less like a man—the raw power with which he’d run across the lawn couldn’t suggest anything but an animal—and yet his eyes, staring at her with steady warmth, had never looked more human to her. Gone was the cold and distant look she’d come to know so well.

“It’s probably a good thing you were always kind of a jerk.”

Surprise flickered across his face. “Why’s that?”

“I probably would’ve crushed on you just as hard as Alex did.”

Nicholas was silent for a moment. There was something in his eyes she didn’t understand. “I’m glad you never did.”

She rolled on her back and gazed up at the few stars brave enough to shine in defiance of the city lights. “Yeah, it could’ve been awkward if my BFF and I were both crushing on the same totally inappropriate and unattainable guy.”

“The age difference might have been a bit of an issue,” he commented dryly.

“That’s the best thing about teenage crushes, the more inappropriate they are the better.”

“I wouldn’t have been worth even a second glance from you, even if I hadn’t been a self-centered jack ass.”

“That’s not true.” She turned her head to look at him.

He muttered something under his breath as he stared up at the sky. Becca couldn’t quite catch it, but she thought she heard something about a bright star. She wanted to ask him what he’d said, but she somehow knew he hadn’t meant for her to hear.