Hidden Hope (Hidden Saga Book 3) (15 page)

When we pulled up to the cottage, Nox dropped me off at the curb with an apology. “I’m sorry I have to leave in such a hurry.” He kissed me. “Okay—jump out and let me make sure you get in the door safely before I go.”

I did as he said, hurrying to the front door and turning for a quick wave before opening it and going in. The house was dark. Lad had gone to bed already. I guessed he’d finished the movie alone, or maybe he was too angry and just went to his room.

I shut the door quietly and locked it, then slipped my shoes off before walking to the kitchen for some sweet tea. Now that I’d started drinking it again, I couldn’t get enough, and I was parched.

Filling a glass, I carried it with me back through the house toward my room.

“Did you kiss him?”

I jumped and slapped my palm over my hammering heart, sloshing tea all over my other hand and onto the floor, nearly dropping the glass to the tile.

The growling voice had come from the dark living room. I changed course and walked into the room, searching for Lad. Only his silhouette was visible, slouched in a chair, facing the lifeless TV set.

“What are you doing in here? Why are you sitting in the dark?”

“Did. You. Kiss. Him?”

The question was more emphatic this time. Angrier. And that got my temper going as well. I flipped on the light, causing Lad to squint in the sudden brightness.

“If I did, it’s none of your business.”

“It
is
my business because your welfare is my business, and he’s glamouring you.”

His astute assessment of the situation unnerved me. And the fact that Nox’s glamour
hadn’t
seemed to work on me tonight made it worse.

“He didn’t sing,” I said as if that was any sort of defense.

Lad rolled his eyes. “You said he had more than one glamour, and I have a pretty good idea what the other one is. I saw how the girls reacted to him in Altum. Yes—even though we’re less affected by it, glamour can still work on other Elves.”

I wasn’t about to confirm that speculation for him. The last thing I wanted to do was discuss Nox’s sexual glamour with Lad. “Well, he has a right to kiss me. He’s my boyfriend.”

Lad rose from the chair and stepped toward me, his hands out as if he meant to grab me and shake me. Instead he grabbed the air in tight fists. “Only because I pushed you away. You would
never
be with him if that hadn’t happened. And it shouldn’t have.”

I took a step back. “Well... it did.”

Lad’s hands came to rest low on his hips and his head dropped, hanging down as he stared at the floor, silent, for long moments. Then he looked up, glanced around, and grabbed the DVD case with Sharon Stone on the cover and threw it against the wall where it struck with a loud crack and clattered to the floor in two pieces.

I fell back a step, shocked. I’d never seen him lose his temper like this.

He held up one hand in a calming gesture. “Sorry. I’m not mad at you. I’m mad at myself.” He let out a growl of frustration. “I don’t know—maybe I
should
let you go. Maybe he’s better for you. Maybe you belong here, with him, in the Dark Elven world. I can’t compete with the fame and the fancy cars and mansions on the beach. And I sure as hell can’t compete with sexual glamour.” He collapsed back into the chair, once again sullen and staring at the floor.

What he didn’t know, what I
wouldn’t
say, was that when we’d been together, I’d found him every bit as enticing as I found Nox—without any glamour at all. My fascination with Nox hadn’t begun until after I’d arrived in L.A., after I’d—

“Oh my God.”

Lad’s head lifted. “What?”

That thing that’d been poking gently at my brain? It had just reared back and sucker punched me.

“I didn’t feel… you know… something for Nox until we got out to L.A. together. That’s when I stopped drinking this.”

Now his eyes were bright with interest. “Tea?”

“Tea… made with
saol water
. I’ve been drinking it again since I got here, and I’ve noticed… well… when I was with him tonight—I felt different. Last night, too, after dinner. Something had changed.” I lifted the half-empty glass. “I think maybe it lessens the effects of glamour. I’ve seen the same thing with my friend Emmy, too. Once she started drinking my tea on a regular basis, she was a lot less interested in celebrities. And she’s always been
really
into them. At first I thought it was some sort of residual effect of having been in the fan pods, but maybe it was the saol water in the tea.”

Now Lad’s expression was fully alert and engaged. “Maybe that’s why Elves are less susceptible to glamour than humans. I assumed it was genetics, but maybe it’s the saol water.”

“We should test it. If it’s true... then all we have to do is convince the whole world to drink Magnolia Sugar Tea, and they’ll be released from the power of the Dark Elves,” I said facetiously. Easy-peasy. Nothing to it.

“That’s not a bad idea,” Lad said with a totally serious expression and tone.

“Um... I was joking. How would we get everyone to drink it? It’s only carried in 110 stores right now. And it’s brand new. Hardly anyone’s ever heard of it.”

“I don’t know yet. But there’s something to that idea. Let’s discuss it with Vancia the next time we meet.”

“Yeah. Can’t wait for
that
.”

“So... you really feel a difference from drinking it?” Lad asked.

I nodded. He nearly jumped out of the chair and charged past me to the kitchen.

I followed him. “What are you doing?”

“Getting you a refill.”

The next morning I had a text from Nox saying Vancia had called a meeting at our cottage. I assumed we’d be talking strategy for rescuing Mom. She was supposed to be on the lookout for opportunities, any times that Davis might leave Mom alone.
It would also be a good chance to discuss my saol water theory with both of them.

When Vancia opened the door, I could tell immediately something was wrong. Nox arrived moments later, and his expression confirmed something was up—she must have already told him about whatever had happened.

“Davis figured it out,” she said when we were all gathered in the living room.

Lad was sprawled in the same chair where he’d been sulking in the dark last night. I was in another, facing the small sofa where Vancia and Nox sat side-by-side.

“His spies were at the party last night—they saw us together.” She gestured between herself and Nox.

Of course, my first thought was to wonder what they had been doing together last night that had raised such alarm with Davis.

“And…” Lad prompted.

“When I got home he cornered me and asked me directly mind-to-mind about… my feelings.” She blushed. “He used his Sway on me. I couldn’t lie. I’m sorry.”

“So what does this mean?” I demanded.

“It means I’m kind of useless to the cause now. He knows I was working against him. And… he knows the engagement—oh.” She stopped herself there, looking toward me with a panicked expression.

Lad spoke up. “It’s okay. She knows.”

Her eyebrows pulled together in an angry V. “Since when? I thought we couldn’t
tell
her.”

“Tell her what?” Nox said, throwing his hands out to the side.

“The engagement was a ruse—so Davis would let me come back home.”

Nox stared at her, clearly taken aback by her confession. But then, he shifted and nodded, his face looking like a guy on the verge of solving a Rubik’s cube for the first time.

She glanced around at all of us. “He also kicked me out of the house. I blew it. I’m sorry.”

Taking in her downcast expression, Nox set a comforting hand on her back. “It’s all right. You couldn’t help it. His Sway is too strong.”

When Vancia let out a sob, his back-patting turned into a slow, comforting rub. He leaned his forehead against hers and lowered his voice. “Don’t worry about it. You tried your best.”

“Where am I going to go?” She sniffed. “He banished me from all of his homes.”

“You’ll stay with me, of course. There are plenty of rooms at my house.”

Under another set of circumstances, I might have been more concerned over Vancia’s sudden homelessness and Nox’s proposed cohabitation. Things were changing so fast I could hardly keep up. But all I could really care about in that moment was Mom.

“Does this mean we’re not going to try to rescue my mother?” I asked, sounding as desperate as I felt.

Vancia shook her head. “It doesn’t have to. I think tonight might be the best chance you’ll get. They’re going to see the Philharmonic at the Hollywood Bowl. I know where his box seats are. Of course I can’t be seen there, or he’ll immediately know something’s up. But you three could go.”

“That’s what we’ll do then,” Lad said, coming to his feet. “Because I think it’s even more critical to get Ryann’s mom away from him as soon as possible. Now he knows for sure there’s a faction working against him. Because of last night, he has to strongly suspect you’re in on it with her.” He nodded to Nox. “It may speed up the timetable for whatever he has planned. And if Vancia’s right, and Ryann’s mom is critical to what he’s doing...”

“Right,” Nox said. “Okay, so let’s talk about how we’re going to do it.”

*     *     *

The three of us arrived at the iconic clamshell-shaped music venue in one of Nox’s cars. I was in a disguise, of sorts, heavily made up and wearing a designer dress, sunglasses on, my hair poufed in a glamorous style I’d never normally wear. I did my best to hide my face as paparazzi appeared from seemingly nowhere, calling Nox’s name and shouting questions as they snapped pictures of us getting out of the car.

“Who’s the lucky girl tonight, Nox?”

“Give us a peek at your face, sweetheart.”

Nox tucked me against him, rushing us past the photographers toward the main gate. Lad was still in the car, staying in the back seat as the driver drove it to the parking lot. According to our plan, he would meet up with me later at a designated point near the West gate where, if everything went well, I’d be waiting with Mom.

Nox and I found our seats. He’d purposely purchased tickets several rows behind Mom and Davis, so we could keep an eye on them throughout the show. The plan was to ensure that Mom would separate herself from him at some point.

Nox had paid a server to inform Davis and Mom that the management was thrilled by their attendance and sent complimentary champagne with instructions to keep it flowing all evening. Knowing Mom as I did, she’d be delighted by the gift. She loved champagne. I also knew her teensy bladder would guarantee at least one trip to the bathroom during the concert—probably more than one.

When she reached our row, I would avert my face until she’d gone by, then slip out and follow her. The idea was to get her alone, far from Davis’s reach. Then I’d use my own glamour to convince her to come with me to the West gate where Lad and the driver would pick us up.

The orchestra was barely into the second movement when I saw her whisper to Davis and slide out of their box toward the steps. Picking up my program, I covered my face until Nox told me she’d passed us. Then, with a quick glance at him and a squeeze of his hand, I slipped out of our row and followed her to the bathroom.

Waiting by the sinks, I waved on the other women who motioned for me to take the next available open stall. Yes, I looked like some creepy restroom stalker, but I couldn’t take the chance that Mom might somehow make it out of there without me seeing her.

She emerged from a stall and went directly to the sink on the opposite end from me, not even glancing at my face. She washed her hands and studied her makeup in the mirror, looking for touch-up opportunities, no doubt. She might be a glamour-bot, but she was still my mother.

“Mom?”

Her eyes flew to my face. She blinked several times. “Ryann? Is that you? Wow, honey, you look beautiful.” Her head tilted, and her eyebrows quirked. “What are you doing here?”

“I came for you.”

She rushed forward and embraced me, then pulled back with a beaming smile as my words registered. “Did Davis bring you here as a surprise? I’ve been telling him how much I miss you.”

I pulled her toward the restroom exit and through the door as she was talking—there was no time to waste on explanations. We’d have to walk and talk.

“No, Mom. He didn’t bring me. I came on my own, because he—”

“Ryann, what a lovely surprise.”

Davis’s voice behind me nearly made me jump out of my skin. Had he followed her to the restroom as well?

I whirled to face him. “Davis. I... just ran into Mom in the ladies room. You can imagine my shock.” I laughed uncomfortably, already aware my lie wasn’t going to convince him. “When she said she was moving in with you, I assumed she meant Atlanta or D.C. I had no idea y’all would be in L.A.”

Stepping closer and wearing a predatory grin, Davis pinned me with his eyes. “And I had no idea you were such a fan of symphony music. Or that you were planning a return trip to California so soon.” He lowered his voice into what I now recognized as his Sway tone. “What are you doing here?” 

Okay. So he was trying to glamour me into telling him the truth. Obviously he was suspicious, and he should have been—me being at the same location as him and Mom so far from home was incredibly damning. I’d have to make my next lie very convincing.

“I was... following your daughter.”

His eyebrows flew up over eyes wide with shock. “Vancia? I wasn’t aware you knew her.”

“I don’t, really. I know her fiancé. We... he and I... we used to be together. We were in a relationship before...”

“Before he and Vancia were to marry,” he said, finishing the thought for me. He gave a little
huh
laugh. “Remarkable.”

“She took him from me. And I followed the two of them out here to L.A. to try to convince him to uh...” Here I allowed my voice to fill with mortification that wasn’t hard to fake. “... to take me back and break up with her. But I lost them in traffic after the airport. This was the only place I knew they’d be going. I was hoping to catch him alone for a few minutes.”

I sniffled a bit for dramatic effect, sweeping my hand across the fancy dress I wore. “I even got all dressed up, hoping to dazzle him. But I haven’t seen them here tonight. And then I ran into Mom in the bathroom.”

He studied me with a sharp, assessing gaze. “Yes... well... I’m afraid it’s a wasted trip for you. Vancia was... unable to attend tonight after all.” His eyes went to the side, and his tone took on a calculating note as if evil hamsters were busy turning wheels inside his brain. “She didn’t
mention
her betrothed was in town. How
interesting.
”

Oh no. I’d accidentally implicated Lad as an accomplice in Vancia’s plot against her Pappa. Hurriedly, I concocted yet another lie. Hopefully, he’d buy it because as far as he knew, he’d glamoured me into total honesty.

“Well, Lad said they were off and on, that she had a lot of secrets and they argued a lot. Maybe they had a fight. Maybe he’s flown home already.” I attempted to fill my voice with the kind of unashamed hopefulness a lovestruck girl would feel at the prospect her ex-boyfriend might soon be her once-again boyfriend.

It seemed to work for Davis. He nodded, his eyes going soft with something akin to sympathy. “Perhaps. And I have some news about their ‘relationship’ that might please you—she has betrayed him with another boy. Your Lad may be very open to the idea of reconciling with you.”

“Do you really think so?”

He lay a fatherly hand on my shoulder. “Yes I do. And I’ll do whatever I can to help you in this matter. I’ll find out whether your young man has returned to Mississippi or remains yet in the city.”

Fabulous. Now he’d be actively looking for Lad. What had I done? And what could I do but keep playing along? I would warn Lad as soon as I saw him.

“Oh, could you? That would be amazing,” I gushed.

Davis smiled. “Certainly. First thing tomorrow. Tonight we have a show to enjoy, don’t we my dear?” His question was directed at Mom, who nodded robotically and looked right through me with hollow eyes.

“Where are you staying, Ryann?” Davis’s voice still held the force of his Sway. I guessed he was making one last credibility check before deciding whether he believed my cockamamie tale.

“I stayed at a motel near the airport last night. But it was kind of scary. I was hoping I’d find Lad today and not have to stay there another night.”

Seemingly satisfied, Davis gave me a soothing smile. “Don’t you worry about that. You’ll join us for the remainder of the concert and stay at my house tonight. I’ll send someone to pick up your bag.” Staring down into my eyes and no doubt turning his Sway up full-force, he said, “You will spend the next few days here with your mother and me. And then we’ll go to the Olympics together in Boston Friday. How does that sound?”

I tried my best to make my tone and expression empty as I nodded in agreement. “Good. It sounds good.”

“Excellent. Let’s return to our seats.”

Dang it.

I had no choice but to go with him. I followed him and Mom down to the pricey seat section where someone miraculously left their box seat chair and made room for me, swayed of course.

As I sat and watched the orchestra, I focused my mind and sent a message to Lad, who was probably frantic with worry that I hadn’t met him at our rendezvous point by now.

Plan’s a bust. Davis caught me with Mom.

His reply was immediate.
Are you okay?

I’m fine. But I’m going home with them tonight. At least I’ll be with Mom and get another chance at swaying her.

I don’t like it. Just get away from him.

I don’t have a choice—he thinks I’m under his influence. I can’t let him know I’m immune.

There was a long pause before I heard his voice again
. Be careful.

I will. You be careful, too. He’ll be looking for you. I let it slip that you’re in town. Sorry.

Don’t worry about me. You take care of yourself.

I messaged Nox next, telling him basically the same information. There was no answer. Had he left the Bowl? Was he out of range? Or had something happened to him?

My pulse beat in a fluttery rhythm until I spotted him returning to his seat toward the center of the amphitheater. I tried again.

Didn’t you hear me?

When?

A few minutes ago. I was talking to you. You didn’t answer.