Page 173 of Flirting with Darkness

“How you got yourself trapped by such an obvious charm, I can’t fathom.” Bastian shook his head. “Really, Faolán, I thought you knew better.”

His words prickled me, and I folded my arms, mirroring my husband. “He was helping me.”

Faolán’s face tightened in a wince.

Bastian’s eyebrows rose as his attention returned to me. “Oh,really?” His gaze flowed over me, evaluating. “And why would he be doing that, I wonder. Faolán?”

“You can mock me all you like when I get back. In the meantime, there’s something strange about this place.”

“Oh?” Bastian’s amusement disappeared as he looked between us, eyes sharp.

We told him about the ball we’d seen in our shared dream, though we left out the part where we’d kissed. Mercifully, Faolán also didn’t mention the way I’d reacted to the sapphire-eyed woman’s fae charm.

Bastian’s brow crinkled as he pursed his lips. “I’m not so sure that was a dream.” He eyed the ceiling and walls. “You said the housedoes things, has some sort of awareness?”

I nodded, half-expecting something in the room to move in answer.

“It may be that you’re seeing its memories.”

“Memories?” A chill crept through me. “Then that really happened?”

He shrugged and tossed his head. “Perhaps.” He stalked to the window. “It would help if I knew where you were.”

Faolán growled, eyebrows low and fierce. “I’d love to know that, too. But she transported us here. I just know the wall to her gardens”—he flicked the briefest glance to me, disapproval unmistakeable in the flat set of his mouth before he continued—“is about a day’s travel from the skyshrine on the edge of clan territory.”

“Hmm, that’s something, I suppose. I’ll see what I can find out.” Bastian peered outside before turning to us with a smirk. “In the meantime, you’re both stuck here.”

I gave Faolán an apologetic smile as his arms tightened over his chest. “Looks like you’re stuck here with me. Sorry.” I raised my hands and explained to Bastian, “He hates me, you see. I make himterriblygrumpy.”

He huffed out a breath through his nose. “Oh, no, he’s always this cheerful at work.”

Faolán grunted. “I am when the job goes so bloody wrong.”

Bastian chuckled and fingered the candlestick I’d picked up as a makeshift weapon on my first day. “Well, there’s nothing you can do about it now, and this place is better than your tent. You might as well make the most of it.” His eyes narrowed at the wall. “Is that a bathroom through there?”

“Mm-hmm.”

With a flash of canines, Bastian grinned. “Then what are you complaining about?” He clapped Faolán on the shoulder. “Between that and…” He raised one eyebrow meaningfully. “Allthis place has to offer, I’m sure you’ll find a way to pass the time. I, however, still have my freedom.” He tugged his cuff. “I’ll see you in a month.”

“Wait.” One hand reaching out, I lurched forward. “I came here to find my friend. If you work for the Night Queen, you might’ve heard about Briarbridge’s Tithe being collected.”

“The Tithe?” He exhaled, expression shuttering.

Faolán lifted his chin. “I said I’d help her.”

“Of course you did.” Bastian sighed and shook his head. “Who’d guess you were such a soft touch under all those muscles? I suppose that meansIshould help her or else you’ll just be distracted by this little quest for another month when you get out of this place.” He canted his head at me. “Well?”

I explained about Ari and the fae lord who’d taken her and did my best to recite exactly what he’d said when he’d first appeared.

“A threadwitch with white hair?” He waved his hand. “She’s perfectly safe. She has a workshop in Tenebris, in fact. Excellent work. Lysander chose well.”

“She… what?” My heart beat harder as though I needed more blood in my brain to piece together what he’d just said. “She’s… safe and well?”

“I have an appointment with her next week. I had to pull strings to get it—her work is in high demand.”

Already set up with a workshop and clients? After less than a week? That didn’t seem right. Maybe he was deliberately talking about another threadwitch with white hair—twisting the truth so he wasn’t quite lying, but was telling me what I wanted to hear. Maybe he thought that would make me go home and leave Faolán in peace to do his work.

Jaw clenching, I shook my head. “I won’t believe it until I see it.”

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