Page 54 of What did you do?

It tickled and crawled against my skin. Alarmed, I opened my hand to reveal ten jewel-toned beetles crawling timidly around my hand, each no larger than a dime. I pursed my lips in annoyance and moved to set them free in the grass with a scowl when he grabbed my palm and held it firmly.

“They are tolkiens,” he explained. “Each color is a different value. I will help you learn what they are when you find something you’d like to buy.”

“Your currency is beetles?” I asked, still reluctant to believe he wasn’t trying to pull something.

“Gold is everywhere. It holds no value here beyond aesthetics and the family color. These are Gondor beetles. They are rare and cannot be duplicated from magic or forgery. Now, put them in your pocket before they crawl off,” he said, smiling. “You can get anything you like here with that handful.”

“I don’t have pockets in this dress. I usually just stuff a wad of cash and my phone down between my…” I trailed off, holding the low neckline of my white dress out. There was no way in hell I was putting beetles between my boobs. I couldn’t even wear a bra with how wide the cap sleeves were cut on this dress.

“Then I think your first purchase ought to be a pouch,” he replied. Eli placed his hand on the small of my back and guided me toward the rows of vendors.

Turning into the stall of the third merchant, the scent of leather and tannin knocked me in the face. It wasn’t entirely unpleasant, just strong. Handmade leather items filled everyinch of the canvas structure, and what wasn’t filled with goods was filled with shoppers.

I squeezed past several people in the tight space, hoping to get a better look.

Eli had barely reached the front of the shop when a horde of people collected around him. He smiled at me across the shop with a discreet eye roll while he talked happily with the people, patting someone’s back and causing the entire group to burst out into laughter.

I smiled to myself. It was a wonder he shifted into a fox and not a golden retriever.

After thoroughly admiring the talented craftsmanship, I settled on a rich brown pouch that I could wear cross-body. Not too big, not too small—perfect for when I needed to carry some books or weapons as well.

After working my way back to the front and showing Eli my find, he introduced me to the owner of the shop—a huge, burly man with flaming red hair and the kindest smile. Eli had to step on my foot to stop me from gawking. The man’s red beard was actuallyon fire, with smoldering flames that crackled when he laughed. He refused to accept any of my tolkiens though, and securing the beetles safely in my new pouch, Eli and I gave our thanks and said our goodbyes.

Every shop or booth we came to was a similar experience. Eli would get caught with a group of townsfolk thrilled to see him, and I would fight off the rest of the crowd to peruse the goods. I didn’t mind though; it was fun to see him in his element, and the items in these shops were nothing like anything I’d ever seen in the human realm, both in quality and peculiarity.

On the outskirts of one particularly crowded area in front of several deep stalls, I spotted a tattered wooden sign labeledapothecaryin dingy black letters with an arrow pointing left. I peered in that direction.

The street in front of it was still somewhat crowded, but it was clear that we had reached a darker, seedier side of the village, both the shops and the crowd. The people were still happy and excited to talk to the prince, but they appeared a bit more soiled and unruly. The shops on this end were situated with the sun to their backs, making this section of the market darker under the heavy canopy of shadows.

“Stay with me here, Cal. It’s crowded today, and this side of the market is filled with vendors from the other realms. It’s good for our trade but bad for thievery.”

We stepped into the cool shadows of the next vendor’s stall. The temperature immediately dropped several degrees, sending a light chill across the top of my arms, but inside, it was also packed. Shoulders knocked into mine as I felt the hum and buzz of too many people around me. Eli squeezed my arm, keeping me at his side.

“I’m fine,” I said with a laugh when a large group stepped between Eli and I again. This time a small old woman and three men practically dragged him to a canvas tent across the road. Two of the men hoisted up some weird, scaled, squid-looking creature and before I knew it, they were all cheering and jumping up and down.

Suddenly the breath stilled in my throat and the hairs at the back of my neck rose. I swallowed. The thick sound of it was loud in my head. Tingles tiptoed up my spine.

I whipped my head around, knowing something would be there. I could feel it watching me.

It felt like my chest had shattered, forcing its jagged pieces into my scrap of a heart. I fell backward into several people and onto the grimy cobblestone. The crowd carried on, swarming around me like a current as I scrambled to get back on my feet.

When I did, the first thing I saw was the massive figure in the street, still and motionless, people parting around him likehe was an unmovable stone in the moving stream of people. His black cloak billowed angrily as he towered above the crowd. The hood of his cloak hid his face, but it didn’t matter. I could feel who it was.

Malum Mendax, the Unseelie prince, tilted his head in a chilling movement.

I fell back into the current of people, barely catching myself from falling again. I think I tried to scream, but I was too horrified, and I don’t think I made any sound. My heart slammed in my chest painfully as I scrambled to move, to get away. I couldn’t think—all I could do was panic. Pure terror gripped me.

It wasn’t possible.

It couldn’t be possible!

This was not a horny, confused dream. He stood in front of me this very moment. Alive.

I had stood over him and watched the life drain from his eyes. I had forced my bladeexactlybetween his wings, where I was supposed to. Just where he had confessed that a wound would kill him. He was dead!

He. Was. Dead.

Emotions punched me in the gut. My footing faltered, and I lost sight of him briefly, the pounding in my chest forcing my entire body to pulsate.

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