Page 77 of Werewolves Don't Howl
“Yes, good evening. Who persuaded you to push the Senator’s engagement to Miss Era?” His voice was clipped, short, showing extra aggression as he dealt with whoever on the line needed sternness.
He raised a brow at me and his expression softened slightly. “I see. Thank you.” He hung up and shook his head before he took my hand and turned us to look at the swathe of guests there. He stopped when I was facing a group that included Forsythia and Leticia as well as the Mayor.
“Forsythia is using her connections to promote your relationship with the senator. I’d thought she fancied him for herself. Now I’m intrigued.”
“Forsythia?” I stared at my old friend, laughing at something Leticia said then gesturing with her elegant hand that held her champagne glass without spilling a drop. “She went to Songbird Academy with me.” My heart sank. She’d always been slightly arrogant, looking down on me, but I never would have thought that she’d turn me into a monster and try to ruin my life.
“That’s right. The three of you were quite close. What was the other girl’s name? She’s so hard to remember.” He frowned and then his expression smoothed. “I’m sure Miss Mantle meant well. She’s always been so protective of you, making sure you had entrance to all the best parties in spite of your own reticence to push boundaries. Your father’s name would open many doors with the old families if you cared to use it. Instead it’s Era, instead of Erasmus. I suppose you’re to be commended for wishing to succeed on your own merits.”
“Yes. I’m definitely succeeding on my own merits, not relying on my good friends at all.” I put a hand on his arm and gave him a warm smile. “I’m going to go thank Forsythia. I never knew before how invested she is in my success. I’ll have to forgive her for announcing my engagement when she only cares about my well-being. Thank you for the dance and for your continuous support.” I squeezed his arm and then drifted through the crowd like an elf princess who didn’t have a specific goal in mind.
I stopped abruptly when I saw Loren on the edge of the crowd. She didn’t come to social gatherings like this, but here she was, looking suspicious. I’d have to confront her later. I continued towards Forsythia, aware of Cross shadowing me on the other side of the dancers. We’d probably run into each other where Forsythia was standing. He was moving with the same indifferent grace I was striving for, but he took the time to be a charming senator to everyone he passed. He was so good at playing the part. How did he feel about all the people congratulating him about his engagement? It must make his heart ache, but he’d never show it. If Forsythia had put a love spell on him, I’d never forgive her. It was far crueler than turning me into a monster, although that had been attempted murder. With my gnome blood, infection was death. How could my oldest friend have done that to me? Not that we were close—elves weren’t as a rule—but still. And what about… I couldn’t remember the other girl’s name. Was that another spell? Was anything sacred?
I walked faster, still smiling and nodding at everyone, even Shrimp guy who gave me an angry look before sniffing and returned his focus a woman in a crow mask and a black feathery cape. Lucky lady. I finally made it to Forsythia a few steps ahead of Cross.
I grabbed her arm and tugged her to the side, where a path led into the jungle display. “Forsythia, I have to talk to you. You’ll never believe what Clay told me.”
She held back for a moment before she flinched deep down and smiled, letting her little friend lead her into the shadowy darkness before Cross could interfere. I glanced back at him to see the smoldering in his eyes. It was less romantic, more, ‘I’m going to kill you if you get yourself hurt.’ My stomach flopped at the look. If only he loved me without a spell. Then again, we’d never fit together.
“The senator doesn’t like you running away from him. He particularly dislikes you dancing with Mr. Clay,” she said the second we were safely in the shadows.
“No, he doesn’t like it,” I agreed, turning to study her. She looked back at me, polite disinterest in every line of her face. She smelled nervous, though. Unhappy. I wove some gnome magic, not right there, but around us, a distinct unease that would make people avoid this area. Uncoziness. Subtle, but effective.
“Why did you announce my engagement to the senator?”
She shrugged. “I want my friend to be happy.”
“You were trying to introduce us at Leticia’s garden party. Why?”
“Like I said,” she began with a bored quality to her voice. “I want my friend to be happy.”
I put my hands on my hips while I focused on the elf, on the singing of the night and the stars past the shadows of the night garden. There was so much life, so many different songs to sing. It took hardly any effort at all to spread vines on the ground behind her. “Thank you. I appreciate your concern. What was the name of the girl in our group at school? I always forget.”
She flinched. Guilt. “She was like that, forgettable. What was her name?”
“Do you know what happened to her?”
She got a haunted look, only for a moment before it vanished. “No.”
“You kept track of me, but not her. Why is that?” I took a step closer to her, hanging onto my smile with difficulty.
She patted my head. “Delphi, you’re so cute when you try to be a serious reporter. It doesn’t suit you, though. Leave that to Loren, and other aggressive people.” She started to turn away, but I called the vines and they leapt to obey, wrapping her in a blink and then growing solidly so she couldn’t so much as shift.
I smiled at her. “I’m feeling a bit aggressive. You were there at the party the night I got infected.”
She gasped and struggled against the vines that wrapped around her, pulling at her delicate costume and feathers. “What’s going on? Is this you? You’re capable of controlling this much of life? I don’t believe it. It must be the senator.” She yanked against a tendril and I had it twine around her upper arm, pulling her tight against the massive group of vines I’d collected behind her.
“I was infected with something that made me extra strong and powerful, the elf, the gnome, and…” I swallowed. “The wolf,” I finally spat out.
She flinched again. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“You helped me establish myself here in Singsong City. You always had contempt for me, but you made an effort to make sure I succeeded. But why? Were you just watching your little experiment? I know about Lynx.”
She inhaled sharply. Ah. She also knew about Lynx. “Stay away from them.”
“Them?” I laughed. “You expect me to believe that you’re not involved? You were there in the beginning. What I don’t understand is why you’d put a love spell on the elf. That was incredibly cruel.”
She looked away, focusing on something I couldn’t see. She returned her attention to me, and her expression was openly astonished. “No one’s coming to save me. What did you do?”
