Page 68 of Song of the Shadow Prince
Maeve jogged across the room and up the stairs, taking two steps at a time. While she searched, I scanned the outside area from my vantage point at the window. I didn’t see anyone out there, but the hairs on the back of my neck did not lie.
Process of elimination told me it wasn’t the vampires since it was still daytime, which also eliminated Damien since hecouldn’t leave the island unless it was under the cover of darkness and shadows. Klaus could only leave Faelight Forest if summoned when I was in danger, which meant that the person following us was none other than headmistress Mirabel. She was the only other interested party.
Since Mirabel was a witch, I needed to be careful. My human fighting skills would only get me so far. I still had the protection spell Garrick placed on me when I entered Faelight Forest since it was never put to use, but that didn’t mean she wouldn’t hurt Maeve. That’s why I needed Garrick here to protect the house.
The witch obviously didn’t trust Arya if she followed us here. I felt like such an amateur coming here from the art school and leading her straight to the goods. I could face palm myself right about now.
“Homegirl could literally take the paintings and the money if she wanted, and we couldn’t do squat about it. Fuck!” I ran a hand through my hair. “Nah. She’s not going to one-up me if I can help it. I’ll stay here all night if I have to.” I leaned against the wall and stubbornly crossed my arms over my chest. “Let’s see who blinks first.”
I heard Maeve stomping down the stairs in a hurry, huffing and puffing. She almost slipped on the last steps and caught herself on the railing at the last second. “Be careful!” I called out.
“I sent out the raven,” she said breathlessly.
“Good,” I muttered. “Now, we wait.”
Maeve furrowed her brows. “Who do you think followed us?”
“The one who got Arya involved in this mess in the first place… Headmistress Mirabel,” I answered confidently.
Maeve gasped for what felt like the hundredth time. “By the—!”
I chuckled. “Yes, yes, by the immortal is right,” I finished for her.
She pouted and crossed her arms over her chest. “You’re making fun of me.”
I laughed. “I’m not, Maeve. I’m just catching on to your sayings in this world. I’m learning.”
Embarrassment tinged her cheeks. “Oh.”
I approached and rustled her hair. “I’m sorry, Maeve. I didn’t mean to laugh. Arya is involved in some serious things and your concern for her is valid. I promise to help you solve them before I leave.” As soon as the words left my mouth, I internally groaned. That was a promise I probably shouldn’t have made, especially when I didn’t know how much longer I’d be staying in Elaria. Also, I didn’t owe Arya shit. But Maeve had been good to me, and if this put her at ease, it was the least I could do.
“Really?” She looked up at me with big, glossy eyes and I caved.
“Really.”
“Oh, thank you, my lady!” She grabbed my hands. “Thank you!”
We spent the next hour milling around both floors of the house, looking at Arya’s paintings and searching for the money she’d hopefully hidden around here. Unfortunately, we didn’t find a single coin.
When we heard a knock at the door, we hustled downstairs, ready for anything. I peered between the curtains onto the front porch and saw Garrick’s one-eyed self standing in front of the door. Relieved, I sighed at the sight of him.
I flung open the door and ushered him inside. “Hurry!” After pulling him over the threshold, I slammed the door and locked it.
He stumbled and almost lost his footing. “By the immortals! Watch it – you almost slammed the door on my shirt! What’s the emergency? Where am I?” He scanned the house and his nose wrinkled at the strong odor of turpentine.
“You’re at the Ryders’ beach house.” Maeve met us by the door. “We need your, uh… assistance.”
He raised a brow. “Oh, no, my lady. I just finished dealing with your latest mess. Please don’t include me in another!” Garrick spun on his heels to leave.
I clutched the sleeve of his threadbare shirt. “Garrick, wait!” I called out. “Please!”
He paused and warily glanced at me over his shoulder. “I’m listening.”
“Arya… the high lady’s life I’ve taken over, is involved in some… sketchy shit.” I waved around the room. “She’s been painting duplicates of original artworks for the vampires and selling them at a high price. The day we met for the first time, I was accosted by them in the alley after parting ways with you.”
“You got into another… altercation that same night?” he said, shock coloring his tone.
“Well… you’re saying it a bit more politely than I would have, but yes, that’s the gist.” I sighed. “To carry on with the lie of being Arya, I went to her art lesson today and learned that the headmistress of the school is her point of contact for this whole scheme.” I waved at the stacked paintings behind me. “Thisis Arya’s secret hideout where she painted and stashed all the money she made.” I grimaced. “And I think the headmistress is the one who followed us here.”
