Page 46 of The Hunt
She laughed again, and I grinned.
“But what’s really getting me is that Adira has a tracking spell on me now because I disappeared on them for a few hours.”
“Oh? Tell me more about this disappearance. Where did you go? Who were you with?”
“You’re missing the point. Adira is driving me insane with her control issues.”
“I promise to punch her in the face when I get back. Now, tell me the details.”
I thought of the caves and who I’d been with the first time and felt a pang of regret.
“Just some hot springs. Oanen can probably tell you more about them than I can. I miss you, Megan. It’s just not the same with you gone.”
“You’re making it really hard to stay away when you say things like that.”
“Sorry.”
“Don’t be. Keep calling me when you’re lonely. Or go hang out with Ashlyn. I know she likes you and isn’t afraid of all of us monsters.”
Guilt hit me like a punch to the middle.
“And there’s always Fenris,” Megan continued, unaware of my pain. “Tell him to give you a hug for me.”
“No way. He’s far too huggy already. Whatever you do, don’t bet hugs with him. I’m up to two a day.”
Her squeal, followed by a burst of laughter, had me jerking the phone from my ear.
“Yeah, real funny,” I said, shouting to be heard. “Just so you know, he’s planning on hugging you and Oanen when you guys are back. Be ready.”
“Oh, we will be. In the meantime, is there anything I can do to make your life easier with Adira? I don’t think tracking spells are breaking any rules, so my fury probably won’t care, but anything else?”
With guilt, I thought of Adira’s lack of effort to find Ashlyn. There was nothing to say about that without damning myself, though.
“No, nothing.”
“Sorry, babe. Hey, how’s the goblin doing? I met a few here who were doing some insane-level upkeep.”
“Your house is amazing. He keeps it spotless and is working on repairing the outside. It’s going to look like a new house when you see it.”
“I can’t wait to settle back in and start raising some more hell there. Adira needs the tables turned.”
“And I can’t wait to watch you do it.”
The tables would do more than turn when Megan found out about Adira’s inaction. They would spin in Megan’s fury.
I couldn’t help but wonder, though, if Megan would be dragging me to hell along with Adira.
Chapter Eight
With nowhere else to go,I decided to head for the Roost. However, when I reached the entrance, the heavy beat of music within reminded me of dancing with the dryads.
While I hesitated, trying to think of somewhere else to go, the door opened, and two mermaids walked out.
“Well, look who it is,” the first one said. “The druid lover. You’re going to regret ever walking into our domain.”
“If you want to claim a bathroom as your domain, fine. Enjoy the toilets.”
The second mermaid lunged for me, but the first one stopped her as I hurried into the Roost. I had enough on my mental plate without adding a mermaid fight to the list.
