Page 37 of Reap the Night
“Dammit. We need to speak to him about the missing people.”
“He doesn’t know anything about that.” Merry sounded a little defensive.
I didn’t have time for hunches. “How do you know? Did you ask him? Because I don’t remember asking him.”
“Shit, we didn’t ask,” Padma said.
“No but…he would have said.” Merry looked worried. “Maybe now isn’t the time to ask.”
She was sweet, and I understood that being accepted by Crush, being brought into the fae community that was her heritage and that she’d been denied entry to for so long must be exciting and she probably didn’t want to do anything to piss Crush off and risk having the invite revoked, but it was a risk we had to take.
“If he kicks us out over a question, then he isn’t the guy we thought he was.” I traced the conflict racing across her features before she sighed and nodded. “Okay, so we’ll need to find him and ask him straight up.”
A shadow fell over our table. “Is everything all right?” Crush looked down on us, his hazel eyes clouded with concern. “I heard that Bellista tried to convince you to drink fae wine.”
“The fae with the pink wings?” Holly asked. “Yes, she did.”
The memory of how huge he was didn’t do justice to the reality of his person.
“You want to sit down?” I indicated the empty seat.
He drew it out and lowered his frame onto it, filling it completely and explaining why the seats were so huge. “I apologize for Bellista. Her kind draw energy from human joy. Fae wine evokes joy in a human heart, but the rules are clear that humans should be given a choice because the come down from joy can be hard on a human mind.”
“Good to know,” Holly said.
“Thank you so much for inviting us.” Merry beamed at him.
“You should stay for the Silvercrest dance just before dawn,” Crush said to her. “It’s fae only, I’m afraid,” he explained to us, “but I promise to take good care of Merry if she stays.”
“What is it?” Merry asked.
“It’s a unifying experience that reminds us that we have a home as long as we are together.”
“I’d like that,” Merry said. “I’d like to stay for it.”
“I’ll find you when it’s time,” Crush replied.
Was it my imagination or were they holding eye contact for a little bit longer than necessary?
Beside me, Edwin cleared his throat, and Merry quickly dropped her chin.
Crush slowly turned to the rest of us. “Any luck on the missing persons case?”
Perfect time to ask my question. “No. But I need to ask, and please don’t take offense, but did you have anything to do with the missing people?”
His eyes flinched, and his smile dropped. “No. I did not.”
I believed him. “I’m sorry. I had to ask. I hope you understand.”
“Yes, I understand, and to save you further questions, your missing people are not in Brimswood Park. I would know. The wards would tell me. No one can come in or out without my knowledge.”
I’d figured as much, but now he’d confirmed it. I felt like shit for asking, though, because it made me look like I doubted him, and I didn’t. I trusted this male even though I barely knew him. It was a deep instinct that flared from time to time with certain individuals. Still, I’d have been neglectful in my duty if I hadn’t posed the question.
“You’re not offended, are you?” Merry asked him.
He looked down at her with a smile. “No, little one. I’m not offended.”
She exhaled. “Good.”
