Page 36 of What Fools These Immortals Be
“Someone was there. Someone… not you.”
“One of the fae. He showed you something.”
Memories flood me all at once, and I turn from Maurice to look out the window so he cannot see the way my cheeks heat. I remember what the fae showed me. Except, at the time…
At the time, I had thought it real.
I had seen Maurice, so close, giving in to all the things I wanted. I had imagined it, I suppose, or the fae had taken the images from my imagination.
“How do they do that?” My voice comes out hoarse, and I clear my throat.
Maurice is silent for a moment, but he answers before I can turn to check he is still standing there. “They manipulate your desires. Any desire. It does not have to be something profound.”
It feels that way, though. I take a shuddering breath. I do not want Maurice here, is what I need to remember. I do not require a bodyguard. I do not need a babysitter.
I do not need him at all.
“Everything is fine now,” Maurice says. “I killed him because he should have known better than to attack you—to attack any vampire. The danger has passed.”
That… feels like a lie. I dare to glance over my shoulder at Maurice, and I cannot read it from his face. Only…
“There was another one, wasn’t there?”
Maurice sighs. “Njáll…”
“Was there?”
He frowns at me, pursing his lips as he clearly considers how much he should tell me—if anything at all. Perhaps he should not. Except the desire to know has gripped me, and I feel I will follow him doggedly around for the rest of the night if that is the only way to get answers.
“Yes,” he says finally. “Yes. A selkie. I need to try to track her down.”
“Why?”
“Hunt business.” He shrugs his shoulders as though some heavy mantle has been set upon them; perhaps that is how he feels. “I’ll go tonight. You’ll stay here.”
It is not a question. I shake my head. “I’ll come with you.”
“Absolutely not!”
“Why not?”
“Why not?” Maurice repeats, incredulous. “Because therecouldbe danger, and I am supposed to keep you out of it, for one. Because it is precisely none of your business for another.”
“And you would rather leave me here, alone, to have another meeting with Augustine?”
Maurice’s expression drops. Clearly, he has not worked out how to check my calendar on that new phone of his. He is as suspicious of Augustine as I am, I know that, but I am gambling on him considering Augustine a true threat.
In all honesty, I am not worried about him. He is not a young vampire, but younger than me, and if he were to attack, I know I would win. Even if he took me by surprise, we are in the clan house, so I am surrounded by allies.
And I donotwish to meet with him tonight. I have no better news for him regarding Quinn, and I do not know if I am disappointed or relieved by that fact. I would much rather be out investigating whatever this is with Maurice.
“You think you’re being awfully clever,” Maurice mutters, crossing his arms over his chest. His cheeks are flushed in anger, grey eyes sparking when he meets my gaze.
“I am leaving the choice in your hands.”
Of course he could decide to remain. I could have that meeting with Augustine under his careful supervision. One of the other members of the Wild Hunt could do the investigating for him.
I think he likes that idea about as much as I do.
