Page 24 of The Enemy to the Living
“I don’t think so.”
“You don’tthink so?”
“Well, no one tried to kill me, so I really doubt it.”
Vlad closes his eyes and rubs the bridge of his nose. Grant presses his lips together, clearly suppressing a grin. I suppose it makes a change for someone else to piss Vlad off. I don’t mean to. I just wanted to see where they were.
Is it better or worse that if I’d gone with Vlad—or if we’d waited around for Maurice or Jeremiah and Paxton—that I probably wouldn’t have spoken to Quinn tonight?
I don’t know. I don’t want to examine that possibility too closely.
“There is not a chance they did not realise you were there, Asher,” Vlad snaps eventually, and I fight my own sigh. “They will be able to sense a high fae’s blessing, and yours—”
He cuts himself off, but I hear it all the same. Mine is out of control. Hardly surprising, considering what I am—what I was—but Vlad doesn’t know that. At least, I don’t think he does. I don’t think anyone but the Huntsman knows.
“Mine is what?” I say.
Grant closes his book again, more quietly this time.
“Unreliable.”
“Fuck you, Vlad.”
I storm into the kitchen because I might as well eat while I’m here, but I’ve no intention of staying for the day. Vlad trails me in.
“You know I do not mean—”
“I’m a member of the Hunt, just like you.”
“I know—”
“I’ve been a member almost as long as you have.”
“Yes, I—”
“So why can’t I use my judgement? I don’t see you or Maurice out there finding the place again.”
“And it is good that you have,” Vlad says, “but webothknow you should have reported in then. Why didn’t you?”
I wanted to see Quinn. I don’t know how much Vlad has worked out about that. Possibly more than I have.
“I don’t know,” I say. Even to my ears, my voice sounds sullen. Vlad merely looks at me, expression speaking volumes.
“Asher…”
Iris will not be at her studio, not this late, but if I send her a text now, then she might find time for me tomorrow. I shake my head, abandoning my plans to eat.
“I’m sorry,” I say and only half mean it. I’m sorry he was worried. I’m not sorry for going or for looking out for Quinn.
“We’ll go tomorrow night if we can,” Vlad says. “Please be careful until then.”
“Yeah, sure.”
Grant watches me as I leave through the living room, and though I think of stopping to talk to him, I don’t follow through on that. I take a deep breath once I’m outside and text Iris before I can think twice about it. I don’t have a tattoo in mind, but she always has something she’s willing to try.
To my surprise, she replies in under a minute.
Come by now. I’m here.
