Page 56 of Box of Frogs
‘No,’ Morgan agreed quietly. ‘He doesn’t. But as much as he acts like a brute who’s quick to anger, don’t underestimate him. He’s not stupid and he likes to play the long game. There was once a Fey who insulted him when we were back in Mag Mell, laughed at him when he tripped and fell. Rubus pretended to laugh it off like it was all a big joke. Ten months later, when that same Fey petitioned to be allowed to cross over here to retrieve some mugwort to help his sick daughter, Rubus made sure his petition was denied.’
‘So he’s high up then? In Fey Land? I mean, Mag Mell,’ I corrected.
‘Yeah.’ Morgan’s mouth tightened. ‘Or at least he was.’
If there was one thing I’d learnt about myself over the last few days, it was that I possessed a sharp tongue. ‘I’m surprised that I chose him,’ I mused. At Morgan’s sideways glance and brief, annoyed flush, I hastily explained. ‘If I’ve learned anything about myself it’s that I don’t tend to keep my mouth shut. I can see how that could annoy someone with a short temper and a large ego.’
‘Rubus has a jealous streak,’ he murmured. ‘Even when we were kids, it was the same. Whenever I had something, even if he’d shown no interest in it, he immediately wanted it.’
‘You grew up together?’
Morgan’s jaw clenched. ‘He’s my brother.’
I stared. ‘You didn’t think to mention this little fact before?’
‘It’s why I have as much right to confront Rubus over what he’s done to your new boss as you have,’ he said stiffly, without looking at me.
I swallowed and plucked at the hem of my T-shirt. ‘Did I betray you with him?’ I asked, suddenly nervous about the answer.
All I received in response was a tight, barely noticeable nod. Gasbudlikins. No wonder Morgan despised us both.
‘Maybe you’re too close to all this,’ I said. ‘Maybe you should stay here while I check out the building.’
‘You’re not going in there alone,’ he growled. Both his tone and his expression were implacable.
Arguing felt like a waste of time. ‘Fine then,’ I said. ‘Let’s do this.’
‘What’s the plan?’
I turned to him and bared my teeth. ‘March up there and break down the door, of course.’
A faint glimmer of amusement lit his eyes. ‘Of course.’
I hopped off the bike and Morgan followed. My shoulders were tense; there was no denying the knot of anxiety in the pit of my stomach. But I had no choice – I had to do this. I strode across the street, blood roaring in my ears and Julie’s scarf wrapped tightly in my hands. As soon as I reached the large steel door, I kicked at it. The metal reverberated loudly. I scowled and tugged at the handle. Morgan reached down and placed his hand on mine.
‘Allow me,’ he murmured.
Reluctantly, I stepped back. He touched the door, his palm flat against it and he murmured something under his breath. A moment later, he tried the door again. This time it slid open easily.
My eyes narrowed. ‘That’s a neat trick.’
‘One you’re adept at, as well,’ he told me. ‘I’m sure you’ll be breaking and entering all over the place once you get your memory back.’
‘You really don’t have a very high opinion of me,’ I muttered, although given what I’d learnt that was hardly surprising. I stepped over the threshold,
Morgan hesitated at the doorway. ‘No ward,’ he said, as much to himself as to me.
I glanced back. ‘Ward? Is that what you put on the pub to prevent me from entering?’
He nodded. ‘They need to be refreshed every six hours if they are to remain effective against Fey intrusions. For someone like Rubus, I’d imagine they’re a foregone conclusion.’
I swung my head round and searched the cavernous, dark interior. ‘You don’t think he’s here.’
Morgan grimaced. ‘I’m beginning to doubt it.’
I curled my hands into fists and nodded. Whatever Rubus had been to me, I wasn’t going to let him get away with abducting Julie. ‘Even if he’s not here, there might be clues as to where he’s gone. We should still look.’
‘You actually sound reasonable, Madrona,’ Morgan told me. ‘It must be time to up my medication.’
