Page 2 of Cry of the Damned
“We will,” Ila answered, also avoiding eye contact. There was no doubt the tension between the two was turning up a notch every day.
Ila inhaled deeply as if to make herself stronger, stepped out of the suite, and quickly closed the door behind her. I exited through the balcony, ran to the front of the building, and went into the lobby just as Ila appeared.
Mrs. Clarice—the hotel’s owner, whom I’d met while I was inside Bethel’s body thanks to one of her spells—was sitting at the counter, scribbling furiously. When she heard us, she glanced up and removed a pair of reading glasses. Her brown hair was styled like a helmet, and I bet it felt like one, too.
“Hello,” she greeted Ila with a saccharine white smile.
“Good Morning, Mrs. Clarice,” Ila said.
“Beautiful day for a walk.” She was about to put her glasses back on but paused and narrowed her eyes at me, noticing me for the first time.
Ila took a step in my direction. “This is my friend. We met at the coffee shop the other day. She’s going to show me around.” We’d figured it might make things easier if Mrs. Clarice met me. That way, I wouldn’t always have to go in and out through the balcony.
Her eyes narrowed a bit distrustfully. “Have I met you before?”
“I don’t think so.” I resisted the urge to hide my face.
“I could’ve sworn…” she trailed off.
I didn’t like her questioning frown one bit, so I grabbed Ila’s hand and pulled her toward the door. Maybe meeting her had been a bad idea.
“See you later,” Ila called over her shoulder in a cheery tone.
Once outside, she whispered in my ear. “You think she suspects something?”
I laughed and brushed things off. “No, ‘course not. Why would she?”
Ila glanced up and down the sidewalk, looking like a scared rabbit.
“Try to relax,” I said. “We’re just two sisters out for a walk on a beautiful day.”
If anything could get us noticed, it was Ila acting like she expected magistrates to jump out at her from every alley.
She closed her eyes and took a calming breath, then we continued on our way. A quick glance over in her direction revealed an expression as placid as an angel’s. She didn’t cease to amaze me! This was her first time in a place like this and, most of the time, she was able to remain calm and collected. Though I shouldn’t have been surprised. She had been through far worse. We all had.
We walked in silence for a few minutes, headed toward the coffee shop at the end of Elm Street. Like Mrs. Clarice had said, it was a beautiful spring day. There was no winter chill left in the air, and the sun shone through fluffy clouds, warming our skin. Birds fluttered about, perching on the crepe myrtles that lined the cobbled road. The street was narrow, and the buildings quaint and clustered together. More European than American, I’d heard people say, not that I had any experience to compare.
I cleared my throat. “Can I ask you something?”
“Sure.”
“In the packs… do… um… does it ever happen that…?”
Ila blinked at me expectantly.
“Can someone be somebody’s fated mate and never be reciprocated?” I blurted out so fast that I was surprised she understood my question.
“Um, not that I’ve heard of.” She pondered for a moment. “I guess if somebody’s fated mate dies, then—”
I waved my hands, urging her to stop. The thought of Kall dying was too upsetting to even consider. If anyone should die in that scenario, it should be me.
“Sorry.” She shrugged. “You asked.”
“I know. I know.”
“Mate bonds aren’t common. There has never been one in our pack—not in my memory. If mother was here, we could…” She was unable to finish, and instead, stared sadly at her knock-off Converse.
I leaned my head on her shoulder, offering what little comfort I could. It seemed to be enough because she smiled and nudged me in the ribs.
