The Curse (Belador #3)(51)

“Yes. You tuned in to their conversation while I was on my phone.” Quinn stood.

So did Lanna. “No, Cousin. They have troubles with shelter and children service.”

“I’m only going to ask them questions. If I like the answers, they’ll be fine.”

“And if not?”

“They’ll have bigger problems than child services.”

When Quinn took a step toward the boys, Kell’s head whipped up, alert. He grabbed Kardos’s sleeve and started backing away.

But not before he noticed Lanna. Kell’s eyes were two angry slits, his eyebrows tucked tight over his gaze.

With one look, he accused her of betrayal, though he had no idea what she had said or done.

She had not meant to cause him more problems and wanted a chance to explain, but now the boys were backing away. Fear mixed with their angry looks.

Kell had said best place for them was here in park until sunset. They would not stay if Quinn frightened them, and her cousin could be a most intimidating man.

Walking calmly toward the twins, Quinn called out. “I’d like to talk to you.”

She had noticed small police station across street when she first arrived at park. Three men in uniforms walked from other side of street toward corner of park where the boys stood by statue.

Kardos looked over his shoulder at the same three men and told Kell, “Can’t go that way. One of those cops … knows me. If he’s heard about the underage roundup, he’ll grab me and ask questions later.”

Boys were caught between Quinn and men in uniforms.

Her fault.

Accusation flew from Kell’s gaze. How could she fix this?

She could not draw deep on powers or Grendal would find her. Because of potion, he could feel her use her powers to call on elements … but not if the elements merely reacted to her anxiety. Closing her eyes, she did worst thing for her. She called up memory of what had happened to her with Grendal back in Romania.

Thunder boomed overhead.

Quinn swung back to her and shouted, “No, Lanna.”

She opened her eyes and looked up at sky. Same place Quinn looked, where clouds had changed from puffy white to threatening gray.

In that instant, she glanced over at Kell and winked to let him know she would help him escape.

He blinked once, but did not waste opportunity she had given him. He latched onto Kardos, towing him away.

If those two knew where special trolls were, they could help her, and she would help them again, too, but that would only happen if she found them again.

She focused on Kardos’s hand and whispered short chant.

Dice fell from his fingers.

Kardos turned to go for the tumbling cubes, but Kell had tight grip on his brother, urging him to keep moving. The two rushed away into a small cluster of people walking around park.

When the sky quieted, Quinn dropped his head and looked at empty spot by statue where boys had been. His growl sounded rough with frustration, but her cousin would never harm someone who was not a threat.

He turned back to her. “You summoned that thunder on purpose.”

Lanna did not agree or try to lie. Instead, she waved him off. “Go, Cousin. I understand. You are busy and can not play guide with me.”

“You really think I’m going to leave you out here alone?”

She hoped not. “I am fine, Cousin.”

He lifted handle of her rolling suitcase and tilted his head to point the way he wanted her to walk.

She followed, letting her steps take her by the dice that sat in piled leaves, where she scooped them up on her way by. She had located people by holding personal items and hoped it would work this time.

“Where are we going, Cousin?”

“To my hotel. I can’t deal with this right now, but I’ll be back tonight and you’ll be safe if you stay out of view.”

Quinn waved a taxi over. The driver took them to a nice Ritz Hotel where the doorman spoke fondly to her cousin. Everything about hotel bragged of much money, from porters to fancy doors.

She had just stepped from taxi behind Quinn when he paused and stared into distance again. This time only for few seconds. He dismissed whatever had stopped him, then scratched his head and gave Lanna a card from his pocket. He spoke low for her ears only. “The Belador Maistir called. I have to go. It’s important.”

Ah. He had communicated with his mind again.

Quinn handed her a plastic card. “Here’s the room key. If you’re hungry, order food. You can watch movies, too.”

Taking the room key card, she hurried to speak before he started giving orders and demanding promises. “I understand. Thank you for room, Cousin. Do not worry if you find me asleep when you come back. I am very tired and hungry. I could sleep for two days after bumpy trip here.”

His irritation softened. “I’m sure it was a difficult flight. If you need anything—”

“I will call from room. I can tell this hotel will be most helpful. Go, Cousin. Do not worry about me. No one will bother me.”

Quinn spoke quietly, but in a rush. “I just checked in today, so no one other than the hotel staff knows I’m here. I don’t like leaving you without the warding on the door—”

“That would not be good unless you can stay for half hour to find out if my majik reacts to warding. Last time I—”