The Curse (Belador #3)(99)

If she knew where to start looking for Tristan, she’d leave now, but the Medb had Tristan … if Kizira’s warlocks hadn’t killed him after he’d teleported Evalle away from the farmhouse. It was going to take some time to find out where he was.

If he still lived.

She hoped so and would start searching tomorrow. If Tzader caught her out walking the streets tonight there’d be hell to pay.

Lanna had showered and changed to a bubble-gum pink sweater and jeans after having swung by the hotel to retrieve her small suitcase. The clothes gave her the appearance of an innocent teenager, but she called herself a sorceress.

Could she actually be a sorceress?

Picking up a lug nut, Lanna tossed it to Feenix, who snagged the treat with his tongue, then danced around chortling. Lanna said, “Tzader said you take time off. That was order. I know. I heard.”

“That doesn’t mean I have to go out to dinner.”

“What do I tell Quinn? He does not like you unhappy.”

“And that’s the only reason he gave you that message for me.” Evalle had a moment of excitement when Lanna had first delivered Quinn’s message, then reality had set in. Quinn and Tzader had witnessed the looks of shock—and horror—on faces when she shifted into a beast.

Of all people, they would know how deeply that reaction cut her and, of course, want to do what they could to soothe her.

“You call my cousin liar?” Lanna could arrange her face into a seriously mean look for a teen.

“Of course not, it’s just that—”

“Oh. Now you have gift to see future?”

“No.” Sarcastic little snot.

“You say you like Storm. How can you know he does not still like you?”

Evalle shoved a handful of damp hair over her shoulder. Why had she spilled her guts to Lanna on the way home this morning? Because she’d never felt so alone and she’d had no one to talk to but Lanna.

“Cousin said—”

“I know, Lanna. The Belador warriors are proud of me, and Storm wasn’t given the chance to speak to me before I left.” Evalle would not put Storm on the spot to see her again just to prove Lanna wrong. She’d seen his face. He would still treat her as a friend, but she’d started thinking of him as more than a friend. Much more.

Someone she didn’t want to lose.

“Do you not want Storm?”

Just cut me to the bone. “This discussion is over.” Besides, Evalle had to focus on finding Tristan and his group. She owed him for helping her escape. She would not leave him to the murdering Medb.

But she would not have Storm’s help tracking Tristan this time.

She already missed Storm ranting at her about how Tristan could not be depended upon.

Lanna played patty-cake with Feenix, whose wings fluttered as he hovered in front of Lanna where his hands could reach to hit hers. “I saw way Storm hold you when we teleport. His eyes only for you. Why you let Adrianna win?”

Feeling that strike right through her heart, Evalle opened her mouth to snarl at the brat, hoping to shut her up, then Lanna added, “She is nothing next to you.”

Lanna’s words cheered Evalle’s bruised heart, but that didn’t make the words true. “You saw Adrianna at the building. She’s beautiful. I will never look anything like that woman or say the right things to a man or ooze sexuality the way it drips off her. I can’t do it. And now Storm’s seen me as a monster.”

Lanna cocked her head to the side, black-tipped curls bouncing. “If Storm wanted someone else, he would not look at you as if you are his world. Clothes, makeup and hair … same as swords and daggers. Me? I am most excellent with female weapons. I would not let go of man like Storm and leave spoils to Adrianna … or any other women.”

The thought of any other woman touching Storm hurt Evalle’s heart. She crossed her arms, refusing to engage any longer with this pint-size spawn of Dr. Phil.

Lanna gave her a sly glance. “If you want to keep women away from your man, you must prepare for battle. Do you not tell me Storm will look for you at night until you show?”

“I’m not going.” Evalle couldn’t let Lanna talk her into humiliating herself.

“You would let this man wait forever?”

Would Storm wait forever? Hope quivered inside her, but Evalle shut the door on wishful thinking. “He’ll realize in a couple days I’m not coming.”

“So you agree he waits for you tonight?”

How had Lanna cornered her this way? “Maybe, but that was before—”

“You are not coward when you fight trolls and demons. You risk your life for strangers, but not your heart for man you want?” Lanna stopped smiling and patted Feenix on top of his head. “Storm would fight for you. He fought for your queen … for you. He does not deserve same?”

That struck home deeper than everything else Lanna had said.

Storm had come through for Evalle time and again. He’d taught her that a man could touch her without harm. He’d awakened her heart, and she feared the frightened organ would never beat again if he walked away from her forever.

But Lanna was right.

Evalle owed it to Storm to show up and give him a chance to say what he thought. If he wanted only to continue as friends, she’d honor that … from a distance. If he wanted nothing else to do with her, she’d accept that even though it would rip her heart in half. “I’ll go.”