See Me (See Me #1)(60)

McKale and I stared in horror at the determination in her eyes. One way or another she would have her way. She would either get to have McKale, or the satisfaction of hurting me by taking my sister. And I had no doubt she could make either one of those scenarios happen. She could take them both if she wanted, and I’d be powerless to stop her. What we needed right now was time.

McKale looked like he was prepared to argue. He obviously still believed there was some goodness hiding in her if he could get her to see reason. But squabbling was only going to make her madder. We needed her to think she’d won so we could have time to figure something out.

“McKale,” I said. “Please…”

Both sets of eyes were on me. McKale’s mouth was open from the argument he’d been prepared to give. He closed his mouth and blinked away the pain on his face before looking away from me and nodding.

“I will go with you after the binding,” he said to the FFG. “Take me.”

My insides lurched.

She reached up and stroked his jaw line. “Someday you will thank me for this, McKale. You see how quickly she chooses another over you.”

That wasn’t what I’d meant at all, but his posture stiffened. He couldn’t possibly know that I’d never throw either of them to the Fae! Oh, my gosh—what if we couldn’t find a way to fix this? What if he really went? Hot tears stung my eyes and I wrapped both arms around my waist.

From the corner of my eye I saw a slight movement in the distance. FFG was too focused on McKale to notice the mass of brown curls peeking out stealthily from behind the trees.

Rock.

There was no sign of mirth in the Clourichaun as his eyes locked to mine. We shared a moment of joined, silent panic.

“Seal your promise to me with a kiss,” Khalistah told McKale. My attention snapped back to them. No. Don’t kiss her!

McKale hesitated while she waited, patient.

“Please allow Robyn to leave us now,” he requested.

“She stays. I was forced to witness the two of you carrying on. Now she must do the same.”

I was going to be sick.

McKale bent down and gave her a peck on the lips. She barely had time to close her eyes before he’d jerked his head away with the tiniest of moans.

“Kiss me like you kissed her,” she demanded.

I closed my eyes. There’s no way I could stay and watch this. Willing to take a chance on a magical beat down, I sprinted away from them toward the path. Fast pixie wings flapped behind me, screeching laughter, but the creature didn’t follow for long. When I got to the edge of the forest my empty stomach convulsed and I bent over, retching with dry heaves. Salty tears rolled down to my lips.

Bonfires flickered in the clearing, and music rang out. The Chaun were continuing their celebrations of a binding that had been cursed—doomed to misery. I wiped my mouth with the back of my hand and ran for the clearing, straight to the only people who might be able to help: the people I knew I could always turn to. My family.

“DADDY!” HE WAS IMPOSSIBLE to miss, holding hands with my mother in the line formation and towering over the other dancing folk. He turned his head toward the sound of my voice, smiling. I was still a ways off, running toward them, and when he took in the sight of me, he broke from the group with Mom right behind him. Cassidy jumped up from a nearby table. I was probably giving them heart attacks—me, the most modest person in our family, running in front of all these people in my bathing suit, looking a fright. The three of them met me at the entrance of the clearing. I collapsed into Dad’s arms, trembling.

“What happened?” he asked. “Where’s McKale?”

I sucked in some air and forced myself to articulate. “She’s going to take him!”

Without question, Dad jumped into action, signaling Brogan to us. The song had stopped and everyone was watching. Over a hundred worried faces stared. Leilah stood with both hands on her mouth.

“We need to speak privately,” my father told Brogan, who nodded.

Brogan waved to the musicians and forced a smile at his people. They whispered in speculation, but did as they were told, continuing the music.

I looked out into the darkened field of grass, searching for any sign of McKale or the FFG.

Brogan began to lead us away, but I held out a hand. “Wait! What if she tries to take him tonight?” The very idea had me afraid I might hyperventilate.

“Who? McKale?” Brogan studied my face, aghast, as I nodded. “Is he with the Shoe Mistress now?”

“Yes. We were by the falls…”

Part of the crowd had shifted closer to our group, and Brogan held up a hand to quiet me so they wouldn’t hear.

“Keefe!” he called over his shoulder. Keefe jogged over and Brogan spoke to him in hushed tones. “Watch this clearing for McKale. We’ll be speaking in the guest quarters, and I want ye to alert me immediately if ye see him or the Shoe Mistress. Watch the portal closely.”

“Aye. Of course, Brogan, sir.”

Brogan turned and led us to the bungalows.

“Yer rooms are closer, so I hope ye don’t mind speaking there.”

“Not at all,” Dad said.

When we got to my parents’ room I inhaled a huge breath before telling them everything about the encounter with the FFG. Cassidy held my hand the whole time. It was therapeutic to let it all out, but it also made the nightmare more real. By the time I was done, every face in the room appeared ready to retch just as I had. For once, even Cassidy was speechless. Mom gathered her close, wrapping protective arms around her, but Cass kept her fingers linked with mine and wouldn’t let go.