Page 45 of Hollowed
Hesighed, reading over the page again and again, as if it would have new information. “Thisis more information than we had before,Isuppose.”
“Perhapswe can discover something else at the party tonight,”Ioffered, my habitual nature of placating those around me shining through.Itmade my jaw clench, but it was a safety mechanism that had kept me out of my mother’s attention in the past.
Alexanderlooked at me, setting the book on the table softly. “Yes,Ithink we will.”
Priscillaapproached, having made herself scarce as we pored over the books. “Areyou both finished, then?”
Westood asAlexandercollected and passed the entire stack of books back toPriscillawith an easy strength. “Yes, thank you very much for allowing us to borrow these.”
Hergaze passed over me, growing so coldIwas surprised icicles weren’t forming along her eyelashes. “Youseem familiar, girl.Haveyou been here before?”
Iopened my mouth to say yes,Ihad, but thankfully remembered thatAlexander’smagic had transformed my appearance.Icleared my throat to cover the pause. “No,I’mafraidIhaven’t.”
Ilooked toAlexanderfor guidance, pleading to know ifIshould say more.Hishead shook minutely.Iturned my eyes back toPriscilla.
Shehummed, studying me for a moment longer. “Isuppose not, then.”
“Thankyou for your hospitality,Priscilla,”Alexandersaid again, his voice harder this time. “Butwe must be on our way now.”
“Ah, yes,” she said, an uneasy smile crossing her face. “Thebig party at theVanTassels.”
“Areyou attending?”Iasked beforeIcould stop.Idid not truly want to know, but my practiced politeness had necessitated the question leaving my lips.
Shescoffed. “Certainlynot.EvenifIwanted to attend that ridiculous excuse to show off obscene wealth,IdoubtIwould be welcomed.No, better for me to just stay here with my books.”
“Enjoyyour evening then,Priscilla,”Alexandersaid, placing his hand on my lower back and ushering me to the front door.
Ilet myself be guided out of the bookstore, focusing on the reassuring weight of his hand on my back.Tensionpulsed from him in waves.Forwhatever reason, he wanted to leave, and he wanted to leave now.Lookingback over my shoulder,Priscillaclosed the door behind us, peeking out through the curtain unabashedly.
“Keepgoing,”Alexandermurmured, pressing more firmly on my back. “Beforeshe realizesItook a book with us.”
Bitingthe insides of my cheeks to hide my smile,Iremained quiet as we walked farther from the store.Theonly sound was the soft rustle of leaves in the crisp wind and the faint clopping of hooves in the distance.Thesun was dipping lower in the sky, casting a soft glow between the buildings.Afog built along the grass, hovering low and kissing the damp blades.Passingan alley that smelt of burnt bread and ale,Alexanderpulled us to a stop.
“Youmust be more careful.Youalmost gave it away,” he snapped despite his whispered tone. “Ifthey discover you are alive before we discover who is summoning this demon, all will be lost.”
Indignationprickled through me, heating my skin as my fire licked beneath my skin, begging to be set free. “Me?Youare the one who didn’t tell me you knew her well enough for her to recognize you!We’vebeen telling the town we just moved here, and she clearly already knows you.Ifshe hears them talking about the new couple in town, surely, she will know.Howcan we trust her?”
Hesighed heavily, his jaw working as if he were chewing on his words.Aftera moment, he inclined his head. “Youare right,Katr—Katherine.Ihave not been holding up my end of the farse, andIapologize for being cross with you.Wecan trustPriscilla, though.We’lltalk more back in our room, andI’llexplain better.”
EventhoughIhad wanted it, the apology made me uncomfortable.Farse.That’swhat it was, though.AnyaffectionIhad imagined had been just that, my imagination.Hisearlier rejection had made that clear, andIneeded to do better at remembering it.
Myfire extinguished as quickly as it had come. “Thankyou.Now, what do you propose we do tonight?Whoshould we speak with?”
“Iam not as positive as you that it is your parents.Someof theCiallmharcan be quite conniving.Iwould like to speak with as many of them as possible without being suspicious,” he said, reaching up to rub his chin. “Haveyou ever been to one of these parties?Whatdo they consist of?”
Shrugging,Itugged my sleeves over my hands, guarding them from the cool air washing through the alleyway. “Isuppose it is like a normalSamhainfestival.Therewill be a feast, a fire, and an altar for everyone to honor their ancestors.Afterthe party is when they usually send theRoghnaitheoff to…Well, off to you.”
Hehummed, his eyes darkening. “Theparty may be our best chance to speak with theEldersthen.Perhapswe could even get inside the manor.”
“Idoubt that.Mymother rarely allows anyone inside the manor during events.Toomuch trouble.”Thesky had turned a dusty purple, casting a gray haze around theHorseman’sface.Isighed.Ifwe were going to be facing down my parents,Iwould need time to wrap my head around it and prepare. “Weshould be going.Themanor is a ways away and if we are late, my—MistressVanTasselwill likely disapprove.”
TheDullahansimply nodded, turning toward the mouth of the alley.Hestepped away and hesitated, turning back to me and extending his gloved hand. “Wouldyou do me the honor of allowing me to escort you… wife?”
Iforced myself to ignore how my stomach flipped at the word, which was easy given it sounded as ifAlexanderwould have rather swallowed glass than uttered the sentiment.
Reachingout,Islipped my hand into his, proud that it only shook slightly. “Iwould be delighted, husband.”
Andtogether, we walked to theVanTasselmanor, despite the growing pit in my stomach warning me that nothing good could come of this.