Page 18 of Hunted

“I’m not used to them opening and closing on their own,” I said. “Our doors don’t do that, and there aren’t usually this many people.”

“In the palace, maybe. Not where I’m from.”

My cheeks flushed red. “Right…” I paused. I was about to ask him where he was from when I realized he hadn’t let go of my hand since I had grabbed it a moment ago. My cheeks burned even hotter still. The train lurched, and as I hadn’t expected it, I fell deeper into Valerian, who had to hold himself upright simply to keep from toppling over.

I was so close to him, now, that his scent had taken hold of me and replaced every other bad smell in this place. From the train itself, to the tunnel we were in, to the people around us—they all seemed to fall away against his intoxicating musk.

Before we had left the house, I had promised myself I would keep him at arm’s length. Now I was pressed against his body more closely than I thought I ever had been. Not only that, but his fingers were entwined with mine, and there was part of me—a part buried somewhere deep—that didn’t mind.

Somehow, that was way more terrifying than the deal I had struck, or even the Fate monster that had chased us halfway across Arcadia.Love is like chains, I heard myself say in my own head. I could barely remember the conversation, or who I had been talking to, but I had said those words.

What the hell am I doing thinking about love? Why does he smell so good? And why am I still holding his hand?

My heartbeat quickened, and Valerian and I were so close together I feared he would feel it—maybe even through my fingers. I didn’t want him to feel it. I didn’t want him to know what I was going through, because not even I really knew. Was I embarrassed? Excited? Both, it seemed like.

I felt Valerian run his thumb along the back of my hand, and that sent a ripple ofwarmthall throughout my arm. I didn’t know what to do or where to look. Maybe it had been unintentional? Maybe I had felt someone else brush up against me. We were all crammed into the train and totally unable to move around.

Was this normal, here? Looking around, because I didn’t want to give Valerian my attention—not when we were this close—I couldn’t help but notice the faces of the people around me. Most of them looked passive, docile, evensleepy. Some were staring into their shiny bricks, while others looked to be reading books.

I couldn’t find a single person in here who was feeling nearly as boxed in or as awkward as I was right now.

“Stillview,” Valerian said.

The train bumped and screeched. I looked up at him. “What?” I asked.

“It’s where I was born.”

“Stillview is…” I paused, “I’m not sure I’ve heard of it.”

He lightly shook his head. “You wouldn’t have. It’s a small town with far too many Fae in it. Crime is high, wages are poor, and entire families have to share tiny living spaces. I doubt it’s the kind of place a Princess would have to know about.”

I frowned at him. “Why not? I would have wanted to know about it.”

“You’re probably the only noble that does. Everyone else would rather forget it exists. That’s why things are as bad in Stillview as they are.”

“Valerian… I had no idea.”

He shook his head. “I know. That’s why I’ve told you.”

The train lurched. Valerian wrapped his hand around my waist to stop me from going too far, not that I would have considering our tight quarters. The sudden jerk left me looking up at him, momentarily lost in his steely, blue stare.

“This is our stop, Amara!” I heard Evie call out.

I couldn’t see her, and she couldn’t see me; not directly, anyway. I felt the train start to slow, I heard its metallic wheels screech, and when it came to a stop, I watched its passengers start to filter out. It was an awkward moment, with some people barely shifting around to allow others to move past them. Somehow, getting out of the train felt less stressful than getting in.

When Valerian and I emerged onto the platform, Evie was waiting for us with a smile on her face. “I hope that wasn’t too bad?” she asked.

In unison, Valerian and I both said, “It was alright.”

Evie’s eyes dropped, and horror filled me as I realized, I was still holding Valerian’s hand. I detached from him instantly, but Evie still caught the motion. Her smile changed, not into a frown, but into something… almost mischievous. She didn’t comment on what she had seen, though. Instead, she pointed at a sign which readWay Out,and led us to it.

CHAPTERSEVEN

After the awkwardness of the train ride, it was good to come back up for air and re-enter the wider world. That Underground trip had been an exercise in patience and claustrophobia for me, and I was sure I had only barely passed. I knew I certainly wasn’t built to be trapped underground. I also wasn’t built to be in such close proximity to a Fae like Valerian.

Maybe if Tallin and I hadn’t had that conversation about him last night. Maybe if the wordsFateandBondhadn’t been thrown around, I would be feeling differently about the situation. But they had been, and I wasn’t, and somehow, all I could think about was him and that stupid bond, and reject the idea that maybe, just maybe, it wasn’t the worst thing in the world.

Like a dog with a bone, I kept rolling it over in my head. I needed answers, and I needed them quickly.