Shadowspell

Chapter Five

We stayed in the ladies’ room for maybe five minutes, tops, before the smoke drove us back out into the club. From where we were standing, I couldn’t see the bar, but I assumed Keane was still waiting there for us. I didn’t much feel like forging my way through the crowd again, but despite what a jerk Keane was being, I didn’t think it was fair to leave him all alone when he didn’t know anyone and clearly felt uncomfortable. He had, after all, made it possible for me to get here in the first place. Besides, he was my bodyguard for the evening, and it would probably be smart to keep my body close enough for him to guard it.

Kimber led the way once more, and I followed in her wake. My head still throbbed, and now I felt a little dizzy on top of it, probably from all that smoke. I almost tripped over my own feet, and I stopped a moment to take a couple of breaths of relatively clean air. And that was when my night went to hell.

In the few seconds I’d paused, the crowd had filled in the gap Kimber had created, and I could no longer see her. I stood on tiptoe to try to find her. A gap opened in the crowd that stood between me and the dance floor. My eyes homed in on someone with blond, shoulder-length hair just like Kimber’s. Only it wasn’t Kimber.

Ethan was out on the dance floor, swaying to the music, while a gorgeous, red-haired Fae girl did a bump and grind all around him. She wore a skimpy, glittery black cocktail dress that clung to her curvy—for a Fae—figure, and Ethan’s tongue was practically hanging out of his mouth as he stared at her. From the way she moved, I’d have guessed she held a side job as a stripper, and she kept finding excuses to brush up against Ethan’s body. He gave her what I could only describe as a bedroom smile, then slipped his arms around her waist.

Now to be fair, I’d told Ethan over and over that we weren’t dating. If we weren’t dating, then it was technically impossible for him to cheat on me. It was therefore totally okay for him to be dirty dancing with someone other than me.

My reasoning couldn’t soothe the hurt that stabbed through me when I saw him out on that dance floor with another girl, a Fae girl, as gorgeous as Kimber, and by the looks of her closer to Ethan’s age than I was. I guess my naïveté was rearing its ugly head once again. I’d somehow let myself imagine that Ethan was chastely pining away for me, desperately hoping that one day he would win me over. What a moron!

Tears stung my eyes as I turned away from the revolting sight and pushed my way through the crowd in what I hoped was the direction of the bar. I’d known Ethan was a player, even before I’d known exactly how he’d played me. He seemed to find me attractive, and he was charming and totally drool-worthy, but although I hardly had boys falling at my feet, I knew better than to get involved with someone like him. At least, I knew better in theory.

I fought the tears fiercely, unwilling to let Ethan have that much power over me. I’d just about gotten my emotions under control—at least enough so I could pretend nothing was wrong—when I reached the bar and got my second helping of bad news.

I had speculated earlier that I would probably see Finn mad before this night was through. Turns out I was right, and it was a sight I could have done without.

He must have seen me coming before I caught sight of him, for he was staring at me with such intensity I could feel it almost like a physical force. His usually bland expression was filled with fury, and he seemed to tower over everyone around him, even Keane, who was about the same height.

Finn had one hand wrapped around Keane’s upper arm, and the wince on Keane’s face said the grip was tight enough to hurt. Keane hung his head like a penitent child, his gaze fixed on the floor. I’d never seen Keane cowed by anything before, but I supposed this was a night for unpleasant firsts. Beside them, Kimber had shrunk back against the bar, her eyes wide, her teeth worrying away at her lower lip.

I was tempted to turn away and plunge back into the crowd. That’s how terrifying the look on Finn’s face was. I’d really, really rather he show that face to the bad guys, not me. But I’d known there would be consequences to sneaking out, and it was time to face them. I swallowed hard and crossed the last few feet separating me from my furious bodyguard.

I expected him to yell at me, or at least give me a heated lecture. Instead, he just fixed me with one more glare, then grabbed my upper arm and started dragging both me and Keane toward the front door. He was scary-looking enough that somehow, the crowd magically made a path for him, everyone scrambling to stay out of his way.

I glanced back over my shoulder at Kimber, thinking I should say good-bye or something, but considering how fast Finn was walking, I’d be out the door before I got the words out. She gave me a worried smile, then held up the pendant and mouthed “thank you.” I still didn’t want to face whatever was going to happen next, but remembering how happy Kimber had been to see me, I couldn’t find it in myself to regret having come. Of course, that might change, depending on just what the consequences turned out to be.

None of us said a word as we made our way back to my safe house. It would have topped off a great evening if we’d run into the Wild Hunt, but despite my dad’s fear that the Erlking was out to get me, there was no sign of him.

Finn continued hauling Keane and me by our arms while we were in the more populated section of the tunnel system. I tried to ignore the curious looks of passersby. When we were away from other people, Finn gave Keane a shove forward, putting him in the lead. He then sandwiched me between them for the rest of the march. He still didn’t say anything, every moment of silence stretching my nerves more and more taut.

I expected the explosion to come as soon as we were safely shut in the guardroom, but Finn wasn’t meeting my expectations that night.

“You,” he said, pinning me with his cold green gaze, “sit down.” He pointed to a chair against the wall. He didn’t raise his voice, but his words had such sharp edges on them he might as well have.

Shoulders hunched, I slunk over to the chair and sat down on the very edge. I had no idea what would happen next, but I knew it wasn’t going to be fun.

Finn turned his gaze to Keane. “You think you’re sufficient defense for a girl the Queens of Faerie have marked for death?” Still he didn’t raise his voice, though the words held a hint of a snarl.

Something kindled in Keane’s eyes. His shoulders straightened, his lip curled, and he met his father’s gaze boldly. Here was the Keane I knew and mostly disliked.

“I may not be a Knight,” he said, “but I’m perfectly capable of defending Dana if I have to.”

My skin prickled with the distinctive sensation of magic being gathered.

“Titania has sent Knights after her before,” Finn told his son. “Put up your shields. Show me how well you can defend against a Knight of Faerie.”

Keane’s confidence visibly wavered.

Finn made a fist and flashed Keane a savage grin. “Put up your shields, or this is going to hurt like hell.”

Keane rolled his eyes like he thought this was all ridiculous, but I remembered how he’d looked when Finn first spoke. Arrogant as he was, he wasn’t at all sure he could take his father. I suspect that idea made him squirm as much as it did me. I’d told myself I was pretty safe with Keane, but I didn’t feel quite as sure of that now.

Keane moved over to the mats that still lay on the floor from our earlier sparring session, and Finn followed. From Finn’s words and Keane’s attitude, I knew Keane was likely to come out the loser of this fight, but I expected him to at least be able to hold his own for a while. I was wrong.

I thought Keane wiped the floor with me when we sparred, but I didn’t know what wiping the floor with someone really was until Finn showed me. Keane hit the mats so many times you’d have thought he was a rug Finn was trying to beat the dust out of. Each time he got up, he was a little slower than the time before. Magic prickled across my skin as the two of them flung spells at each other, but it was obvious Keane ran out of juice long before Finn did.

The longer the fight went on, the redder Keane’s face got, and I didn’t think it was just from exertion. Every once in a while, he’d glance over at me, and I realized how humiliating this little demonstration in front of me must be. Hell, we usually practiced in the living room because I didn’t want anyone watching while Keane repeatedly handed my butt to me, and I’m not a quarter as arrogant as he is. A couple of times, I opened my mouth to beg Finn to stop, but each time I quickly shut it again, knowing that I’d only make it worse.

Eventually, Keane went down hard and didn’t get up again. He just lay there on his back, panting heavily, sweat pouring off his face, eyes squinched shut in what had to be pain. His shield spells might stop him from getting injured while sparring, but that didn’t mean it didn’t hurt. Not to mention that I think even his shield ran out of juice toward the end, because Finn visibly pulled his punches.

Finn came to stand over Keane, folding his arms over his chest and looking like he could go another thirty minutes without being winded. “This is how you fared against your father, who isn’t about to hurt you. Imagine if I’d been a hostile Knight out to kill you. And that’s not even considering the possibility of going up against the Erlking and the Wild Hunt. Then tell me again that you think you’re capable of protecting Dana as well as a professional.”

He looked back and forth between the two of us, just to make sure both of us got the message. We did.

Finn turned to me while Keane continued to lie on the mats sucking in air. “I’m not going to tell your father about tonight’s escapade, because I believe you have a good head on your shoulders and won’t pull a stupid stunt like that again. Am I right?”

I nodded meekly. Finn was doing me a ginormous favor by not telling on me. If my father found out what I’d done, I might not be allowed to leave my safe house for the rest of my life.

“Thank you,” I said tentatively. “And I’m sorry.”

Finn didn’t acknowledge the apology. Guess he was still mad. “You’re going to bed now,” was all he said.

Keane groaned and propped himself up on his elbows. I had a feeling Finn wasn’t through making him pay for my mistake. If I’d thought anything I said would help, I’d have stuck around and tried my best. Instead, feeling totally wretched, I left Keane alone with his father and fled to my room.