Chapter 30

Hemlock was in the washroom when I woke to the midmorning sun, and I knew instinctively that it was time to leave. I slipped out of bed and was at the door when he stepped out the bathroom.

Our gazes locked with the kind of snap that I felt in my soul. He was the first to break eye contact. “Meet me at the carriage in an hour.”

It wasn’t a request, and as much as I hated being told what to do, I made an exception because he’d promised me answers.

Back in my room, I showered and dressed quickly, grabbed my sword, then headed out of this godforsaken place. Out into the sunlight where the nighttime horror would feel like a bad dream.

But not all of it had been horror…No. I couldn’t allow myself to get attached to Hemlock in that way.

I found him with the carriage in the courtyard, and he wasn’t alone. My pulse spiked at the sight of Ordell, his hand on the horse, stroking, soothing…hands that had been claws last night, that had torn at my clothes in an attempt to?—

He sensed my presence and turned to look at me, and I failed to stop myself from stepping back.

His mouth parted, eyes darkening in what I could only read as regret. “Orina…”

I took a shuddering breath. “Hey. You okay?”

“I’m…I’m so sorry, I?—”

“Not here,” Hemlock said. “Let’s get breakfast at Pinkerton’s.”

Ordell’s throat bobbed. “I’ll drive.”

I was grateful because I wasn’t ready to be in close quarters with him just yet.

Hemlock tookthe seat opposite me and fixed his attention on the landscape. “He won’t hurt you,” he said. “Not while he’s himself. But you know that.”

He didn’t speak after that, leaving me to my thoughts, and yes, of course I knew Ordell would never hurt me, not in his human form, but in his beast form, all bets were off.

The journey passed quickly, and we dropped off the carriage at the stables and walked the block and a half to Pinkerton’s—a cozy café that served an all-day breakfast.

We ordered and took a booth at the back of the café for privacy.

Ordell sat opposite me and Hemlock beside me, penning me in as if they were worried that I’d run off after hearing what they had to say.

The server dropped off coffee and informed us our food would be along soon. I waited till she was out of earshot, then asked the question that had been burning a path through my mind for the whole journey.

“What are you? Both of you?”

Ordell answered. “Once a month, when the moon is full, I’m a monster.”

“Not a lycan or any kind of shifter I know of.”

“That’s right. I’m…unique.” His mouth twisted in disgust. “I never expected you to find me.”

I’d freed him. He’d been shackled to stop himself from changing. The symbols on the collar must have been some kind of spell. “You’ve been fighting it?”

“I have. The collar helps to mute the change, to keep the beast under control, but last night…”

“I let you out.”

“How did you find him?” Hemlock asked.

“A ghost called Daisy told me Ezekiel had locked you up—look, it doesn’t matter. You promised me answers. What are you? A monster but…how?” I looked at Hemlock. “And you with the glowing veins…what was that?”

Ordell’s brows shot up. “She saw?”

“Yeah.” He didn’t tell him how he’d asked me to whip him or that I’d spent the night in his bed, and I didn’t feel the need to volunteer that information either. It was hardly relevant.

I resisted the urge to snap at them. “Well?”

“We’re cursed,” Hemlock said. “Both of us, in different ways. Have been for…a very long time.”

“How long?”

“Too long. Look, Orina. All you need to know is that we’re here to protect you. Last night should never have happened. We should have anticipated the spirits might cause mischief.”

“You say that as if you’ve been here before, as if you’ve…Oh God…you have, haven’t you? Wait, have you worked with the Order before? With another watcher?” The journals I’d read never mentioned the Hunters’ names. Why was that? “How old are you?”

Hemlock twisted in his seat to face me. “Enough. We’ve told you what you need to know. Everything surrounding us, surrounding Ezekiel, is a delicate balance that must not be upset, and you cannot tell anyone about us. About our curse or what we can do.”

It wasn’t enough. They weren’t giving me enough, and it was on the tip of my tongue to press, but Ordell cut me off.

“The Midnight Ball is in two days. We need to focus on that. The castle will be filled with humans and vampires. Not all the humans will be veins; some will be regular donors. We need to focus on making sure Ezekiel is calm and…sane.”

I hated that he was right. “There’s more you’re not telling me. And I need to know. If we’re going to work together effectively, then you need to tell me everything that could affect how I do my job, am I clear?”

They exchanged glances, and Ordell spoke once more. “Knowing about our curse wasn’t relevant. We’re telling you now because we have no choice. And if there is anything else that becomes relevant, then we promise to let you know.”

As much as it grated, the shuttered looks on their faces told me it was all I was going to get.

The food arrived, and for a little while we ate in companionable silence. One thing we had in common was our respect for a decent meal.

I sat back to take a break, and Ordell’s questioning gaze met mine, uncertain and wary. I didn’t want him to be that way with me. What happened…what almost happened wasn’t his fault.

I smiled, letting him know we were good, and honey warmth filled his gaze. My shoulder throbbed and itched. I sucked in a breath and scratched at it.

“You all right?” Ordell asked.

“Yeah, the bite’s just itchy.”

He went so still it was as if someone had hit freeze-frame on him. Hemlock tensed beside me too.

“What?”

“I bit you?” Ordell asked.

“Yeah, but it’s fine. It healed pretty quickly, which now I think about it is strange. Is that like a cursed beast thing or?—”

Ordell slipped out of his seat and stormed off.

“O-kay…What did I say?”

Hemlock sat with his head bowed for several beats. “Nothing. He’s probably upset he hurt you. I’ll speak with him. Just…I’ll be back.” He left too.

Great. I sipped my now lukewarm coffee. Just great.