Twisted Fate

by Jessi Elliott

  She nods, her lips pressed into a tight line.

  My jaw clenches. “Why is Tristan looking for you?”

  Allison grabs my hands and holds them, ignoring my question. “Leave with me.” Her plea is desperate.

  “What? I can’t!” I pull my hands away from hers. “I need to finish school and get my degree. I have a life, a normal freaking life despite everything I’ve seen and learned in the last twelve hours!” I shake my head to clear it and take a step back. Allison stands there with an unsure look on her face. She turns away without a word and wrestles a dress from its hanger. Her knuckles are white; her grip is sure.

  Allison’s voice is rough with unshed tears. “I never wanted you to find out what I am. You didn’t need to know. It isn’t safe.”

  “Safe? Tristan told me my ancestors were fae. Now I find out you are too, and you’re on the run from him. All of a sudden you’re worried about safe?”

  She freezes. “Wait, you’re part of a fae bloodline?” Something like recognition passes over her face. “That’s why—I’ve always sensed something on you, but I never knew what, and I couldn’t bring myself to say anything. It was clear you didn’t know or you would’ve known about me, so I ignored it.”

  My eyes widen, and my forehead creases. “I have no idea what’s going on right now! I just found out about the fae!”

  Her gaze softens. “I know. Let’s get out of here. We’ll figure it out, I promise, but we need to leave.”

  My eyes burn as the tightness in my chest threatens to suffocate me. “I’m not going anywhere,” I force out in a hoarse voice.

  Allison throws the dress into her suitcase. The only sound in the room is the loud zip of her luggage. She looks at me for a long moment, but I can’t read her expression. “I’m so sorry. I have to leave,” Allison whispers. She takes off, leaving the door wide open.

  Her quick footsteps retreat down the hall, but I don’t follow. Tears spill free and wet my cheeks. I want to go after her. Shake her and demand answers. I have a million questions, but my feet are glued to the floor.

  I stand there as the minutes tick by and stare at the almost empty side of our room. Allison’s bed is unmade like usual, but all of her dresser drawers are askew, the clothes she left behind falling out of some of them.

  The fae are real.

  I might not have believed the crazy guy who kidnapped me, but Allison—my best friend—I believe. I’ve lived with her for years. How did I not know something wasn’t human about her? There must’ve been clues. I sink down onto my hard mattress and push my palms against my eyes.

  I stand and pace my room until I’m dizzy, trying to come up with some brilliant plan to figure this whole thing out, to keep Tristan from finding Allison, to keep the fae off my back. None of my plans are feasible. Leaving would only take the issue elsewhere, not get rid of it. Facing it head-on looks like my only option right now.

  Huffing out a heavy sigh, I fall onto my bed and curse. I bash my fists against the mattress, but none of it takes away the ache left behind by Allison’s absence or what she hid from me. I thrust my fingers through my hair and groan.

  I spend the rest of the afternoon trying to get in contact with her, checking with her friends to see whether they’ve heard from her—none of them have—and scouting out every place on campus she might go to. I’ve run out of all options except one. Maybe there’s a chance Oliver knows something. I head to his room and bang on the door until he opens it. I was hoping to keep him out of this, but that isn’t going to be possible. I don’t know what else to do at this point.

  He pokes his head out the door and frowns. “Aurora, what’s up?”

  “Have you heard from Allison today?”

  He shakes his head and opens the door to let me in. “She did mention going to visit her parents, so maybe she went home.”

  “I’m worried, Oliver.” I don’t tell him she packed her bags and took off. I don’t mention that there’s a dangerous, potentially psychotic fae looking for her. If I didn’t know about Allison, I can’t see that Oliver would.

  He laughs. “It’s Allison. I’m sure she’s fine.”

  I blow out a breath, but it does nothing to alleviate the weight on my chest. “I have a bad feeling. Please help me find her.”

  “Okay.” He sighs. “Hold on. We both have the Track Your Friend app.”

  “Like a GPS sort of thing?”

  “Yeah,” he answers.

  “Okay, can you try to find her?” I chew my bottom lip as he taps away on this phone.

  His eyes brighten when it chimes. “I got her,” he says. “She’s still in the city but nowhere near campus.” He frowns. “It looks like she’s across town somewhere.”

  “Why would she go there?” I ask.

  He shrugs. “Her cousin runs a bar around there. Maybe she went to see him?”

  “Do you know which bar?” I ask, and he nods. “Can you take me? I want to make sure she’s okay.” I have no idea why Allison isn’t tearing it out of town while she’s got the chance. Could this cousin of hers know something about her situation? Maybe he knows how to keep her safe. I want to believe that.

  We walk down to the student parking lot and get in his car. As we’re pulling out of the lot, Oliver asks me to call her. Shame licks at my insides.

  I bite my lip. “I think I lost my phone at the party.”

  His eyes flit to me for a second before returning to the road. “That doesn’t seem like you.”

  “I didn’t do it on purpose,” I snap and regret it when he frowns. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to sound so snippy. Give me your phone, and I’ll try her again.”

  She’s still not answering. Not that I blame her. She’s scared out of her mind right now and on the run. I might not understand what’s going on, but I do know that I’ll fight to protect my best friend.

  “Anything?” Oliver asks.

  “Nope.” I hang up as it clicks over to voicemail. “We have to find her, Oliver.”

  She’s got some major explaining to do.

  Oliver pulls into a parking space and kills the engine. “The bar is a few blocks away. This is as close as we’re going to get on a Saturday.”

  A quick Google search shows me that the club is only open forty-eight hours a week. Friday and Saturday, all day and all night. I nod. “Let’s go.”

  The place is packed wall to wall with hot, sweaty, dancing bodies, and it’s so loud the building is vibrating. Oliver throws his arm around me and shouts in my ear. “I think we should split up. If you find her first, wait for me at the bar, and I’ll do the same.”

  Eager to find Allison, Oliver and I turn in different directions. I comb through the crowd, but it’s a mess of unfamiliar faces. I try my best not to push people as I squeeze through, holding my breath at the heavy smell of liquor, cologne, and perfume, but it’s difficult with all of the flailing arms and grinding hips everywhere.

  I scout out the bar before I fight my way through to the bathrooms. I’m walking down the narrow, poorly lit hallway when someone grabs me around the waist and pulls me into a dark room. I try to scream, but a hand covers my mouth and muffles the sound. My pulse surges, and when the lights flick on, I squint against the sudden brightness of what appears to be a storeroom for stock. Boxes fill most of the shelves, and the rest are lined with bottles of liquor. It looks like there was a window, but it’s been boarded up.

  I recognize my captor instantly, and my eyes narrow.

  “What the hell are you doing here?” I growl when he moves his hand away from my mouth.

  “I could ask you the same question, sweetheart.” Tristan slips his arm from my waist and steps back. “Did you come to see me?” he purrs. His voice is sensual but dangerous. Even with the space between us, his inviting scent reaches me. I wonder if all fae men are as gorgeous as he is, then I mentally slap myself for allowing my head to go there.

  I attempt to make myself leave—to force my feet to carry me out the door—but fail. “Did
you follow me?” My eyes travel across his face and drop to his chest where a landscape of hard muscle pulls at his shirt.

  “An interesting idea, but no. I received a phone call from one of my contacts—the gentleman who owns this bar—who tipped me off that the young woman I’m looking for was here.”

  Allison’s cousin sold her out? What the hell could she have done to warrant that?

  “I hope I’m not hindering another kidnap attempt.” My voice is soft, laced with false sweetness. “Maybe you should find another career?” My chest rises and falls rapidly as I stand there, knowing I should leave.

  His lips twist into an arrogant smile. “You’re posing a bit of a challenge. It’s amusing.”

  “Go to hell,” I spit.

  He chuckles. “Oh, I’ve been. Several times. I happen to be good friends with the Prince.”

  I roll my eyes. “I have no idea what you’re saying.”

  He reaches forward, quick and graceful, and cups my chin. “I understand you found who I’m looking for. You seem to have misplaced her, yes?”

  “I’m not going to let you hurt her.”

  “It sounds like you know this girl,” he muses.

  I close my eyes, unable to look at him anymore. “She’s my best friend.”

  “Of course you want to protect her. You’re loyal to her. That’s admirable.” Tristan’s thumb brushes across my cheek, and my eyes fly open as my jaw clenches. “I’ll offer you a deal. Our previous one didn’t work out as I’d hoped, but I’m willing to give this another chance. I’m in the mood for some entertainment.”

  “You’re twisted,” I growl.

  His smirk is a flash of perfect white teeth. “You find your friend first, and she’s free to go. However, if I find her before you do, she’s mine.”

  “What—”

  “I’m not done,” he interrupts, his eyes glimmering like a child’s on Christmas morning. “Not only is she mine. You agree to have dinner with me. You’re still a bit of a puzzle.” His eyes flick between mine.

  I manage to smack his hand away from my face with an exasperated laugh. “No way in hell is that happening.” My tone is firm, and yet, the image of sitting across from Tristan at a restaurant flashes through my mind.

  “Are you doubting yourself?” He’s mocking me, and I want to slap the smug grin off his face.

  “I’m going to find her,” I vow. “I don’t need to make a deal with you.”

  “Accept what I’ve offered and your friend could have the chance at immediate freedom. Her indiscretions will be forgiven, and she may remain where she wishes.”

  “You think I’m going to agree to something like this? On the off chance you find her before I do, I’ve not only sealed her fate to whatever you choose but my own as well? You’re insane.”

  “And yet you’ve made a deal with me once before.”

  “I didn’t have a choice,” I remind him in a sharp tone.

  “Look at it this way. You can accept this, or I can use you to get to her.”

  “Why does it matter so much?” I snap. “What did she do?”

  “Consider it privileged information.”

  “You don’t think spending time with you makes me privileged? I’m shocked.”

  “I do enjoy your wit,” he says, “but you have a choice to make.”

  I scowl. “Unbelievable. You want me to entertain you.”

  “Immortality can get a little dull at times. I like to keep things interesting.”

  The way I see it, my options are limited. If I don’t take his deal, I can’t be sure what will happen to me, but if I do and he finds Allison before I can . . . I am not having dinner with him.

  “I’m going to find her,” I repeat.

  His eyes hold a challenge in their dark blue depths as he watches me. “So, we have a deal?”

  “Fine,” I say through gritted teeth. “Now back off.”

  He raises his hands in front of him in mock surrender and steps back a few paces. I’m out the door in a second without looking back as I race toward the dance floor. I have to find Allison. I need to make sure she’s safe. That, and if I don’t find her before Tristan does, my future—everything I’ve worked for—will be for nothing.

  I’m less polite this time as I make my way through the crowd of gyrating bodies. More than once, I think I see her, but when I approach, it’s always a stranger. My heart is pounding so hard I can feel it in my throat. My palms sweat, and the fact that so much is at stake makes me frantic.

  I catch the top of a blond head walking toward the back door, and I follow. My feet surge forward when I recognize the clothing on the girl. It’s her. I grab the back of her shirt, and she whips around with wide eyes.

  “Aurora?” she shouts to be heard over the music.

  “We have to go!” I yell. I may have found her first, but I’m not taking any chances. I’m not trusting Tristan to keep his word.

  “How did you find me?” she asks.

  “It doesn’t matter right now! He’s here. We need to go!”

  She nods and reaches for my hand, pulling me through a mass of writhing dancers. I manage to squeeze between two people, cringing at the damp warmth of their bodies and push a few more out of my way. Finally, we make it out the door and stand in the parking lot around the back of the bar.

  “Why did you come here?” I ask, trying to catch my breath.

  “I was hoping my cousin could help. When I got here, he wouldn’t see me.”

  “If he wouldn’t help, why are you still here?”

  “I thought he’d come around. I tried to talk to him and get him to understand, but he wouldn’t listen. He’s too loyal to Tristan. After that, I figured it would be a good place to hide out until I could come up with a plan.”

  “And did you?”

  She sighs and slumps against the building. “I’m barely hanging on, Aurora.” She puts her hand to her head and groans. “I’m so scared. I didn’t think this would happen.”

  “I understand, but we have to keep moving. Where’s your phone? Call Oliver.”

  Her head snaps up, and she sways on her feet. “Oliver is here?”

  I reach out and grab her, steadying her, and nod.

  Allison swears loudly, her hands shaking at her sides. Her wide eyes are slightly bloodshot, as though she’s been crying. I’ve never seen her so frightened. Why is she so afraid of Tristan? What did she do?

  “Breathe, okay? We’re going to figure this out.”

  She shakes her head. “I can’t . . .” She closes her eyes and licks her lips.

  “You can’t what? Come on. We need to go.”

  Her eyes fly open, and she grips my arms.

  “Easy, Allison. You’re okay.” Her grip is tight. She’s hurting me, but I grit my teeth and force a passive expression.

  “I’m so sorry,” she whimpers.

  “You ran because you were scared. It’s okay. We’re going to get through this.” I say it more for my benefit, to reassure myself I’ll figure out how to discredit Tristan’s idea that I have fae in my family tree.

  She shakes her head again. “I’m so sorry.”

  I’m about to question her incessant apologizing when she whips us around and pushes me against the cold brick of the building. I don’t have time to open my mouth to speak.

  Allison’s expression shifts to a distant, unfamiliar look as she cuts off my oxygen, gripping my throat. Panic clamps down on my chest. Dizziness floods in, and I can’t move. Black spots dot my vision, but I can’t fight her off. I can’t make a sound.

  The back door swings open with a loud smack against the brick, and Allison wrenches her hand away as if she’s been burned. She looks terrified at her own actions. As fast as she went all fae on my ass, she vanishes.

  With Allison no longer holding me by my throat, I sway on my feet. The pavement rushes to meet me like we’re old friends. I close my eyes in preparation for the impact, but it doesn’t come. It takes me a few long seconds to realize someon
e is holding me. I pry my eyes open to find Tristan. He’s glaring at me, his unfairly gorgeous features dark and sharp in the moonlight. Every one of his eyelashes casts a dark shadow on his cheeks.

  I hear him snarl, a beast in a pretty package, and then I pass out.

  I blink several times before I realize I’m looking at the familiar ceiling above my bed. I’m back in my dorm room with no idea how I got here. I sit up in a panic and wince at the lingering dizziness. Swinging my legs over the side of the bed, I use the nightstand to help me to my feet. I’m surprised to find my cell phone sitting on the table, but I grab it, scrolling through my contacts until I find Oliver’s name.

  “Aurora? Hey, what’s up?”

  “Where are you?”

  “I’m in my room. Are you okay?”

  “When did you get home?”

  “What?” He laughs. “I didn’t go out last night.”

  The clock in my room reads just after noon. “You were home? The whole night?”

  “Yeah . . .” he says, sounding worried. “You okay?”

  “I’m fine.” I lie without a thought. “Have you heard from Allison today?”

  “She’s fine,” he says in a casual tone.

  I press my lips together. “You talked to her?”

  “She’s fine,” he repeats in the same tone.

  What the hell? “I’ll talk to you later, Oliver.” I hang up before he has a chance to say anything else. As I change out of last night’s clothes, the rage of being manipulated fills me. I didn’t ask for any of this. I have no idea what’s going on, no idea what happened last night after I passed out, but I have a good idea where to look for answers.

  I’m on my way to the Westbrook Hotel before I can talk myself out of it.

  I charge up the marble stairs that lead to the building and fly through the open door. My footsteps echo on the ornate lobby floor as I approach the reception desk where I slam my fist against the dark wood counter.

  “I need to see Mr. Westbrook,” I demand.

  The young, blond receptionist offers a polite smile. “My apologies, Mr. Westbrook is in a meeting. Would you like to wait?”