by Amy Star
He entered the study. It was the only place in the house that made sense to him at that moment. He stood in the center of the room, gazing at the family trees. He found his own portrait, linked to the portraits of his long-gone parents.
He stared at his mother’s face. She was only twenty-eight when she had died. Just thinking about it made him feel sick to his stomach.
A knock on the door drew his attention away.
“What?” he said.
“Can I come in?” came Holly’s gentle voice.
Loch rushed to open the study door. “Of course,” he said with a soft smile. “It’s your house. You don’t technically need permission.”
Holly stepped into the study with her arms wrapped around her small frame. “That’s what’s so crazy about all of this,” she said.
“That you own the house?”
“No.” She laughed. “That while we figure out how to stop a shifter uprising, I still have to make time to call Pearl’s lawyer. There’s a lot of paperwork involved. It was sent over a few days ago, but obviously, I was tied up in other affairs.”
“Literally,” Loch snorted. “I didn’t realize they had put enchanted cuffs on you until Elise got rid of them.”
“Me, either.” Holly shook her head.
“Can I ask you something?”
“I bet you have a lot of questions.” Holly offered a half-smile that didn’t reach her eyes.
“Definitely.” He forced a laugh. “But I’ll ask the one that’s a little more time-sensitive. Did you tell them about Trevor?”
Holly’s face went white as she lowered her gaze to the floor. “No.”
“Why?”
“It’ll sound crazy if I try to explain it.” She ran her fingers through her hair.
“What about this mess isn’t crazy?”
“It’ll get crazier.” Holly began to pace.
Only now did Loch notice the deep shadows under her eyes. “No sleep?” he asked.
“What?” She stopped, mid-step. “No.”
“Your bed-buddy didn’t help with that?” he said before he could stop himself.
She narrowed her eyes. “I didn’t want to sleep alone. I kept having nightmares.”
Loch bit his bottom lip. “You see the bars when you close your eyes, don’t you?”
Holly cocked her head.
“I see them too,” he admitted. “I still feel the fairy glass digging into my skin.” He rubbed his wrists, both of which were ringed with thin, white scars.
Holly closed her eyes and sighed. “I’m sorry,” she whispered. “Can I do anything to help?”
“I’m supposed to be the one helping you.” He chuckled. “I do need you to tell me the deal with Trevor. I don’t want to say something I shouldn’t and ruin whatever plan you’re cooking up.”
“Plan?” Holly drew her brows together. “I’m so flattered you think I’ve pulled myself together enough to have a plan.”
“I know the first day after being held in captivity for a week isn’t when your brain is in its top form, but you need to give yourself more credit.”
“Thanks,” Holly scoffed. “Maybe I’ll sign up for that crash course in…I can’t even think of what it’d be called.”
“Let me sleep for a few hours, then I’ll get back to you. Stop stalling.” He fixed her with a knowing gaze.
“Fine.” Holly pouted as she took up her pacing again. “The Maiden spoke to me about Trevor.”
“She wants you to kill him, I hope.”
“Not quite.” She winced. “She says he’s lost.”
“Lost?” Loch’s brows drew together. “What do you mean, lost?”
“I don’t know. He’s a firstborn, you know. He’s not supposed to want to return to the dark ways, let alone lead the bastards who want to make it happen.”
“And he deserves to rot with them,” Loch spat.
“Unless I’m supposed to find him,” Holly blurted.
“What the hell does that even mean?”
“Is that what you’re supposed to do with lost things? Find them?”
“If you’re looking for a beloved doll from your childhood or a priceless heirloom, sure!” Loch threw his hands in the air. “But do you have any idea how much pain those who would return to the dark ways have caused this community?”
“The community? They held us captive for a week. I have a damn good idea of the pain they’ve caused me.”
“Yet, you’d spare Trevor from justice.”
“I didn’t say that,” Holly groaned. “But the Maiden made a point of mentioning him. I feel like I need to see that through to the end.”
“That’s why you’ve kept Trevor a secret from the others.” It all made sense to him now. “You don’t want them to rip him apart before you’ve had a chance to look into it.”
Holly’s shoulders slumped with relief. “Exactly.”
“Out of curiosity, how do you plan to look into it?”
“Talk to him, maybe?” Holly walked over to the desk and perched on the edge.
“Absolutely not.”
“But—”
“I will walk outside and tell them everything, do you understand?” Loch closed the distance between them until his face was only inches from hers.
“You wouldn’t.”
“To keep you safe? I absolutely would.”
She looked up into his eyes, her lips parted. It was all Loch could do not to kiss her. Last time he had, she didn’t react well.
“Fine.” She sighed. “I won’t do anything.”
“Thank you.”
“But if the Maiden advises me otherwise, that will change.”
“What about Elise?”
“Trevor’s sister?” Holly arched a brow. “She’s not on the wall, as you can see.” She gestured to the tree that should’ve borne Elise’s portrait.
Loch frowned. “Interesting. What kind of mess have we stumbled into?”
“I don’t know, but I’m going to hit the books. There has to be something about Elise in one of them, right?”
“Most of these books are older than our parents,” Loch pointed out. “Let me think about this for a while. I’ll get back to you with ideas.”
Holly perked up, surprised. “You’re going to help me?”
“Why wouldn’t I?”
Holly opened and closed her mouth several times.
“I get you don’t know me,” he stepped in before she could figure out whatever it was she wanted to say. “I know you probably don’t trust me, either.”
“The Maiden said—”
“I don’t care about what the Maiden thinks,” he said. “Despite what everyone thinks, you’re still your own person. If the Maiden trusts me, that’s great. I care about Holly trusting me. If keeping your secrets and helping you research is what earns that trust, then I’ll do it.”
CHAPTER EIGHT—Holly
Hello? Holly called out. Miss Maiden?
Don’t call me that.
Holly smiled.
Well, you weren’t answering, so I figured I’d shake it up a little.
What do you want?
An update would be nice.
It’d been exactly one week since Elise had helped Holly and Loch break out of the silver mines. No one had left the house since, not even to patrol the woods for Trevor’s followers.
Holly and Loch hadn’t made any headway in figuring out who Elise really was. They’d hit dead end after dead end. There was nothing more they could do from inside the house.
Holly felt like she was losing her mind. Every day, the rooms felt a little smaller.
An update? I do not understand.
Give me a hint or something! Holly let loose an audible sigh. How much good can I do if I’m cooped up in here?
I did not realize you were a prisoner. Are the doors locked? Are the windows barred?
Well, no. But—
Then don’t come begging for a solution when you haven’t had the common sense to find one yours
elf.
Holly flinched. The Maiden’s voice was as hard and sharp as broken glass. The Maiden wasn’t done berating her.
You’re meant to be my worldly vessel, yet all you’ve done is read useless books and wander the halls. How can I expect to count on you when the time comes?
How can you expect me to know what to do? Holly fired back. Can’t you see I’m trying?
You’re not trying hard enough.
“Get out of my head!” The sound of her voice startled her. She hadn’t meant to speak aloud, but her anger had gotten the better of her. What was the point of being a vessel for an ancient, powerful being if they weren’t going to be helpful?
With a frustrated cry, she climbed off of her bed and stormed out of the room.
“Trouble?” Keller asked, brow raised as Holly stomped down the stairs.
“I can’t take this anymore!” She wove her hands into her hair, just about ready to pull it out at the roots.
“What’s going on?” Garret stepped into the living room from the kitchen.
“Have you finally cracked, Holly?” Loch laughed from his spot by the fire.
“Are you sure you want to bait me when you’re so close to an open flame?” Holly shot back.
Loch tipped his head back and laughed before getting to his feet. He approached Holly and took her gently by the shoulders. “What’s the matter?” he asked.
Holly stared up into his eyes. A mocking smile tugged at the corners of his mouth.
“The problem is that I’m going crazy in this house.” She sighed. “I can’t take being stuck in here like this. It’s no better than being stuck in the silver mines.”
“Holly,” Keller said softly as he got to his feet.
“I asked the Maiden for guidance, but she’s not feeling very helpful. I’m sure she’ll smite me later for saying that, but right now, I don’t give a damn.”
“No one likes being cooped up in the house,” Keller said calmly. “Except, Johnny. He hasn’t left his studio all day. He said something about a burst of inspiration that can’t be ignored.”
“Must be nice,” Holly muttered.
“If you want to paint or chip away at wood blocks, I’m sure he has spare supplies,” Loch suggested. “The fumes down there might get you high enough to make this whole mess seem manageable.”
“Don’t tempt me. I might just try it,” Holly muttered.
“I’d offer to take you on a hike, but last time we did that, you were kidnapped,” Keller said.
“I know, I was there.”
“I’m sorry. Tell me what I can do to help you.”
“Any chance you can astral project to wherever the Maiden has a corporeal form and knock some sense into her?”
Keller’s brows shot up. “Wow.”
“Garret?” Loch called. “How about some of that tea? A keg’s worth, if you have it.”
“Tea isn’t going to help,” Holly snapped.
She pulled away from Keller and Loch and looked around the room. Walls on all sides. Even the beautiful floor-to-ceiling windows didn’t offer any relief.
Her chest felt tight. She tried to draw breath, but nothing happened.
What’s happening?
“Holly?” Loch reached for her again, but she drew away.
“Don’t touch me,” she rasped. “I can’t breathe.”
From the corner of her eye, she spied the door to the deck. As her vision began to darken and tunnel, she launched herself across the room. Luckily, her hand landed on the door handle instead of going through the glass.
Crisp, fresh air rose up to meet her as she stepped onto the deck. Her vision narrowed down to a single pinprick of gray light. Her hands found the banister as she took in ragged, greedy gulps of air. It felt like she was swallowing ice shards, but she didn’t care. It was a change.
“Holly?”
It was Garret.
Holly bit down on the inside of her cheek and tried to reel in whatever it was that was happening to her. “Not now,” she pled.
“I know you need space, but I’m not about to leave you alone on the deck while you have a panic attack. One clumsy step and you’re plummeting.”
“Garret,” she wheezed.
“If you think that’s helping your case, it’s not. Please, sit down.”
Holly felt two strong, steady hands grip her arms and lead her away from the balcony. The backs of her knees hit one of the deck chairs. She sat with a hard thump.
“You couldn’t have picked one of the cushioned chairs?”
“Moving you when you don’t want to be moved is harder than you think.”
“My butt is planted. I’m not a falling risk anymore. You can leave.”
“I’m not leaving.”
Now that she was off her feet, her vision began to return to her. She fixed Garret with what she assumed was a withering stare. Moving her face muscles took way too much effort while she was still this out of breath.
“You can snarl at me all you want, but I’m not going anywhere until this panic attack passes.”
“That’s not what this is.” Holly tried to look casual, but she couldn’t even muster a fake laugh without choking on it.
“Feel your heartbeat for me, will you?”
Holly glanced at Garret from the corner of her eye.
“Humor me,” he pressed.
She put her hand over her heart. It was beating so fast she was surprised it hadn’t broken a rib. Or maybe it had. Her chest ached like a bitch.
“How does it feel?”
“Not great,” she admitted. “I might be having a panic attack.”
“You don’t say.”
“Shut up,” she snapped. “How do I make it stop?”
“Slow, deep breaths,” Garret coached.
Holly tried to suck in a breath, but her lungs still felt like they were in a vice grip.
“It’s not working.” Another wave of panic hit her.
Garret appeared at her side, kneeling beside her chair. He placed a hand on her back and rubbed in small circles. Slowly, the circles got bigger. When they were as big as he could make them, he made them smaller again.
Holly focused solely on the movement of his hand. She used it as an anchor, letting it bring her back to reality. Soon, she was able to take full breaths. When she felt better, she leaned back against the chair.
“Thank you.” She reached for Garret’s other hand. “You’re good at that. Why are you running a hardware store when you should be a psychologist or something?”
“Because psychologists don’t give backrubs.” He chuckled.
“Then what’s the point?”
“I think you’re looking for a masseuse.”
“Will a masseuse prevent panic attacks?” she asked dryly.
“No.” Garret paused for a moment. “But I think I know something that will help?”
“You have my attention.”
“How about a day on the town?”
Holly lifted her head. “What?”
“Let’s go into town today,” Garret repeated. “I think it’ll do you some good. I’ve never been away from the store for this long, either. I need to give the store managers some peace of mind. I promised my pop I wasn’t going to become one of those business owners that sat at home, raking in profits others made for him.”
“That…is a lot to unpack.”
“You have no idea.” Garret chuckled. “What do you say?”
“I say yes, but what will the others say?”
“I don’t care. This is about your well-being and my business. We’re the only two people who have a say in those things.”
“You sold me.” Holly lifted her hands and let them drop listlessly on the wooden armrests of her chair. “When do we leave?”
CHAPTER NINE—Holly
“If you want me to roll down the window, you can stick your head out,” Garret said.
Holly removed her face from the glass to look at him.
“Honestly? I’m
tempted. I’ve never been so excited to go for a ride in the car.” She chuckled. “You said there are wolf shifters, right?”
“Depends. If I say yes, are you going to make a played-out joke about sticking your head out the window?”
“Yes.”
“Then no, there is no such thing as wolf shifters.”
Holly playfully pushed his arm. “Spoilsport.”
“Come up with an original joke, and maybe I’ll change my answer.”
“Cut me a break. My brain’s fried from my panic attack.”
“That excuse is only going to work for twenty more minutes, so make it count.”
“I need to stop in a clothing store because I’ll have another panic attack if I have to wear the same three outfits for another week.”
“Didn’t you have stuff shipped out?”
“I never finalized those plans.” Holly sighed. “I sort of got kidnapped.”
“Right.” Garret pressed his lips together. “Yeah, we can stop and pick up a few things.”
“Great!” Holly beamed. “And, on second thought, can you roll down the window? I think I will stick my head outside.”
“Just don’t get decapitated. The roads are narrow, and the branches are always closer than you think they’ll be.”
“Why does it sound like you’re speaking from experience?”
“Want to know why I have the beard?”
Holly twisted in her seat to face him. “Why?”
“I got snagged by a rotted branch doing exactly what you’re about to do now.”
“Did you, really?”
“Well.” Garret winced. “Technically, I was on top of the car, but it’s the same basic principle.”
“I have about fifty questions,” Holly said through sputtering laughter. “About twenty of those questions involve the word why.”
“I was sixteen. It was a dare. I was trying to impress people not worth impressing. Does that cover it?”
“More or less.” Holly nodded. “Who were you trying to impress?” She waggled her eyebrows and nudged him playfully.
“Johnny and Loch, actually.” Garret laughed. “They were the cool kids. I wanted to be cool so badly. Then I figured out that cool and stupid were synonymous when it came to sixteen-year-old boys. After eight stitches in the jaw, I stopped caring about impressing them.”
