Page 52 of A Beautifully Crafted Lie

“I’m not an idiot, Odhran. You aren’t the only one to hide behind the effects of substances. That numbing effect wears off and leaves a hole greater than the one you try to fill. But I guess you already know that.” I push off the wall, tugging the seam of my dress to set it straight. “Get yourself cleaned up. I’m not leaving with you tonight if you smell like a gods damned tavern.”

“Anything for you, Bryn, bane of my fucking blight.” He tosses his head back, swallowing the contents of a fresh glass with a hiss. I thought I was lost within myself, but compared to him, I’m a compass. I’ll go with him tonight and help him with whatever he needs done, but I expect him to help me in return and reunite me with my sister.

I march right through the pool of liquor, letting it splash under my feet, then straight through the large double doors ahead of me. My heart beats like it’s running in a race. My eyes see nothing but flashes of his hands beside my head, caging me against the wall. Tanned fingers bunching my hair against the wooden panelling embellished with golden patterns.

“Eadan will be here shortly. She’ll take you to see the royal tailor. It’s about time you wear your own clothes.” Everything about his voice, the volume with which he speaks, the way he stresses his words, sounds so distant. I frown, refusing to look back at him.

“Fantastic! I can’t wait to dress according to your liking,” I say with cheerful sarcasm, slamming the door shut behind me. For a moment, I imagine hearing him laugh. I pause, but there’s only silence.

Turning to face the wall where I saw the concealed door, I hear nothing but the heavy beat of my heart. Flattening my palms against the velvety wallpaper, I lean in, but it doesn’t budge.

“It will not be this simple,” Aed tells me.

“Then how?”

“It will require a key.”

I search the wallpaper for a tiny hole or slit, something to break through to the structure below. Aed’s laughter rumbles in my mind, immediately irritating me. “Not a physical key, human. It will be a spoken word, a gestured wave, a secret knock, or even a drop of blood.”

“Then there’s no use trying.” I blow out a breath and step back. The weight of defeat is heavy within my chest. No, I’ll find a way.

My bedroom is dimly lit by the faint flickering of candlelight in the corner. The air is stale, carrying a hint of damp, the faint scent of old books, and Odhran. Silence hangs heavily, broken only by the occasional rustle of leaves outside and the distant, muffled sounds of footsteps in the hall.

Wrapping the corset around my ribs, the cold leather seeps through my black silk slip, but my expression remains unaffected. The fluttering beat of my heart and the flush in my cheeks is unchanged. Odhran possesses the extraordinary power to simultaneously infuriate and comfort me. I look towards his wardrobe, the image of him and the blonde woman renewing itself in my mind. Arrogant bastard.

Unfolding the note Declan placed in my palm, I run my fingertips over his writing. His cursive is clumsy and unrefined, and the sight makes me smile.

Bryn,

This note is written on enchanted paper. Anything you write here will be duplicated on my copy. Write to me. I miss you.

Declan

Three rapid knocks on my door serve as my summons. I quickly fold the note and shove it beneath my corset. “Let’s get going, Ashglo. We need to be back before dark.” Eadan’s voice is as emotionless as it was yesterday morning.

“I’ll be right there.” I tie the mile-length laces of the boots she loaned me as her footsteps give away her approach.

“Are you ready or not?” Her yawn is accompanied by dark bags under her eyes, revealing her exhaustion. Spending a few days with them, I now understand that faeries are predominantly twilight beings, slumbering peacefully while the sun sits high in the sky.

“I look ridiculous.” I tug at the top of my slip, allowing the soft, silky fabric to show above the dark brown corset. My ears burn thinking of stepping out of the room looking the way I do. My stepmother would keel over and die right here if I were truly her daughter.

Eadan’s huff of amusement is barely audible, but it’s enough to turn my stomach into a knot. “Actually…” She looks me up and down, her stony expression warming with the slightest hint of a smile. “I think you look rather good. Not quite ready for battle or a ball, but still…” She looks past me, toward the door at my back. “What do you think?”

I stiffen. My skin tingles with an acute awareness that someone is behind me. Tying my boot’s lace below my knee, I straighten.

“I think daylight hours are running out,” Odhran’s voice rumbles like distant thunder, and every hair on my nape rises. What he doesn’t say is that as soon as the sun sets, we will pack our belongings and go.

The town square is much like the one in Bouldermore, only grander and quieter. Tall terraced buildings with ornately trimmed barge boards stand proud between even taller trees, weaving through the forest in curved rows. Ivy climbs the pillars, framing entryways, embracing the structures like a dear friend. Unlike home, there are no wrought iron gates or fences. No iron lampstands upon which to hang glowing lanterns at night. There are no fae or lesser faeries in sight. Not a soul graces these streets except for us.

“I’ve got to give you credit for getting under Odhran’s skin.” Nonchalantly, Eadan maintains a steady gaze straight ahead. “It’s entertaining to watch.”

“Is he always like that?” The question has been on my mind ever since I first found him asleep.

She doesn’t smile, and the look she gives me is one of caution. “The excessive drinking? Yes.” She sighs. “Whenever we’re this close to the palace for any stretch of time. He doesn’t go there or anywhere near there.” Her shoulders slack, as if the topic displeases her more than my bringing it up.

I hesitate, waiting for her explanation, but she doesn’t say anything more. “Why?”

Eadan stops walking to look at me. A sinking feeling seeps into my blood. I’ve overstepped.