Page 46 of Fated to the Fang

"No." I glance toward the bell tower, then make myself look back at him. "But if you're going to be stubborn, be useful somewhere public. Main square. Near Greer. Nowhere quiet."

His eyes narrow. "That sounds very specific."

"It's a festival. Specific is what keeps people from getting crushed by a funnel-cake line." He doesn't smile, but he does disappear and do as I say.

A woman from the flower stall stops arguing about table space long enough to press a roll of tape into my hand.

"You're with Greer today, right? Tell him the south stairs always jam after fireworks. Folks cut through there when the band starts, and nobody listens until someone falls."

I look at them, then at Lucien's map. South stairs. Another throat waiting to close.

"Thanks," I say. "I'll move it up the list."

She gives me a tired smile and goes back to unpacking paper lanterns, never knowing she may have just saved herself.

I'm checking the bell tower because Lucien's roster named someone there when I see Nora by the storage tents, frowning at two men in festival vests beside the PA cables. One has the access panel open. The other is feeding a coil of wire behind the stage skirting.

To anyone else, it looks like setup. To me, it looks like someone choosing where panic gets its voice. Nora takes one step toward them.

"Nora," I call, too brightly. "Greer needs your booth permit before the health inspector starts throwing his clipboard around."

She turns. "He needs my what?"

"Permit. Now." I get between her and the stage before she can look back. "Please."

Her face changes, but she follows. Greer reaches the panel thirty seconds later with Caleb beside him.

"Audio inspection," Greer says. "Step away from the box."

One man hands over a festival badge. The other disappears behind the bandstand before Caleb can move.

"Stay," I say, catching his sleeve.

He looks at my hand, then at my face, and stays.

Nora's voice drops. "Ave, what is happening?"

"Someone's messing with the festival setup," I say. True enough to stand on. "Stay near the square. Near people."

Caleb waits until Nora walks back toward the café truck, then turns on me. "I came because you stopped answering. After everything with that ex-fiancé, you said this place was temporary. A reset. Now I get here and you're in the middle of whatever this is."

"It is temporary."

"Then come home."

I look at the lights, the barricades, the open panel Greer is now taping shut.

"I can't. Not before Friday."

"Why?"

"Because someone is using the festival to hurt people, and Greer doesn't have enough eyes."

"Then I'll help."

My throat tightens. My eyes cut to the docks, then I make myself look back at him.

"Help Greer with the square. Crowds. Exits. Nothing quiet, nothing off-route."