Page 88 of From the Edge

Rowan took a deep breath and lifted her head to the house. “So you knew.”

There was a bell from somewhere inside the house.

Rowan grimaced. “I love it, but I think that is one sarcastic house.”

Bright tinkling filled the room, and everyone laughed and returned to pie.

It was one in the morning when Hope tiptoed in through the kitchen door, and Rowan flicked the light on. “What sort of time is this?”

Hope had a bag and a purse that she hadn’t left with. “Um, approaching morning? Don’t you have work today?”

“I do. So what is in the purse?”

“A few cheques and some cash. I feel like a people again.” Hope smiled brightly.

“How much did you win?”

She grinned and opened her purse, pulling out several cashiers’ cheques. “Um, I think it’s around four hundred and fifty thousand dollars. It’s good that Edric came after me. I forgot my identification.”

Rowan smiled and then said, “I need to apologize. You said you were a second cousin, and I never thought about it.”

“You were busy and in several directions. We were friends. That was enough.”

“So you are going to cash some cheques tomorrow?”

“Yeah, I am going to set up an account and get a card.”

Rowan opened her arms. “Can I have a hug?”

Hope smiled and hugged her. “Friend and a cousin and so small. You are very economical.”

Rowan laughed, and they sat down to add up the funds she had won. It turned out that since she was determined, Edric was going to run escort. They had gone to two different casinos after the security detail had encouraged her to leave.

Hope sighed. “I feel better. Real. I had been doubting it for a while.”

“Can you cut open a car with your wings?”

“Yeah. Sure. I have done it a few—oh.”

“Mmhm. We just put it together.”

“Blood called, so I answered. I am sorry I didn’t tell you. I knew she wasn’t going to survive, but she needed the most time she could have.”

“Another hug incoming.”

They hugged and sat up until morning, talking about all the moments that Rowan was just beginning to recall. “It’s like you live under that curse.”

She blushed. “They got it from a pixie. They took that spell and made it a curse.”

“Where did they get it?”

Hope sighed. “From the Andersons. They sold my blood to make the curse.”

“How old were you?”

“I was six. They nearly killed me and got me sent to a new home. It saved me. Their home was burned, and they were found dead thirty-six hours after I was removed. The Smiths’ house was next to a police department, so I was safe there. When I was healthy, I was moved again, and by the time I was twelve, I had been through six more homes. Then, she helped me, got me whatever she could with her pen and the paperwork. I was with her until I aged out. It was a good place to be as a girl in foster care.”

Rowan smiled. “I am very glad you had her during that time.”