Page 43 of Too Hexed to Handle

Astin hurries me along, but there’s no sign of the statue Damian mentioned, and with so much activity around me, it’s hard to get a sense of any magic in the air at all. We spot other competitors everywhere we go – easily identifiable by the fact they’re the only people not draped in pink flags – digging holes near trees and swearing profusely when they find nothing.

It would have helped if Damian had drawn us a map.

We move on, weaving through couple after couple – narrowly avoiding a collision when two of them start kissing in the middle of the path with no regard to everyone around them (Astin mutters something about finding a room, which I choose to take as a sign he’s coming round to the idea of putting everyone in one bed) – until we reach a purple tent covered in crescent moons, situated in a quieter corner of the park. It’s flanked by twin trees whose branches curl over the tent flaps to form an arch.

Oh, shit.

Eira sits outside on a small stool, the ends of her blue dress trailing over the ground and ending in front of a sign with a crystal ball drawn in chalk. I narrow my eyes. I may have avoided learning about my abilities, but last I checked fortune telling wasn’t one of them.

Which means she’s up to something nefarious.

But that’s not the most pressing issue. The issue is Astin, standing at my side, Astin and his if one happens to cross my path, they’re dead promise. I cannot have him turning a festival of love into a bloodbath. I need to get him away from her before she reveals what she is.

Eira’s gown is, thankfully, long-sleeved and high-necked, concealing any Souleater marks, but her nostrils flare as she catches sight of me. ‘Oh. You again.’

Her attention slides to Astin. My pulse kicks up another notch. Maybe my inability to deduce his emotions is an anomaly; something that comes from spending too much time with someone, like how a pet owner becomes immune to the scent of fur that to a new guest is overwhelming. What if she starts telling him how he smells?

Instead, she smiles. ‘And you brought a friend. My, my, what a pairing you make.’

‘We’re not a pairing,’ I say quickly. Astin tenses behind me.

Eira smirks, as though she can scent the lie there. The wishing and wanting behind the words. Dread curdles in my belly. I’m not sure what would be worse: Astin realising what she is and starting a fight, or her spilling my secrets to the one person who cannot know all the inappropriate thoughts in my head.

Thankfully, she chooses not to embarrass me, instead launching into that sing-song voice of hers, her eyes never leaving Astin. ‘An empty space or a place to fill, an empty thing is hard to kill.’

Astin frowns. ‘What –’

‘I’m hungry. Shall we find some food?’ I butt in.

‘Daisy, how do you know this person?’

‘We met at the party. Briefly. But now I think we should . . . go over there.’ I point in a random direction.

Please, please, can we go over there before you work out what she is and ruin this perfectly pleasant festival by strangling her with a Laevothe banner.

‘Don’t go,’ Eira says. ‘Why don’t you come inside? I’d like to talk to you.’

Well, I wouldn’t like to talk to her. There was a moment last night where I’d considered it, had wanted to quiz her on everything she knew, but there’s a frostiness to her scent filling me with unease. She might have told Damian she was resisting temptation, but that might not stretch to being alone with someone in her tent. Finding some unsuspecting victim is probably the whole reason she’s at the festival. But the longer I resist, the more chance she’ll tell Astin something I don’t want him finding out.

‘Talk to her about what, exactly?’ Astin narrows his eyes.

‘My fortune!’ I exclaim. ‘She offered to read it yesterday. For free. When we met. Hey, maybe she’ll see us finding what we need.’

Astin stares at me like I’ve finally grown those horns we were talking about, but I steer him around until he’s facing one of the food stalls.

‘I won’t be long,’ I tell him. ‘You get me something to eat, and I’ll come and find you in a few minutes.’

At first, I don’t think he’s going to comply – I wouldn’t blame him if he refused – but eventually, he sighs and says, ‘I will get you food on two conditions.’

‘Which are?’

‘You’d better be telling the truth about it being free. And the second I’m back, you’re leaving that tent. So she’d better tell your “fortune” fast.’

I slap down his raised fingers before Eira can take offence to his air quotes, and wave him away. He departs with a roll of his eyes, leaving Eira pouting in her chair, her arms folded like a petulant child.

‘I wouldn’t have minded if he stayed.’ She licks her lips, and I bristle. Personally, I think she takes the eater part of Souleater far too literally.

I fold my arms. ‘What did you want to talk to me about?’