AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“I just really need to get inside.” I croaked, letting out a slow, shaky breath.
“Then tell me what I need to do,” he said gently and straightened out his grip on the bolt cutter’s handles.
“Well, I tried cutting through the lock, but the metal is way too thick here,” I said, pointing to where the deadbolt hung. “Then I tried the smaller links, but I couldn’t cut through them because they kept slipping. So I thought if I held on to them, then maybe you could—”
My eyes followed the tip of the snips in Leander’s hands as they went for the curve of the heavy lock holding the chains together. With one casual flex of muscle, the edges of the bolt cutters sliced through the metal like a fillet knife through the guts of a fish.
“And—and I could—” I stuttered, but the lock had already fallen loose. Leander went to jiggle it the rest of the way free as I frowned. “That’s really not fair, you know.”
“Sorry, but I thought that’d be the fastest way,” he chuckled, giving the door an experimental push. When it didn’t budge, he gave it another shove, this time using the force of his shoulder.
“Uh huh,” I said, pulling the other side of the door open with the handle. It swung right toward me, and Leander looked over just in time for me to flash him a sardonic smile. At least there were still a few things a prince couldn’t do on the first try. “Thanks for your help.”
I stepped into the gas station, shuffling boxes across the floor with the side of my boot to make a path. “Now feel free to go on back to bed,” I called behind me. When I slipped behind the counter, a certain pretty boy met me on the other side.
“What are you doing?” he asked.
Ugh.There he went again with the questions.
“Making a call,” I said and snatched up the phone. I held it hopefully up to my ear and… silence.
I drew it back, mashing the buttons, then checked the cable underneath. Everything seemed to be plugged in and seated as it should be.
“A call? What kind of call?” he continued, and I shot him a warning glance. The look that met mine wasn’t one of dumb curiosity, but of genuineconcern, sending a pang of regret shooting through me. Maybe I was being too unfair. He did help me get inside, after all.
“I have to let everyone know I’m okay,” I confessed, returning the phone to its stand. “I, uh, don’t exactly spend the night out, well, ever, so I know they’re worried about me.”
I could feel a blush coming over my cheeks, and I followed the length of the cord just so I wouldn’t have to look back over at him. Had I really just practically admitted to never getting laid?
When I reached the end, I examined it in the light. Something had chewed through it, severing the line and my best chance at getting in touch with my family. I let out a heavy sigh. “Damn raccoon rave party…”
“What was that?” Leander called from behind me, but I just shook my head.
“Where am I going to find another phone?” I groaned, asking no one in particular. I knew Mr. Dumb Merman Cardsure wouldn’t be any help.
“My father keeps going on and on about his phone,” Leander said, and I snapped back to look at him.
“Wait. King Eamon has a phone?”
I gasped as the image of him perched on his new throne flashed to mind. Even with legs, he looked too enormous—too feral—to pass as a human. My eyes wandered over the tight fabric of Leander’s shirt, wondering if the weighty power of the trident would one day turn him into his rapacious father.
“Yeah, he won’t stop talking about it,” he said, casually poking through a display of lighters sitting next to the register.
“Do you think you could get your hands on it for me?” I asked, watching as he picked up one of the more colorful lighters and shook it. He held it close to his ear, listening to the fluid swish around. “You kind of owe me.”
“Me?Oh no. He hasn’t put the thing down since he got it,” he chuckled, putting the lighter back and digging into one of his back pockets. “But you can have mine if you want.”
Pulling out a black square from his pocket, he waggled it out in front of me with a grin.
My mouth gaped as he laid it down on the counter.
A cell phone.
Despite my trembling fingers, I snatched the phone up without a second thought and dialed Dad’s number. The phone barely got out half of a ring before the line connected.
“Is that you, Claira?” a familiar voice rumbled through the speaker. He sounded more cautious than anything else, like he was admitting an unfulfillable wish rather than asking a question.
Tears swelled against my lashes at the sound of his voice, and I pressed the phone even closer to my ear. “It’s me.”
