Total pages in book: 194
Estimated words: 187021 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 935(@200wpm)___ 748(@250wpm)___ 623(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 187021 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 935(@200wpm)___ 748(@250wpm)___ 623(@300wpm)
“What should I call you?”
Kierse knew she couldn’t give them her real name, and she doubted Wren was on the table, either. She needed something else.
She swallowed and said, “Shannon.” Her heart lurched at the sound of her mother’s name on her tongue.
Maya smiled. “This way, Shannon.”
Kierse hesitated for a second, looking back at the magic door. She didn’t know if this was the right move and she had no one to ask. She was on her own, making her own decisions. She didn’t need Graves’s advice, but damn, she would have liked it right then.
She wouldn’t get another opportunity like this. And if it gave them information on the cauldron or the Curator, it’d be worth it.
“Okay,” she said, following Maya through one of the doors of the antechamber.
The back room was innocuous enough. Just a long beige hallway with connecting doors. None of the greenery from the lobby covered the floor. This felt more like an office building. A little less mystique. A little more practicality.
Kierse could still feel that magic pull that had led her through the outer door. She felt as if they were getting closer to its source. She wanted to keep moving forward until she found it, but Maya stopped at a plain door.
“Here we are,” Maya said.
So far the girl had been nothing but kind. All smiles and cooing over her injury. Kierse realized that she probably wasn’t supposed to be able to feel the magical pull, or at least wasn’t supposed to know it was there, and she didn’t want to tip Maya off that she was different.
Maya pushed the door open to reveal a small bedroom. “It’s not much,” Maya said as she walked inside. “But I figured you’d want solitude while I get supplies.”
“Yes, thank you.” Solitude meant Kierse could snoop around.
“There are clothes in the dresser if you want to get more comfortable,” Maya offered. “But you can stay in what you’re wearing if you prefer.”
Kierse nodded as Maya left. She didn’t even hear the click of a lock or see any magic on the door. Huh. So they really thought that she wanted to be here.
She turned to inspect the room. A simple twin bed with all white sheets and comforter. A set of chairs before a small table. A chest of drawers. A small sink for washing up. All of it was utilitarian and practical.
Kierse opened the drawers to find soft, comfortable clothes in multiple sizes. All of it cozy, soft, and warm. Gray sweats, white or black T-shirts, and the green robe Maya had been wearing with the little tree logo on it, which looked loose enough to fit over the tee. Kierse discarded her dirty and damaged dress for the more pragmatic clothing. She also found a pair of slippers, not unlike those at a spa.
While Maya was gone, she quickly searched the rest of the room for anything out of the ordinary. But to her practiced eyes, this was nothing but a small bedroom. There were toiletries and washcloths in a basin by the sink. Notebook paper and a pencil on the table. Nothing under the bed. No trap doors. No secret compartments. Not even any hidden cameras. It was just…a room.
Whatever this place was, it felt nice.
How many times had Kierse wanted something like this when she’d been abandoned? When the war had been raging? Brooklyn was the closest thing to a refuge like this. Lorcan and the Druids had done their best to keep the worst of the war out of their part of the city, but that didn’t mean shit for the rest of them. Kierse hadn’t even gone through the brunt of it, because she’d had Jason, as disgusting as the thought made her feel. She wasn’t sure if she even would have lived without him and his thieving guild.
If this place had wanted her, she would have joined. In a heartbeat.
Maya knocked twice and only entered when Kierse said she was ready. She had a wooden tray in her hands with a jug of water, two metal cups, a half loaf of some kind of cake, and a host of disinfectants and bandages.
“Oh, Shannon! You found your size,” she said cheerfully.
“Looked like there was every size,” Kierse said.
“We do try to be size inclusive.” Maya set the tray down and poured out two glasses of water. She passed one to Kierse and then took a long drink of her own before heading to the sink.
“This is a regular occurrence?” Kierse asked as she took a small sip. It tasted like a hint of lemon. Lemon all over this place.
“People find us when they need us,” Maya said. “Sit here.”
Kierse took the seat Maya indicated, staring at the cake with longing. She was a sucker for cake, but she wasn’t sure that she was hungry enough to brave food in this place. It was still the goblin market, after all.