Masquerade (Creepy Hollow, #4) Read Free Page B

incident.
    Uri takes the T-shirt, then begins tapping a finger against an empty glass jar. “Are you sure you want to forget about him? Whatever hurt you’re feeling right now won’t last forever, and surely it’s best to keep all your memories intact.”
    I sigh. Uri’s probably right, but that doesn’t mean I have to listen to him. “I don’t want to completely forget about him. It’s in my permanent record that he followed me into the fae realm, so it would create complications if I forgot his existence entirely. But I would like to forget that I was ever stupid enough to care about him.” I lean forward. “And yes, I am absolutely sure about that.”
    *
    Tears burn behind my eyes the moment I step back into my home. I want to curl up in a corner and wait there until Uri’s managed to make a potion for me. I don’t care how long it takes him. I know I’m being completely pathetic, but I don’t want to face the world right—
    Bang!
    “What the hell?” Filigree appears in the kitchen and points his squirrel paw in the direction of my front door. Well, the area of my wall that could be called a front door if faeries homes actually had front doors. I hear the sound again and recognize it as the sound of the door knocker attached to the outside of my tree.
    A muffled voice: “Come on, Violet, just open up.” It’s Ryn. I stride into the sitting room, cross my arms, and stare at the wall. Who the heck does he think he is coming over here and demanding to be let in? What does he want? Another fight?
    He slams the knocker over and over again. “Dammit, Violet, please. I really need to talk to you.”
    Well, you are the last person I want to talk to.
    “I swear, if you don’t open up right now, I’m going to find my own way—”
    I sweep my hand across the wall, opening a doorway. “What?” I demand. “Here for round two?”
    He freezes, his hand still in the air, then sighs. “Look. I need your help.”
    I hear the words, but they don’t make any sense. “I’m sorry, what?”
    “I need your help,” he repeats slowly through clenched teeth.
    And suddenly it all makes sense. He only saved me because he needs something. And from the look on his face, I’m the last person he wants to ask. Which is fine with me, because I sure as hell don’t feel like helping him. I cross my arms and glare at him.
    “You going to make me beg?” he asks.
    “I doubt it’ll help, but I’d love to see you try.”
    He looks to the side and breathes out sharply, shaking his head. Then he closes his eyes, takes a deep breath, and slowly gets down on both knees. “Please,” he says, refusing to look up at me. “Please. You’re the only one who can help me.”
    My mouth drops open. Maybe this is all a dream. Maybe I haven’t been on a date with Nate yet, and he hasn’t betrayed me, and I didn’t have to run from Zell, and Ryn isn’t really on his knees begging for my help. I press my fingernails into my arms. It hurts.
    “Now that I’ve completely humiliated myself, will you let me in?”
    I drop my arms to my sides and step back, still barely able to believe that Ryn would actually get down on his knees in front of me. Filigree shifts to snow leopard form and bares his teeth as Ryn gets to his feet and walks in. The doorway seals up behind him. I cross the room and settle myself on one of the couches. Hopefully we can get this over with quickly. “So what do you need help with?”
    Ryn glances in Filigree’s direction, then follows me. After removing a bag from his shoulder, he chooses a seat opposite me and sits down. “It’s my sister. She’s missing.”
    I narrow my eyes. “You don’t have a sister.”
    “Half sister,” he corrects. “My father left, remember? Broke the union with my mother?” I do remember that. It happened soon after Reed died. “Anyway, he met someone else, and now, hey presto, I have a little sister.”
    I imagine a miniature version of Ryn. A miniature girl version. Wow, I