Sandy Williams - The Shadow Reader

“Would you wait with me?”

I reach the upper terrace, glance over my shoulder. He’s standing at the base of the stairs, his hands stuffed into his pockets.

“I have to find Paige, tell the bride and groom congratulations.”

I’m not sure if Paige will even count this as going to the wedding, especially since we missed the actual ceremony. The reception is supposed to last until midnight but by the looks of some of the guests, they’ve been here for hours, drinking and having a good time. It’s honestly not my fault I’m late, though, and at least I’m here.

Aren climbs the stairs, his edarratae growing more chaotic with each step he takes.

“It should only take a few minutes,” I say, hoping he’ll stay behind. I don’t like seeing the lightning this erratic. “I’ll be right back.”

“I’m coming with you.”

He reaches the terrace, gives me a lopsided smile as if nothing’s bothering him. He really shouldn’t go inside, not with the lights, the cell phones, and other tech. The longer he’s exposed to it, the more disoriented he’ll become.

“We’re meeting Kyol in the garden,” I tell him. “He’s not going to be in here, especially not with Lena.”

“I don’t want to take that chance.”

But he’ll take a chance letting the tech mess with him. That makes perfect sense.

I roll my eyes, turn, and enter the mansion.

I knew Amy’s wedding was going to be extravagant when I Googled the location. This definitely doesn’t disappoint. The ballroom is beautiful. The interior wall is painted with a mural of cherubim in the clouds while the outer wall is made up entirely of glass, allowing guests to look out over the gardens and fountains. A live band is playing a cover of a Bryan Adams love song— not the one from Robin Hood —and the dance floor at the foot of the stage is packed with people. I glimpse the bride and groom in the middle of the crowd as I walk the perimeter, scanning the ballroom for Paige.

Aren stays by my side. He’s careful not to come in contact with the other humans, but me? He brushes against me every chance he gets. I seriously need to relax. This is almost over. I just need to make it through the night.

“McKenzie,” a familiar voice calls from behind me. “Where the hell have you been?”

I turn, an apology on my lips, but Paige throws her arms around me before I can say I’m sorry.

“You call in the dead of night and then you hang up on me? What happened?”

“I, uh . . .” I didn’t prepare for this, didn’t think about it at all. “I took a trip to see . . .” What’s in Georgia? “Things. And the pay phone cut out.”

Paige steps back. She clearly doesn’t believe me, but she lets it go for now, choosing instead to turn her attention to Aren, who’s standing quietly at my side, hands once again shoved into his pockets.

“You’re not Kyol,” she says. Blunt, that’s Paige.

Something flickers across his face. “No. I’m not.”

Paige looks at me. “I thought if you brought anyone, you’d bring Kyol.”

“No. This is Aren. He’s . . . an acquaintance.” I can’t bring myself to say more than that. I should have, though, because Paige is inspecting him with new interest now. I might as well have jumped onto the band’s stage and shouted, “Aren’s available!” into the microphone. Paige is cute and spunky, even in a long, pink satin bridesmaid’s dress. It’s actually not that hideous, and with her blond hair pulled into messy but chic pigtails, she pulls it off.

Aren doesn’t say anything. I’m not sure he’s even paying attention. He’s looking behind Paige more than at her, scanning the wedding guests, searching for Kyol and Lena, I presume. It’s a waste of effort. If Kyol was alone, he might come in here looking for me, but not with Lena, who I’m sure will probably freak out when she sees the tiny lights lining the garden’s walks.

“We were just going to tell your sister congratulations, then step outside for a while.”

Paige rolls her eyes. “Amy’s on the dance floor. Still. She’s been on my case to dance all night.” She focuses on Aren, who I just so brilliantly labeled only an acquaintance, not a love interest or even a friend. “Do you want to dance? It’ll spare you having to meet Bridezilla.”

He’ll have to take his hands out of his pockets to do that, and one touch between human and fae will send his edarratae into her. Paige won’t see the lightning, but she’ll feel it. She’ll assume the electric tingle is evidence of their chemistry, and since she isn’t anything close to a virgin, she wouldn’t hesitate long before finding a place where they could be alone.

“He’s germophobic,” I blurt out.

Paige raises an eyebrow and I wince. That’s what I told her when she and Kyol first met and he refused to shake her hand.

“Jesus, McKenzie. What do you do, raid OCD support groups or something?”

This is why people think I’m crazy.

“It’s just a coincidence,” I say lamely.

Beside me, Aren relaxes. It’s an odd thing for him to do in the midst of humans and tech. I glance at him, see his expression is just as unstressed as his posture, almost lazy even.

“He’s here,” he says.

My gut clenches when I follow his line of sight and see Kyol, dressed in a suit, holding Lena’s hand just inside the open glass doors leading out to the garden. I’m momentarily startled because they look good together. They look like a couple. I never thought that when he stood next to Jacia. Maybe that’s why I never suspected there was something between them. Only a fae as beautiful as Lena can be a match for him, not someone like me, someone who’s plain and human.

Stop it, McKenzie. He’s here for you.

Kyol has to be aware I’m standing beside Aren, but his eyes don’t leave the rebel. He’s wearing what I’ve always referred to as his soldier’s face. It’s hard as stone and impossible for most people to read. I can tell he’s uncomfortable, though, being so near to the ballroom’s tech. But he keeps his shoulders straight, his posture confident, almost aggressive. He’d walk through an electronics store without a hitch to his stride if I stood at the opposite end.

That thought brings a small smile to my lips. A familiar, peaceful warmth settles over me.

Something unspoken passes between Kyol and Aren before Kyol turns and leads Lena from the ballroom.

“Who’s the chick?” Paige asks. She’s staring at the departing fae, too.

“She’s just a girl. I need to talk to them. I’ll be back in a minute. I—” I almost said, “I promise,” but with the way my life’s been going lately, there’s no need to make commitments I might not be able to keep.

Paige sighs. “I still think you’re better off without him, McKenzie.”

For the first time, Aren seems to really notice Paige. He gives her one of his sexy, lopsided grins. “I couldn’t agree more.”

Paige raises her eyebrows, giving me a look that says she approves of him. Yeah, well, she doesn’t know a thing about him.

“We’ll be back.” Aren takes my arm and leads me through the crowd. By the time we step outside, his edarratae are spiraling up my arm.

Kyol’s not happy about that. He knows how it feels to touch me and how I feel when I’m touched by fae. He’s waiting with Lena at the edge of the lower terrace, a rare scowl breaking through his usually impenetrable expression.

Aren notices his reaction, too. He stops before we descend the stairs, leans down close to my ear, and whispers, “This could be an interesting evening.”

I manage not to shiver. “Don’t provoke him.” Aren would lose in a one-on-one match against the sword-master. I’m sure of it.