These Hollow Vows (These Hollow Vows 1)

Frowning, she straightens. “I don’t like you doing this alone. I don’t like that you’re doing this at all.”

“Would you go if you were in my shoes? If it were Fawn who’d been sold to the Unseelie king?”

Her dark eyes glitter with tears, and she swallows. “In a heartbeat.”

“Then you know I have no choice.”

“I imagine you’ve done many things because you had no choice,” she says softly. She toys with a dark curl and seems to consider this before adding, “I need to ask you something.”

“Okay.”

She looks down the alley in each direction, and even though we’re the only ones out here, she lowers her voice when she speaks. “That money you gave me for Fawn’s contract . . . did you steal it from Gorst?”

My stomach plummets. How would she know that? “Do I look that stupid?”

She narrows her eyes at me. “Brie.”

I rub the back of my neck, where all my tension from the last twenty-four hours seems to have coiled into one big knot. “Wouldn’t it be better if you didn’t know where I got it?” I can’t believe that was only last night. So much has happened since then—my whole world tipped on its axis.

She purses her lips. “Someone broke into Gorst’s house, got past his wards, and raided his vault. He’s pissed.”

“I imagine so.”

“Whoever it was left blood behind,” she whispers. “And it’s only a matter of time until his mage finds the match—finds the thief.”

Shit. I’ve been so busy dealing with everything else that I’d forgotten about the blood. “Gorst is the least of my worries.”

“Yeah? Well, you’d better hope the magic works slowly, or you may never get the chance to enter that portal.”

“Brie?” Sebastian calls, coming down the alley from the courtyard.

“We’ll talk later,” Nik says, giving me a sad smile and squeezing my wrist before backing away. “I’ll see you at home. Until then, watch your back.”

“Thanks, Nik.” With a deep breath, I turn to face Sebastian. My heart squeezes at the sight of him. He’s wearing a white tunic with dark leather pants that are fitted to his powerful thighs, and his white hair glows faintly golden in the sunlight.

“Master Trifen said you were looking for me.”

I swallow the knot of emotion in my throat. I want to tell him my plan and warn him that we may never see each other again. I hate deceiving him, but I don’t see a better alternative. “I wanted to see you before you go.”

Sebastian steps closer and takes my hands in each of his, squeezing. “I wouldn’t have left without saying goodbye.”

“I know.” I scan his face, memorizing every inch. His eyes are more blue than green in the setting sun. I may never see those eyes again.

He reaches into his pocket and draws out a necklace with a crystal pendant. “I made you something.”

“Bash . . .” The chain is a simple, finely woven silver, but the crystal is flawless. “It’s . . . the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen.”

“Then it suits you.” His voice is hoarse, and the heartbreaking tenderness in his eyes grates against my conscience. “It’s an amulet of protection. If I can’t be here to protect you myself, then . . .” He flinches, as if the thought causes him physical pain, then gently guides the necklace over my head. “Promise me you’ll always wear it.”

“I promise.” It falls between my breasts and glitters in the sunlight. I clutch it in my fist. “When do you leave?”

“First thing in the morning.” His gaze goes to the sky, as if checking to make sure he hasn’t run out of time.

“Thank you for being such a good friend. I don’t know if I would’ve made it through the last two years without you.”

“Don’t do that.” He shakes his head. “Don’t act like you won’t see me again.”

I drop my gaze to my feet, staring at my battered black boots instead of letting him look into my eyes, where I fear the truth is written.

He tilts my face up to his. “There’s so much I still need to tell you.”

“Like what?”

He scans my face again and again. “About my past . . . about me.”

I open my mouth and snap it shut again. Sebastian’s never talked about his family. He never wanted to share anything about his life before he moved to Fairscape, and I never pushed.

“I’ll do everything in my power to see you again,” he says softly. “But I’m not ready to leave you yet.” His hands are big and warm. I’ve secretly imagined him touching me like this so many times, but nothing I dreamed up could compare with the sensation of his callused fingers sliding behind my neck and into my hair as his gaze drops to my mouth. “Is there anything you need to tell me? Anything I should know before I leave tomorrow?”