Wicked (A Wicked Trilogy 1)

don't even know how it happened. Must have been a freak occurrence, and I was sucked through when the door was destroyed. And I would've died if you hadn't saved me." Those big pale eyes met mine. "I didn't tell you because I saw no point. The door was destroyed, and Ivy, it was the last door in the Otherworld. Or at least that's what we believed. We had no idea there were two here. It should've been the only one in that church—the one across from the cemetery."

"Our Lady of Guadalupe?" I cursed. Dammit. The location of one of the gates had been right in front of my face. It made perfect sense, especially based on what Merle had said. That church had been a sanctuary at one time, and it was the oldest surviving church in the city. And Tink had been found in the cemetery right across the street. "Why didn't you just tell me you came through the gate there?"

"What was the point? I destroyed it, Ivy. Nothing is getting through that gate. Maybe the fae and the ancients on this side don't realize that, but they aren't opening it."

I folded my arms, struggling to stay calm. "Why didn't you tell me that all the gates had been destroyed? We have lost Order members because they are guarding something that doesn't even work."

"But if you're right, that there are two gates in the city, then it is a good thing that it has guardians," Tink argued, his cheeks flushing. "And I swear to you, I had no idea there was a second. That is why I've never been too concerned about what the ancients were up to, and I saw no point in bringing up the whole . . ." He looked away, lips forming a flat line. "The whole halfling stuff, but I'm telling you, believe me or not, if they have discovered a second gate, it's come from someone within the Order. It's the only way, because we didn't even know it was there."

I shook my head, floored.

"What good would it have done if I told you about us destroying the gates? Do you think the Order would've believed you? Would you have told them that you learned it from me, and would they have trusted you?"

"And I'm supposed to trust you now?" I asked.

He drew back like I'd smacked him.

For a long moment, I did nothing but stand there, and then I turned, walking down the hall. I sat down on the couch and put my head in my hands, rubbing my fingers along my temples. I tried to make sense of everything.

If what Tink was saying was true, then that would also explain why so many fae had migrated to New Orleans. One gate left open? They'd throw all their force into opening it, and it also added to our fears that someone within the Order was working with the fae.

"I'm sorry."

Laughing hoarsely under my breath, I slid my hands over my eyes. A stab of terror lit up my stomach as I realized that if what Tink was saying was true, every single fae nearby was going to go after one gate. Those guarding it would not survive. Balling my fists, I lowered them and looked at Tink. He hovered just over the edge of the coffee table looking contrite.

"Do you know where the other gate is?" I demanded. "I mean it, Tink. If you know, you need to tell me right now."

Crestfallen, he shook his head. "If I knew I would tell you. I swear! But you need to find out, Ivy, because if there is a gate still in operation, they will open it, and the knights will come through. They will bring the princess. They will bring the prince, and you . . . you do not want that to happen."

Chapter Seventeen

I didn't end up making it to class Monday morning, and when Jo Ann texted to check in on me, I lied and told her I'd overslept. There was a lot of lying going on these days, and I was just as guilty as everyone else, I supposed. I spent the bulk of the morning trying to figure out how I was going to broach this subject with David. I had to, but I couldn't tell him how I found out.

I couldn't even tell Ren the truth.

For some dumbass reason, I was still protecting Tink. If I told anyone in the Order about him, they'd raid my house like they were the police, and they'd kill him.

Who knew what I was going to do with Tink? Part of me wanted to pitch him headfirst through a window. The other half understood why he hadn't been forthcoming. By the time I left to meet up with Ren at headquarters, Tink had been sulking around in his room for a while.

The only thing I could do was lie about how I found out the info, and that knowledge sat bitterly in my stomach. I climbed the stairs to the second floor and was buzzed in by Harris.

"You're early today," he said, closing the door behind me.

"Meeting Ren." Without my backpack, I felt naked.

"Hmm. You and the new boy seem to be getting along fine." He ambled back to his office. "Good for you."

"Thanks," I mumbled, unsure of what to make of that comment. "I think."

A giggle from my left drew my attention, and I turned to see Val walking out of one of the meeting rooms, her phone plastered to her ear. "Everything's fine, babe." Smiling with a slightly dazed look about her, she veered toward me. Of all the guys Val had dated in the past, I couldn't remember her looking this way or even talking to a guy on the phone. She'd been more of a text me and leave me alone kind of girl, and I had to wonder if Val had finally found the one—if she was in love. "I have to go now. Yeah, I'll call you and let you know. Bye."

Hoisting myself up on the edge of an empty conference table pushed against the wall, I grinned at her. "Sounds like an interesting phone call."

She shrugged as she slipped her phone into the pocket of her orange jeans. I didn't even know they made jeans in that color. "Sorry about yesterday."

"It's okay. You were with that . . ." What did I call him? Her boyfriend? Guy? Friend with benefits? Heck, what did I call Ren and me? "You were with the guy you're seeing?"

Leaning against the table next to me, she stretched out her long legs as she tipped her head back. Tight curls tumbled over her shoulders, and she sighed. "Actually, I was asleep. He worked me so hard Saturday night. I can still feel him in—"

"I get the picture," I interrupted with a laugh as I swung my feet. I glanced at her, lowering my voice. "I need to talk to you later."

She straightened, the easy smile fading from her heart-shaped lips. "About what you were telling me before? The gates and stuff?"

I nodded, but before I could go any further, the buzzer went off and Harris made his way to the entry once more. Ren strolled through the door, and my breath caught. He looked like he'd just stepped out of the shower, hair damp and curling along his temples, face freshly shaven. A light, three-quarter sleeve thermal in charcoal gray clung to his broad shoulders and defined pecs. The black tactical pants fitted to his strong thighs.

God, he looked too good to be real, to be stalking toward where I sat, his stunning, emerald eyes fixed on me like I was the only person in the room.

"Wow," Val murmured under her breath.

I sat up straight, eyes widening as he advanced on me. I opened my mouth to say something—I don't know, a hello would've worked—but all the words died a quick and painless death. Ren clasped my cheeks in his hands and tilted my head back as he got right up on me, his legs spreading mine. His mouth was so close that we shared the same air.

"Uh," Val said, and she sounded so far away.

Ren kissed me, and there was nothing tentative about it, as if he didn't care that Val was sitting right next to us. He boldly parted my lips, and his tongue danced over mine as my grip on the edge of the table tightened. If I wasn't leaning against the wall, I probably would've fallen right over.

My lips tingled when he cut the hot kiss off, and I forced my eyes open. All I could see was green fringed behind black.

"Um. Wow. I think I just got pregnant watching that," Val said, breathless.

Ren chuckled. "I've been waiting all day for you to text or call me," he said, lowering his mouth to my ear. "I know you didn't forget about me."

Wincing, I drew back with my cheeks flushed bright red. I hadn't contacted him this morning, and it wasn't like I hadn't thought about doing it before everything went down with Tink, but I wasn't sure if he would've been cool with that. Like were we at that

stage? I had no idea how many stages there were or at what level texting each other for no reason other than to say hi was acceptable and not an act of neediness. Now I kind of felt like a douche.

He pressed his lips just below my ear. "It's okay. You're out of practice, so I'll tell you how it is with me."

"Do tell," Val coaxed.

I shot her a dark look, but she ignored it as Ren placed his hands on either side of my legs. "I want to hear from you—whenever. Day. Night. Morning. After you get out of the shower, and especially any time you're naked." He winked, and I rolled my eyes. "And I have no problem with anyone knowing what you and I've got going on."

"Really? Never would've guessed that," I responded dryly.

I dared to take a peek at Val, and she was watching me expectantly. "So when did this happen?" she asked, moving her finger in a giant circle.

"Oh, it's been happening." Ren patted my leg as he straightened, folding his arms. The look on his face dared me to disagree.

So I did. Naturally. "Actually, we hung out yesterday."

"Wow," Val said. "I should bail on you more often."

Ren nodded. "I can agree with that."

I immediately thought of what happened the night we went to the club. I narrowed my eyes at him, and one side of his mouth curled up in a teasing grin.