Like a flash, he closed the distance between them and pressed her into the ladder rungs. His forearm barred across her chest, preventing her from moving. He held his other hand over her mouth.
“Don’t speak. Don’t you dare say my name.” His eyes blazed as he glared at her, but something was wrong with them. It was like they couldn’t decide on what color they were. Shifting between a furious gray and an even angrier blue. He looked pained, and he momentarily released the pressure on her.
Mina lifted her hand to gently brush across his arm.
He inhaled in a quick hiss and jerked at her touch. He was shaking he was so furious.
But he pushed her against the ladder again. The back of her head connected with the upper rung, sending blinding arrows of light into her vision. His arm pressed harder into her body, making another rung dig deeper into her shoulder blade.
Tears formed at the corner of her eyes, and she lashed back in anger. “Get away from me, you freak!”
His lips formed a cruel smile as he leaned forward to whisper into her ear. “I could have let you die up there. In fact, I’m not altogether of one mind why I didn’t…Oh, that’s right. You have something I want.” He took his free hand and gently stroked the side of her cheek, running his fingers over her lips. The move sent an unwilling shiver through her until his fingers moved under her chin. “I want that dagger.”
“Even if I had it, I wouldn’t give it to you,” she spat out. She pushed against him to escape, but his fingers dug deeper into her throat, cutting off her air.
“Tsk tsk tsk,” he clicked his tongue. “I thought you would have heeded my warning. I told you your friends aren’t safe if you don’t give me the dagger.”
“It was you that attacked Brody.”
“I thought it pertinent to give you another warning, to show you I mean business. But it will be your last.” He pushed away and turned his back on her.
“No, leave my friends out of this. You have no right to bring them into our fight.”
>Mina grinned and hopped out of the car. He was right. There was something between them, and it spun her in circles with confusion. Was it a crush, an infatuation, love? So soon after losing Jared, she didn’t want to even think it was possible, but …what if what she had for Jared hadn’t been real? It had only been a few weeks ago, but in her heart it felt like years.
The stress of the quests was wearing on her. She could feel the next one looming over her. But for once, she felt like her future might not be so bleak.
One final question hung over her, though. Teague would manipulate this. How would she survive it?
Chapter 9
Nan insisted on taking Mina dress shopping for her date with Brody after school on Wednesday. Since her car was in the shop, they were stuck with the horrible public transportation system. Maybe it was the combined stench of exhaust and sweat that filled the air making her feel uneasy. Maybe it was the odd look that Ever kept giving her from across the aisle.
It had started as soon as Nan compared Mina to Cinderella going to a ball.
The bus dropped them off at Harlow Street in a quaint area filled with small nook and cranny stores and family-owned businesses. They were heading to Nan’s favorite café for a bite to eat while they decided what type of dress she should wear. Mina wanted simple; Nan wanted something spectacular, and jaw dropping.
“You don’t want any old dress. You need a dress fit for a queen.”
Mina shivered. “Don’t say that too loudly. I have no desire to be queen of anything.”
Ever snorted loudly.
“Fine. Then you’ll be the belle of the ball.”
Mina inwardly groaned. Now it sounded like Beauty and the Beast. The last time she’d gone dress shopping, she was stuck in a Red Riding Hood tale. “No belles, no queens. Just a dress. A simple one, with not too much stuff on it.”
“Boring. Got it,” Nan answered.
“No, not boring. I just don’t want any extra attention on my date with Brody.”
Nan looked to Ever and wiggled her eyebrows. “You heard that. We got our marching orders. We are on a mission to make her as unattractive as possible.”
Ever smirked. “Shouldn’t be too hard.”
“Hey, watch it!” Mina bumped her shoulder into Ever playfully. Ever withdrew and moved away to walk on the other side of Nan. That hurt.
Mina wanted to say something, but Nan pointed to a sign above a store with a bunch of old clocks. “Hey, I’ve never heard of this one. Hickory Dickory Dock! We should—”