Reign (An Unfortunate Fairy Tale 4)

Ever rolled her eyes. “That’s not hard to do when you hang out with a gimp.” Mina hated when Ever referred to her family that way, but she didn’t say anything.

Nan frowned and turned to Mina, worry etched across her face. “How’d you find your way out?” Nan lowered her voice.

“Yeah,” Ever said. “How did you escape?”

Nan shot her a doubtful look.

“What? She was kidnapped by an evil Fae prince.”

“No, he saved me, and then he let me go,” Mina said loosening her scarf again. “But not before giving me a warning.”

Ever sucked in her breath when she saw the purplish bruise. “He did that to you?”

“Yeah,” Mina dropped her hand to her side, feeling conflicted and confused about what had transpired with Teague.

“It seems there’s no hope for him,” Ever sighed sadly. “It would be best not to anger him. Just keep your nose clean.”

Mina swallowed and agreed. “That’s my plan. Except he seems to want something from me, and he’s threatened to hurt you. All of you—including Brody and Nix and my family.”

Ever didn’t even flinch. She seemed to accept the news.

Nan, on the other hand, flew off the deep end. “What? How could he threaten me? He doesn’t even know what he’s getting himself into. Just you wait. No one crosses Nan Taylor.”

“You’ll stop him before it comes to that, right, Mina?” Ever’s voice hinted at the fear that she hid behind her stony mask.

“I won’t let him hurt any of you.”

The rest of the afternoon was crazy hectic. Since the girls were just “witnesses” to the accident and not visibly involved, the police let them leave to go on with their business.

Mina wasn’t really in the mood to eat anything, and she honestly didn’t want to search for a dress anymore, but Nan dragged her along against her will.

“Fine,” Nan said. “If we can’t go to the café, then we shop. Shopping is the cure for everything. Plus, I’m not letting you out of my sight until you tell me everything…and I mean everything.”

Ever frowned. “Well, I don’t think—”

“Nope,” Nan interrupted. “We’re going to Lacey’s Boutique. I’ve made up my mind. It’s across town. Let’s go.”

Reluctantly, Ever and Mina got back on the next bus while Nan grilled them.

Once Nan learned that Ever was a pixie, she couldn’t stop talking to her about it. Mina didn’t mind shopping for dresses with Ever. In fact, recently, she had enjoyed the Fae girl’s company. Maybe they’d bonded over their grief at losing Jared or something. Still, she’d obviously done something to anger Ever again…which had never really taken a whole lot of effort.

“Do it again,” Nan whispered encouragingly to Ever. Nan had quickly bonded with Ever and had even gotten the pixie to show off a few of her gifts. Something that Mina had never even thought to ask about.

“Sure, pick someone.” Ever leaned back in the seat and put on a pair of white skull sunglasses—feigning sleep. She looked relaxed in her dark denim jacket over her striped pink tank and black skinny jeans. Her army boots were laced with skull shoelaces, and her nails were painted an awesome crackle black color.

Nan sat next to her wearing red skinny jeans and a chevron striped shirt with bangles up her left arm. Her blonde hair flowed down her back, and she looked angelic, with the sunrays coming through the bus windows making her hair glimmer.

Night and day. Dark and light. Fae and Human. Her two friends, worlds apart yet so similar. Mina sighed and ran her hands up and down her sensible denim shorts and Dead Prince Society shirt. This one was a faded gray with black letters, which were perfect with her gray All-Star shoes. Mina didn’t curl her hair, but let it hang loose in ponytail over her left shoulder.

“Um…that one.” Nan gestured with her head toward the front of the bus where a gentleman in a suit sat reading a paper.

“You sure?” Ever pulled the glasses down to zero in on her target.

“Yep,” Nan answered.

“Child’s play.” Ever flicked her finger toward the man and then quickly turned away.