Soul (Chaos #1)

Chapter Seventeen

Chapter Seventeen

Ronnie sent me a text message asking me to meet, so instead of going straight back to my room, I requested permission to visit the supermarket. I thought Brendan might be more inclined to agree if I played up to the whole king thing.

"Besides," I hedged, "you said I need to eat. And it's not like I can trust fae food."

"Fine," Brendan said, turning his back on me as if distracted. "Don't be too long. I'll send two guards in your wake. If anything happens, stay with Realtín and Grim."

He walked away as if he had already forgotten I existed. I kept relying on him, thinking he cared like a normal person, but he didn't. I had to remember that he was the kind of creature who used and abused, and I was the kind of creature who would let him because that was what I was used to. I wasn't ready to be anyone else yet.

"I'm just going to get junk I can keep in my room," I said on the way to the supermarket.

"There's a kitchen," Grim said.

"I know. I just don't trust anything anymore. Will it be okay in my room even?"

"We'll take care of you," Realtín promised. "We love you, Cara. We won't let them hurt you."

I stared at the sprite, wishing I could believe her. She was as flighty as the rest of them. She would forget me, too.

At the supermarket, I picked up as much stuff as I could carry, knowing I might not get another chance if Brendan suddenly decided to ban any future trips. He could do what he liked, and even if I put up a fuss, we both knew I would obey in the end. I had no choice.

I dawdled in the freezer section, picking up and dropping various items.

"Just choose one already!" Realtín snapped.

I spotted Ronnie strolling up the aisle toward us. "Can you two give me a minute alone?" I asked.

Realtín turned and saw Ronnie. "I don't like her," she said under her breath.

"You don't like anyone."

"Come," Grim said. "Be very careful, Cara."

Ronnie approached me when they left. I couldn't sense them at all.

"Still with the fae, huh?" Ronnie said. She still wore those stupid sunglasses.

"They can't keep away," I joked, but her lips pinched together. "What was it you wanted?"

"When exactly is this ceremony you're a part of?" she asked, trailing a finger along a shelf.

"Imbolc. It starts on the first of February. The whole thing might last a week or so."

"Not long to go. May I accompany you?"

"Oh." I stared at her blankly. "I mean, you could go, but how would you find your way in?"

"Where is it being held?"

"Nobody's said. I assumed it would be in the fae realm."

"Yes, but we enter in the human one," she snapped.

"Well, I don't know anything about that."

She let out an exasperated sigh. "It must be on the leylines, and it would need great power, a place that hasn't been used in a long time." She glared at me. "You must find out, Cara."

"Must she?" Drake asked from behind me.

Ronnie jumped and inched back, her mouth opening in horror. "You." The colour leached from her face.