Soul (Chaos #1)

Chapter Eighteen

Chapter Eighteen

Neither Brendan nor Drake accompanied me to my classes that day. Grim told me the king was too busy preparing to host the party, but I wondered if maybe he was avoiding me, or if Drake had refused because he was angry with me.

I still didn't know what to think. Ronnie's fear had been real, and Drake had lived so long that he had probably done plenty of things I couldn't stomach. In contrast, Brendan was so playful that I couldn't imagine his darker side being as extreme.

Zoe acted as though she hadn't seen me in an age. "I thought you were mad at me, or dead or something. Where have you been?"

"Staying with a friend. I'm so sorry about your house, Zoe. Is there anything I can do?"

She shook her head. "We've been staying with Mam's sister, so basically, hell on earth. She can't face cleaning up the mess, but I don't blame her. Wait a second... what friend?"

I must have blushed because she gaped at me. "Drake? You're living with him now? Where? I mean, is that safe?"

"I'm not living there. I'm staying there temporarily until I sort out something permanent. It's a favour. I barely see him because he works. I have my own room. Stop worrying."

"I'm not worried. I'm just interested. Okay, maybe a little worried. Is he a drug dealer or something?"

I scowled. "No. And like I said, I don't see him much."

"But what have you been doing then because I never see you."

"I know. And that's going to change. I've been trying to catch up with assignments. We're still on for my birthday, right?"

"Will he be there?" she asked suspiciously.

"Yes. Will Darren?"

She grinned. "So this is what it feels like to worry someone's not good enough for your best friend. I love you. Stop disappearing."

"I will. I'm just in the middle of a lot of... stuff. When it's over, you'll be sick of me all over again."

"I'm never sick of you."

"Lies. How are things with you and Darren?"

She hesitated. "Weird. He's acting..." She shrugged.

"What is it?"

"You know how he gets stupid when he's drunk sometimes? Well, he's been acting like that all of the damn time lately. He got into a fight at work yesterday. He might lose his job. He barely speaks to me. And he's so jumpy. I'd swear he was on something if I didn't know better."

"Work is probably worrying him or something. He's not really the kind of person who talks about his feelings all day, right?"

"No, but..." She sighed. "You're probably right."

Ronnie walked right past us, but she didn't as much as glance in my direction. A few minutes later, my phone beeped with a text from her, asking if I had heard anything more about the ceremony. I ignored it because I didn't think reuniting her with the fae would be good for her. Maybe Grim had been right about her.

At lunch, I tried ringing Mam again, but she didn't answer. Probably for the best. I had questions for her, but I didn't really want to know the answers.

That afternoon, I went back to Brendan's home, but the glowering guard outside my door stopped me from entering my room.

"You're wanted downstairs," he said gruffly.

Sighing, I headed back downstairs with Grim and Realtín. Brendan's office was full of pretty fae girls who giggled constantly in his presence.

"Pixies," Realtín sneered. "You'll hate them."