The train pulled into the station in Maladh only an hour after it had left New Corinth. The sun had just begun to rise, and its rays shown their way through the train's windows into the baggage car. Faryn dared a quick glance out one of the windows. Most of the buildings in the surrounding area were white, trimmed in terracotta brown. Palm trees lined one street. Near a space that seemed to be a park, though no one was in it, was a tree with a spindly trunk and either pinkish red flowers or berries. It was too far away for her to be able to make it out clearly.

From her spot behind a window, the beings she saw only looked like Acurials. Without being able to smell them or see them change their features, she didn't know what type of Acurials they really were.

She sunk back down into her hiding spot. After this they would head to Franavik. She'd figure out how to open the door and get Nick out and clear her name. And keep murder off Clora's and Father Winter's list of charges.

Peter stood in the center of the car, stretching his legs and arms. "I wish we had time to go out and explore."

"This isn't a vacation, Peter," Cassian said.

"After all this is over, we really should take one."

Clíodhna propped herself on top of one of the suitcases tied to the wall. "I'd be good with coming back here. There aren't many Leprechauns and there's no snow."

Faryn leaned her head back against a suitcase. "I'm not sure how I feel about the Spirit Court right now." And Maladh was the Spirit Court's domain and a home to its members such as Aicha Kandicha, and both Mami Wata and Anansi were known to spend much of the year in the city.

"Or Narcissa Court," Clíodhna reminded her. "So unless you want to vacation in Nebraska with Peter . . ."

"Doesn't Arlo have a house in Spain?" Cassian asked.

Clíodhna shrugged. "A few."

"So Spain it is."

Peter stretched his arms behind his back. "Works for me. I—"

Footsteps cut him off. Faryn squeezed herself back into her hiding spot. She could hardly see the door besides for a slit between the luggage, but she could see Peter just fine. He pulled the Leprechaun off the luggage and to the floor, pushing her down on her back. Clíodhna didn't look confused. Rather, she looked like she was about to burst into laugh.

Peter dropped to his knees so that he hovered over her. "Don't you dare," he muttered a second before he kissed her.

Faryn's eyes widened.

Clíodhna though tangled her fingers in Peter's hair and wrapped her legs over his hips, pulling him down on top of her.

The door squeaked as it slid open. Faryn's nostrils flared as she scented an Adze. A throat was cleared, and Peter broke the kiss to lift his head and turn it to the side.

"Erm . . . I'm sorry but guests aren't—"

"Then maybe you should offer more privacy to guests." Peter leaned back, facing Clíodhna. She was staring at him, a smirk on her lips.

"Guests really aren't allowed to be back here."

"All right. All right." Peter stood, still not facing the Adze. "If you could just give us a minute to compose ourselves, we'll be on our way."

"Of—of course."

The door shut and Clíodhna threw the back of her hand over her mouth as her body shook with silent laughter.

"I'm glad kissing me was so amusing," Peter muttered as he pulled her up by her hand.

"I'm laughing because you looked so serious about it. Like you were going off to war or something equally as terrifying."

Peter scowled as he led her out of the train car. Faryn didn't know what would happen to them. Clíodhna wasn't recognizable, but Peter was and neither had tickets.

Neither she nor Cassian spoke or moved from their hiding spot. They wouldn't be able to pull the same stunt Clíodhna and Peter had if someone else walked in. The idea of them having to fake a kiss left her stomach twisting in knots, but she'd do it if it meant saving herself.

No one came to remove or deposit any luggage so there must have been a separate car specifically for Maladh or most of the passengers' baggage fit above their heads, and by the time the train pulled out of the station half an hour later neither Peter nor Clíodhna had returned. Had Cassian tried texting them? Was he worried?

Luggage scraped and shifted over the wooden floor, and a second later Cassian appeared in front of her.

She stretched out her legs and began massaging them. "Hey."

"You doing okay?"

"I don't know. My mother was prepared to let me take the fall for her. And after I led you all on a goose chase thinking she was the answer to everything, she was the one who got me into this mess. And now you're all wrapped up in this because of me." Faryn buried her face in her hands. "I'm tired, Cassian. I—I want . . ."

"What do you want, Faryn?"

She lowered her hands and met his eyes. His bore into hers with an intensity that left her breathless

Him.

She wanted him

He was someone who could make her want to stay in the Acurial world and experience everything it had to offer instead of what it could take.

But as much as she wanted to sit there thinking about what a life like that could look like, she couldn't right now. Not with the threat of Nick's death looming over her and the fact that she had to save the Acurial she hated most.

"I want to free Nick," she finally said. "And then I'll be free."

Cassian looked disappointed but nodded.

Shortly after the train dipped below the water and into the tunnel Peter and Clíodhna returned. Faryn's eyes locked onto two puncture wounds on her wrist, but no blood dripped from either of them. The Leprechaun's green eyes were dazed, her face and shoulders relaxed.

Faryn and Cassian exchanged a look before Faryn quickly stood and made her way to where Peter was helping Clíodhna behind some luggage. "What happened?"

"We bought off the Adze," Peter said. "With her blood."

Faryn swallowed the lump that had formed in her throat.

"For two minutes of drinking, he let us return to our privacy."

"Why does she look like that?"

"I told you an Adze bite was pleasurable."

Faryn chose to ignore that and the way his eyes went to her neck.

"Did he recognize you?" she asked.

"No."

That made Faryn relax enough to return to her spot where Cassian still remained. They would be in Franavik in a few hours. She could only hope Winter hadn't decided to send Acurials there to look for her. Surely, they wouldn't expect her to return there.

The Fata and Elf sat beside each other. At first neither spoke but after thirty minutes of listening to the hum of the train and Peter and Clíodhna's hushed voices, she couldn't take it anymore.

"Have you ever been bitten by an Adze?" The words rushed out.

Cassian arched a brow. "Twice. At parties my mother and I were invited to because of her title."

"I guess it makes sense for the future Tooth Fairy to enjoy being bitten."

Cassian had the gall to smirk. "You know since you're part Elf, you have two rather sharp teeth." Was he asking her to . . .?

"They're not fangs."

He kept quiet, eyes never leaving her face.

"I'm not going to bite you."

He leaned back, his smile not falling. "I don't remember asking you to." 

Additional Reading:

Mami Wata: Skin of the Sea by Natasha Bowen

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