The Hunt (By Kiss and Claw #2) - Melissa Haag Page 0,114
about goblins, never mind the payments they required, I could think of one person who would. I dug out my phone to send Mom a text. Instead of messaging her, I started to read one of the texts from Fenris that I’d been trying to avoid. They were spaced out from the time I left to about five minutes ago.
Fenris: We need to talk. Call me.
Fenris: You’re not at the cabin. Where did you go?
Fenris: Come on, chipmunk. You can’t run forever.
Fenris: I’d rather lose the girlfriend and keep the friend. Please tell me we’re still talking to each other.
I groaned and opened a new message.
Me: Do goblins ever ask for anything other than their typical meal of oats, milk, and honey?
Mom: Only when they’re up to no good. Never pay with anything but food.
Me: Thanks. Any word from Adira?
Mom: Yes. Everything is fine. Just a misunderstanding. Go find Fenris and enjoy yourselves.
I knew Mom well enough to see that she was downplaying whatever Adira said. However, I wasn’t interested enough in the outcome of Adira’s conversation with Raiden to call and pry it out of Mom, or worse, call Adira. I just wanted a place to hide away from it all.
If Ashlyn was still in Uttira… I groaned and sent another message.
Me: I know Oanen probably has your phone hostage right now. When you get it back, please send me an update on your plan for finding Ashlyn. I’m officially friendless in Uttira and have nowhere to go because your goblin throws shoes, and I’m avoiding Adira.
Megan: She’s waiting for Zayn to return her call. We’re going to visit Elizabeth, his sister, today. That means we’ll be in New York. We’ll be home soon.
I grinned, already picturing how angry Megan would be with Oanen for responding to me on her behalf. However, my humor faded as I backed out of the driveway.
With nowhere else to go, I headed for the Academy. There wasn’t much left of the day and, hopefully, it would be the last place Adira or Fenris would look for me.
The halls were quiet when I slipped inside. The mermaids in the pool dove under the water when they saw me walk past, and I hoped that meant they would stay away from me. I thought of Eras and cringed. Maybe the Academy wasn’t the best place for me. Maybe I should have gone to the Roost. No, Yem would tell Adira if I showed up there.
Decided, I went to Principles of Public Integration and slid into my seat. It was only when I met the eyes of my instructor that I wanted to smack my forehead. This wasn’t the first place Adira would look because she didn’t need to look here. Her spies would inform her if I showed up. I’d walked right into her spy network.
Torn between the urge to run and the urge to stand my ground, I managed to stay in my seat until the next bell. I was the first one into the hall, though. Not that it helped me. I’d barely taken a few steps when Adira’s portal shimmered ahead.
Rather than fight my way through the body of students flooding around me, I folded my arms and marched right up to her.
“Tread carefully, Adira. My patience for authority is limited.”
Movement around us momentarily slowed.
“How unlike you, Eliana. I simply wanted to ask if you could deliver this to Eugene. There are few others in Uttira I could trust with the safety of a human.” She held out a book for advanced math.
I took the book.
“I’ll see that he gets it. Anything else?”
“No. That will do. Unless, of course, you’ve seen Fenris. He isn’t answering texts, and Raiden said he left shortly after you.”
“I haven’t seen him and don’t plan to.”
“Why ever not?”
“Because there’s no need. If you don’t mind, I have class.”
Without waiting for her answer, I walked away and met Jenna’s eyes in the crowd. She hurried to join me.
“She’s gone,” she said.
“Good. Can you get this to Eugene?” I handed the book off to her.
“Of course. What are you doing?”
“Not going anywhere near Eugene. Adira’s plan to get me to feed off of Fenris failed. Eugene is still Plan B.”
“Is it true what you said about Fenris? You’re not planning on seeing him again?”
Pain radiated from her. I stopped walking to meet her gaze.
“I didn’t know he’d been kissing me. I thought he was being playful like always. I’m sorry for my part in hurting you.”