Chasing Secrets - Jessica Sorensen Page 0,41

idea of what type of creature sent it.”

“It’s iridescent,” I state the obvious aloud. “Why does that color feel familiar to me?”

“Because it’s the color of the sky in Shimmerland,” East mumbles. “This message was sent from Penelope.” He chokes on her name.

I turn back toward him. “How do you know?”

He swallows loudly then scoops up the crystal ball. “Because I can see the message.”

I inch toward him and peer into the crystal ball. What I see makes my stomach twist with nausea.

Inside is an image of Arrow and Asher locked in cages dangling from a ceiling of what looks like a basement. They appear to be passed out, and faeries are gathered beneath cages. Standing in the middle of the faeries is Penelope, and she’s giving a speech. Or well, she’s talking. But the words are directed at us, I think. Or me anyway.

“If you want your friends back, little shadowed soul, you will hand yourself over to me. And I would like my pet back. If you don’t, the genie and the cyborg will become my prisoners.” He long, ruby-trimmed dress trails across the concrete floor as she makes her way to the center of the room, her eyes seeming to be staring directly at me. “You have exactly five moons to make your decision. You are to communicate with me through this crystal when you make your decision. If you come looking for me, I’ll torture them to their deaths.” She smiles wickedly up at Asher and Arrow, and then the image fades.

I can barely breathe.

Barely think.

“How did she capture them?” I manage to get out.

East sinks on the edge of the bed and sets the crystal ball down. “It must’ve happened when they went out into town.”

“Well, we need to save them. It looked like they were in a basement, right? Maybe this one.” I stride for the door to go find out.

East leaps to his feet and snags ahold of my arm. “You can’t just storm in there. We need a plan, or else we’re all doomed.” His tone quivers as he speaks, reminding me of what Penelope said.

That she’d torture Asher and Arrow to death if we tried to find her.

Tears burn in my eyes, but I suck them back. “I don’t understand. Why does she want me? And why didn’t she just take me?”

“Probably because if you do choose to unleash your power on her, she’s doomed,” Maxton answers, leaning against the bedpost with his arms crossed. “I’m not sure how she found out about you or why she wants you. Although, the latter I’m sure has to do with why my father wants you.”

“For my power,” I say in a hollow tone.

“Don’t,” East snaps, standing to his feet and looping his arms around my waist. “Do not go back to that dark place. We need you, sweetheart. Not that we’re just going to hand you over to her. We’re going to get Asher and Arrow back. We’re powerful enough that we can come up with something.”

“Well, you two are powerful enough,” Maxton reminds us. “I’m basically useless.”

East rests his chin on my shoulder and says to him, “You don’t start either. There will be no pity parties allowed in this room. Only brilliant ideas and positivity.” He gives a short pause. “And threesomes. Threesomes are always allowed.”

I sigh. “And he’s back.”

“And I bet you’re blushing.” He hooks his finger underneath my chin and angles my head toward him. Then a grin curls at his lips. “Yep, there’s those pink cheeks that I love.”

Only East could find humor in situations like this one. Not that I’m complaining. While he may be embarrassing the pixies out of me, I do feel slightly more relaxed. Maxton, however, is blushing worse than I am.

“No threesomes,” I say to East.

East juts out his lip, mischief sparkling in his eyes. “Now that’s no fun. And you’re breaking Maxon’s heart.”

“I so am not,” I tell him then look at Maxon, hoping he’ll help me out with this.

He’s staring at me intensely, and when our gazes collide, he hastily looks away, scratching at the back of his neck and not agreeing with me. I smash my lips together, unsure of what to say. Silence stretches between us, and Maxton’s gaze dances toward me again then away.

Can you say awkward?

East laughs, totally pleased with himself. But the noise deflates.

“We need a plan,” he says with a heavy sigh. “No, what we need is a lot of power so we can just