The King's Leash (The Fay Morgan Chronicles Book 7) by Katherine Sparrow Page A

into my pocket and pulled out a vial of cream. I spread some over my face. It shrank and enlarged my features so that I looked like a different woman. I rubbed some into my dress as well, and uttered, “ cuddio .” My clothing turned from black to pink. It would draw the eye, but my love would look past it, never imagining that I could tolerate such a bright color. With that done, I jogged forward, racing after Merlin and whatever secrets he was trying to keep from me.

 
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
    Chapter 8
    The Far Shore
     
    As I ran, following my ruby spell, I caught glimpses of Merlin. He moved, shifting and swift among the bobbing forms that filled the streets of downtown. He must have set an ignoring spell as well, for none of the people took note of his incredible speed. Before long, he was too far in front of me to catch up, but on I ran, enjoying the steady rhythm of movement. Of freedom from the Gray.
    There was something about that attack that nagged and tickled the back of my mind. The look of the thing reminded me of something, but the memory remained out of my grasp.
    And what did Merlin know? What did he suspect? Was whatever was under that hill somehow connected to the secrets of Adam and his role of sheriff? Was that why he was lying to me? Or was my wizard making a habit of keeping many secrets from me? I sighed and scolded myself for the ramblings of my mind. There was no knowing any of those answers, no ferreting it out until I knew more. Even and still, I nibbled away at the edges of the problem as I ran.
    As I ran, I was surprised to find that Merlin headed in the same direction as my store.
    I had a brief moment of wondering if I had read him wrong, and he was simply walking to my store while he thought about things.
    But then, as I followed his trail, I saw my rubies lead to The Crumpet Shop. An interesting location, for I had never set foot within it, and I never would. If there was one place Merlin might go and never encounter me, it was there. Well done, wizard, I thought as I jaywalked across First Avenue to the sound of blaring car horns.
    The Crumpet Shop sat on the upper end of Pike Place Market and it served the kind of yeasted crumpets that haughty Victorians had first created. The kind that never tasted right in my mouth. Worse than that, the place valorized all things English with a flag and a picture of the Queen inside. Notably absent were pictures of the state-sanctioned torture and barbarism from when England had reigned across the world. No, drink some tea, eat crumpets, and toast the Queen, never mind the true history.
    I peered through the plate glass window into the store. Merlin hid somewhere within.
    I pulled the door open and strode in. I scanned the tables and booth, spotting Merlin sitting far back from the window. He was already sipping a cup of steaming Pim's.
    Across from him and facing away from me sat a man with short brown hair wearing a navy blue t-shirt.
    I hesitated.
    There was nothing that identified him, but he was obviously someone Merlin did not wish me to meet. And though I hated that the wizard was keeping secrets from me, I knew as much as I knew anything that he did so with my best interests in mind.
    When I was a couple tables away from the two men, Merlin looked up and spotted me. He did not even hesitate as he looked through my disguise and saw who I was. His eyes widened. His mouth dropped open and defeat crept into his eyes. “Morgan, I can explain, I—”
    “Explain what?” I asked, my arms crossed over my chest. I glared.
    “Explain me,” said the man sitting with Merlin. He had a fine Welsh accent, and for a moment, I thought that was all that was familiar about him.
    But when he turned to look at me, and I looked at him, I never wanted to look away. I went still all over as I saw the impossible. I wondered if I was losing my mind. This could not be.
    “Sister, it has been much too long,” my brother, the long dead King Arthur said.