Spellbound

Original Edition: Forty-Two

I'd been gone from the Reynard for three weeks, and it had easily been the most miserable time of my entire life. I'd looked for a new job, but all I could find was work as a driver for UberEats. Every afternoon from 12-8, I got in my car and drove around Boston delivering Cheesecake Factory and Taco Bell to people with actual careers. The money wasn't atrocious, but it wasn't enough to get my own apartment yet, either. So, after driving around for eight hours, I was forced to go home and lay eyes on the people who had betrayed me. I didn't know if I'd ever be able to forgive my parents for their part in giving the Reynard to Raven, and I was starting to think they didn't even care.

After delivering my last meal, I stopped at Starbucks for a white chocolate mocha. When I walked through the door, my heart stopped.

There was a man at the counter—tall, dark hair, lean but muscular build, wearing the same gray half zip pullover that Soren loved. I moved toward him, but when he turned around, his eyes were brown and his face not nearly as handsome as Soren's. I swallowed and averted my gaze, staring at the ground until the guy passed.

I got my coffee and returned to my car, my face turned down against the frigid wind. I plopped in the driver's seat and rested my forehead against the steering wheel. I wanted nothing more than to just hear Soren's voice, just to know that he was all right. I don't know why I hadn't thought to get him a cellphone or at least exchange email addresses. I'd called a week ago and asked Larry if he'd seen him, but he said both twins had been quiet since I left.

Shaking my head, I lifted my eyes to the dusky sky. What was stopping me from going to visit? My pride? Scoffing, I threw my car into reverse and took off for the freeway.

Just two hours stood between me and Soren, my pride be damned. I was going to see him tonight.

The drive felt like ten hours instead of two, and when I finally pulled into the parking lot at the Reynard, I literally sighed with relief.

"Thank God," I murmured, getting out of the car and stretching my arms over my head. I looked down at my clothes and wished I'd changed before coming; suddenly my holey skinny jeans and v-neck black sweater seemed lacking.

I brushed the lint off my torso and walked toward the hotel.

Archer strolled down the front stairs before I made it to the door. His hands in his pockets and head bowed. I stiffened at the sight of him; this was not the cocky asshole I was used to seeing. Something was off. He met me halfway to the front porch and raised his plum gaze to mine.

"I need you to come this way with me, please," he said, his voice quiet and monotone.

My brows furrowed and I shook my head. "Archer, what's going on? Where's Soren?"

"Soren is all right, but you can't go inside."

I cocked my head to the side and curled my lip. "What? What are you talking about? I just drove here from Boston; you can bet your ass I'm going in."

He released a slow, long breath and combed his fingers through his hair, looking at anything but me. His demeanor was really freaking me out. I shoved past him and clipped him with my shoulder, but I didn't make it far. His fingers curled around my wrist, holding me in place.

"Raven has issued a No Trespassing order against you. If you step inside, she will see you and call the police. None of the employees or myself want to see you dragged out like that."

My heart stilled in my chest and my jaw dropped. "Excuse me? She did what? Why in the hell would she do that to me?"

"You already know why, Gem. She's conniving and extremely jealous of you. Your cousin took the opportunity to ban you from the hotel the day after you left."