Wicked(84)

"Our Lady of Guadalupe?" I cursed. Dammit. The location of one of the gates had been right in front of my face. It made perfect sense, especially based on what Merle had said. That church had been a sanctuary at one time, and it was the oldest surviving church in the city. And Tink had been found in the cemetery right across the street. "Why didn't you just tell me you came through the gate there?"

"What was the point? I destroyed it, Ivy. Nothing is getting through that gate. Maybe the fae and the ancients on this side don't realize that, but they aren't opening it."

I folded my arms, struggling to stay calm. "Why didn't you tell me that all the gates had been destroyed? We have lost Order members because they are guarding something that doesn't even work."

"But if you're right, that there are two gates in the city, then it is a good thing that it has guardians," Tink argued, his cheeks flushing. "And I swear to you, I had no idea there was a second. That is why I've never been too concerned about what the ancients were up to, and I saw no point in bringing up the whole . . ." He looked away, lips forming a flat line. "The whole halfling stuff, but I'm telling you, believe me or not, if they have discovered a second gate, it's come from someone within the Order. It's the only way, because we didn't even know it was there."

I shook my head, floored.

"What good would it have done if I told you about us destroying the gates? Do you think the Order would've believed you? Would you have told them that you learned it from me, and would they have trusted you?"

"And I'm supposed to trust you now?" I asked.

He drew back like I'd smacked him.

For a long moment, I did nothing but stand there, and then I turned, walking down the hall. I sat down on the couch and put my head in my hands, rubbing my fingers along my temples. I tried to make sense of everything.

If what Tink was saying was true, then that would also explain why so many fae had migrated to New Orleans. One gate left open? They'd throw all their force into opening it, and it also added to our fears that someone within the Order was working with the fae.

"I'm sorry."

Laughing hoarsely under my breath, I slid my hands over my eyes. A stab of terror lit up my stomach as I realized that if what Tink was saying was true, every single fae nearby was going to go after one gate. Those guarding it would not survive. Balling my fists, I lowered them and looked at Tink. He hovered just over the edge of the coffee table looking contrite.

"Do you know where the other gate is?" I demanded. "I mean it, Tink. If you know, you need to tell me right now."

Crestfallen, he shook his head. "If I knew I would tell you. I swear! But you need to find out, Ivy, because if there is a gate still in operation, they will open it, and the knights will come through. They will bring the princess. They will bring the prince, and you . . . you do not want that to happen."





Chapter Seventeen





I didn't end up making it to class Monday morning, and when Jo Ann texted to check in on me, I lied and told her I'd overslept. There was a lot of lying going on these days, and I was just as guilty as everyone else, I supposed. I spent the bulk of the morning trying to figure out how I was going to broach this subject with David. I had to, but I couldn't tell him how I found out.

I couldn't even tell Ren the truth.

For some dumbass reason, I was still protecting Tink. If I told anyone in the Order about him, they'd raid my house like they were the police, and they'd kill him.

Who knew what I was going to do with Tink? Part of me wanted to pitch him headfirst through a window. The other half understood why he hadn't been forthcoming. By the time I left to meet up with Ren at headquarters, Tink had been sulking around in his room for a while.

The only thing I could do was lie about how I found out the info, and that knowledge sat bitterly in my stomach. I climbed the stairs to the second floor and was buzzed in by Harris.

"You're early today," he said, closing the door behind me.

"Meeting Ren." Without my backpack, I felt naked.

"Hmm. You and the new boy seem to be getting along fine." He ambled back to his office. "Good for you."

"Thanks," I mumbled, unsure of what to make of that comment. "I think."

A giggle from my left drew my attention, and I turned to see Val walking out of one of the meeting rooms, her phone plastered to her ear. "Everything's fine, babe." Smiling with a slightly dazed look about her, she veered toward me. Of all the guys Val had dated in the past, I couldn't remember her looking this way or even talking to a guy on the phone. She'd been more of a text me and leave me alone kind of girl, and I had to wonder if Val had finally found the one—if she was in love. "I have to go now. Yeah, I'll call you and let you know. Bye."