Free Atone: A Fairytale (Fairytale Trilogy) by Jessica Grey Page B

don’t need protecting. I mean, you’re the most powerful of the three of us, you should actually be the one trying to figure this out.”
    “I appreciate that you want to protect me. I’m not upset over it.” Alex sat down on the daybed next to Becca and leaned over to brush a stray hair out of her friend’s face. “And you’re plenty powerful. Besides, Nicholas always needed someone to stand up to him. You’ve always been willing to do that.”
    “More than willing,” Becca answered with a touch of chagrin.
    “Yeah, but that’s part of your charm,” Alex assured her. “You feel different.”
    Becca shrugged. She didn’t have to ask what Alex meant. She’d gone from being in a constant state of semi-awareness of her fae power to being constantly aware of it. It was no longer a soft, warm glow inside her but a simmering well of sparking power, even when she wasn’t trying to pull any power out. She wasn’t surprised that Alex, with her sensitivity, could feel the different pitch.
    “The other day when I first…met…Nicholas, we had, um, an altercation, and it’s been a bit more…well, more …than usual.”
    Alex searched her face with serious eyes. “You’re in control of it?”
    “Mostly.”
    “Hmm. Well, sometimes letting it run wild isn’t a bad thing,” Alex smiled that small, secret smile again.
    “I’d prefer to be always in control,” Becca muttered.
    “Oh, I know.” Alex’s smile got bigger. “Well, tell Nicholas ‘hi’ for me.” She gave Becca a quick hug and jumped up off the bed.
    Becca’s eyes widened in surprise. “That’s it? You’re leaving?”
    “Yup. You’re right, I don’t think he’d want help from either Lilia or me. If you get him to tell you how the curse happened, we can have a group meeting.”
    Becca was flabbergasted. She hadn’t wanted to tell Alex because she’d thought her friend would try to talk her out of being here, and now it seemed like she was encouraging it. “But aren’t you afraid he’ll—”
    “Hurt you? No, I don’t think so. He’s self-centered, but he’s not a generally bad guy.” Alex grinned even more at Becca’s derisive snort. “And you can handle him, even in his present state, right? Your magic is sparking like a live wire. Plus, I’m just a call away; I can be here in a second or two if you want me.”
    “I...” Becca wasn’t sure how to respond. It felt like she’d somehow missed half of the conversation. “Yeah, I’ll text you and you can flicker in if there’s a problem.”
    “See, that’s settled then.” Alex beamed at her. Becca nodded slowly, still in confusion.
    “Okay, bye! I’ve got dinner plans with Luke. Call me tomorrow with updates. Love you!” And after another quick hug, Alex flickered out of the room.
    Becca sat on the daybed, staring at the spot where Alex had just disappeared. “I have no idea what just happened,” she confessed out loud.
     
    ~
     
    Becca didn't see or hear anything from Nicholas for the rest of the night. The next morning she decided it was time to beard the lion in his den. Or the beast in his lair. Or Nicholas in his ridiculous, hidden apartment.
    She stared at the wall of cupboards in the kitchen. Even knowing it was there, it was still hard to make out the edges of the door. She found the hidden latch and pulled the wall out, the door swinging open silently. She crept down the stairs as quietly as possible.
    Nicholas was in the front room, staring morosely at a shelf crammed with books.
    “So what’s the plan, then?” she asked. He whirled around in surprise, coiling into a crouching position, the fur on his back standing up. Becca smiled sweetly at him, secretly pleased she could sneak up on him like he could sneak up on her. He didn’t have the benefit of the magic response that she was starting to suspect was like a homing beacon, letting her know when he was close. Nicholas looked positively shocked that she’d gotten the jump on him. She sat in an