The Mad Queen (The Fae War Chronicles Book 5) by Jocelyn Fox

Author:Jocelyn Fox
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Publisher: Jocelyn A. Fox
Published: 2017-08-09T06:00:00+00:00

Chapter 29

“Evie, look, I’m sorry, I understand why you’re concerned, but I just need to take a break.” Vivian squeezed her eyes shut and tried not to let the guilty clench of her stomach overwhelm her.

“You can say you understand my concern all you want, but that doesn’t mean I understand why you’re suddenly taking a step back from the shop that I know you love,” said Evie, her voice punching through the phone as though she were standing right in front of Vivian. She knew exactly what expression Evie would be wearing: equal parts exasperation and disapproval, with a bit of affection mixed in, her hands on her ample hips. Evie would probably call Mike to tell him the news, and she’d get some texts from him in a few hours.

“I just have to…find myself,” Vivian said lamely, wincing. “Do some traveling. Explore.”

“Do some traveling.” Evie snorted. “Never thought you’d run away from your grandma and grandpa’s legacy.”

“I’m not running away,” Vivian protested. “I told you, I’ll still call to check in, but don’t worry if you don’t hear from me for a while. There might not be cell phone service where I’m going. I’ll send letters.”

“What, you planning on going to the middle of the rainforest or something?” demanded Evie.

“Something like that,” she replied weakly.

Evie growled something unintelligible into the phone. Vivian thought she heard the words “irresponsible child” and her stomach knotted even tighter. Even the suggestion of disapproval from Evie struck at the most tender parts of her emotions, and this was nearly enough to prompt her to recant the whole conversation and pour out the truth…which would probably prompt the no-nonsense manager to have Vivian committed to a psychiatric facility. Vivian gritted her teeth and reminded herself that there was no going back. This was what it would take to be a Paladin. Her heart squeezed in longing at the thought. Over the past weeks, her determination to become a Paladin had grown every day. She’d never wanted anything as badly as this unexpected, glorious, dangerous opportunity to be a part of the Fae world. But she also hadn’t expected how badly it would hurt to lie to Evie and Mike….and Alex. Her heart squeezed again but for a different reason.

In all the ways that mattered, she and Alex would be a perfect match. At least, that’s what her endorphin-soaked heart told her, spinning fantasies of them together, daydream confections light and airy as cotton candy. The glimpses of their future came in perfectly-lit snapshots, always posed for effect and angled just right: Vivian perched at the last stool at the bar in a dimly lit New Orleans jazz club, watching adoringly as Alex played his guitar and sang his husky, bluesy songs as smoke swirled around them; Alex proudly taking a photo of Vivian at her first book signing, sometime in the nebulous years ahead when she’d finished the draft of a novel sitting dormant on her Macbook; and maybe, someday, even a candid

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