Chapter 9

“I’ve got you,” Ainsley murmured. His cross pendant hung low around his neck, weakening Patrice further. Callum glanced briefly at him as Ainsley led him away from the place. Callum held on tightly as if his life depended on it. Perhaps it did.

“I’m sorry,” he said over and over. “I don’t know what’s gotten into me.”

“Not many people can resist Patrice’s charm. I would fall for it if I didn’t know better.”

Callum swallowed. “I also mean before. I shouldn’t have stormed out of the house, from you or your mother.”

“It’s my fault.” Ainsley tightened his arm around Callum’s shoulder.

Callum fought a desire to lean his head on Ainsley’s shoulder, but in the end he gave up. For some time they stayed like that as they headed back to Tirzah’s house.

“Ainsley?”

“Yes?”

“Why did Patrice call me ‘elf?’”

“Oh, he called you that? Why do you think he called you elf?”

Callum shrugged. “I don’t know. I thought he was being, well, flattering. He called me angel, too.”