by Alicia Wolfe
At last, my eyes snapped open and awareness crashed in on me like a sorority girl on a shopping spree about to loot her first store. I lurched up in bed with a gasp. Sunlight shone through the drapes, illuminating one of the warm, white stone rooms of the Order of Elshe. The Sisters of Elshe belonged to an order of Fae healers whose main headquarters stood in the courtyard of Davril’s castle. Which meant we were back at his home, behind the walls of his fortress.
Davril himself hunched in a chair along the wall.
And I was naked. Well, practically. I wore only a loose, filmy shift. And only a thin cover lay over me.
A female Fae healer, one of the Sisters, had been bending over me, probably to tuck me in, but she drew back as I sat up.
“Feeling better?” she said, smiling.
I smacked my lips. “I could use some water.”
“Here you go.” She grabbed a glass of water off the bedside table, where it had been waiting for me, and handed it to me.
I sipped gratefully, the water cold and glorious on my aching tissues. My eyes strayed to Davril. His eyes were closed. Asleep, I realized, seeing the rise and fall of his deep chest. The chest that not too long ago I’d been pressed against. I remembered how hard and firm it had been, and how he had smelled so good.
“He’s been here since he brought you in,” the healer said.
“When was that?”
“Late last night. It’s well after noon now, so you’ve been out for over twelve hours.”
“Shit. Am I … cured?”
She nodded. She was a young woman, or at least she looked young (although, with Fae you could never tell), with brown hair that fell in a cascade down her back, and, like the other sisters, she wore a flowing white dress.
“We were able to remove the poison,” she said. “And you’ve made a full recovery, I’m glad to say. Thanks in no small part to Lord Davril bringing you here so quickly.”
Sudden pain made my hand fly to my side. I felt a bandage along my ribs where the tusk had found me.
“You still need to heal,” the Sister said. “With our arts and the poultice we’ve applied, your wound should seal by tomorrow—with no scarring.”
“You guys are amazing. Thank you.”
She bowed her head once, accepting my praise. “We are here to serve.”
“Can you bring me my things—my clothes and phone?”
She looked alarmed. “You’re not going anywhere, are you? We want you to stay with us until you’ve healed completely. Your shifter abilities make you resilient, but you’re not indestructible, Jade.”
I narrowed my eyes. “Are you going to … make me to stay?”
She laughed, and I relaxed. “Of course not, dear. You’re free to go, if that is your will. Although I do recommend staying overnight, at least.” Her gaze flicked to Davril. “I think His Lordship would appreciate that.” Her cheeks colored prettily.
My own neck warmed, and I felt my throat constrict. Trying not to smile in embarrassment, I said, “We’ll see. But first, my clothes?”
She left, then returned with my things. The Fae had patched my leather pants and cleaned the whole ensemble, I was pleased to see. That would save Ruby some work. I thanked the Sister again, and she left after asking if there was anything more I needed (I said no), leaving Davril and me alone in the room together.
I watched him sleep for a minute, then turned my phone on and tried to send Ruby a text. Fae magic often conflicted with modern technology, though, especially cell reception and electricity, so it was no surprise I couldn’t get any service. I would have to go onto the roof or one of the balconies. But first, I’d have to get dressed.
In front of Davril.
Wincing a little at the movement, I threw the covers off and stood. The cold stone floor pressed coolly against my toes and the soles of my feet. Shivering a little, I shucked off the shift the Sisters had given me to wear. Now I was totally naked and standing in front of Davril. My belly fluttered, and my core turned molten.
I lifted a leg and started to shove it into my panties, then paused. Now would be a righteous time for a selfie. Reception might be crap, but at least the phone was working. Which meant the camera would, too.
Smiling impishly, I sauntered over to Davril, posed suggestively next to him with my face right next to his, grinned up at the phone, and snapped a picture.
I let out a gasp when he said, “I hope you plan to print that.”
I squealed and jumped to my clothes, which lay on the bed. I grabbed them and fled to the other side, where I hunched and began pulling my clothes on item by item.
“How long were you awake, you asshole?” I said.
“Long enough.”
A randy spark burned in his eyes, and I felt like I was on fire. He’d evidently liked whatever he’d seen, that was for sure, and it had even overridden his often aloof bearing.
“You could’ve said something,” I told him.
“That would’ve ruined the fun.”
I stuck my tongue out at him, but inside I was smiling. Progress, I thought. I slipped on my black leather halter top, pulling my jacket on over it all. Fully dressed, I stood, and we stared at each other for a hot minute. My blood buzzed, and I could see that he was still thinking about my naked body—at least to judge by the way his eyes raked up and down my fully clothed form, as if imagining what was underneath. Then he caught himself and cleared his throat. His gaze jerked back to my face. I wasn’t sure whether to be reassured or disappointed.
“It looks like you’ve made a full recovery,” he said.
I nodded. Feeling my stomach rumble, I said, “I’m starved, though. I think I’m going to go grab a burger with Ruby. Um, want to come?”
He watched me. “That’s all you’re going to do with Ruby, right?”
“You mean, am I going to start stealing stuff again the second I’m around her? Am I going to slip back into my old ways and disgrace the Queen’s Court?”
He didn’t mince words. “Yes.”
I crossed my arms over my chest, disappointed that the randy mood we’d just experienced was already fading, destroyed by our differences. Damn it all.
“Davril, I have to start stealing again. You see that, right? What happened last night only happened because Gavin didn’t trust me. Because I’d been seen with you several times, and my friends suspected you were Fae. Also, no one had heard of me stealing anything new. Don’t you see? I have to maintain my cover or this whole show is over before it can begin.”
He rose from his chair and approached me. I was once again reminded of how large he was when I had to tilt my face up to look at him. He made me feel tiny. My hormones were still on fire, and I’ve got to say his bigness was working for me. But that judgmental look on his face was not.
“You are a Knight of the Court, Jade,” he said. “Honorary or not. And that means no stealing.”
“We’ve got an active case, Davril. Your entire civilization, and maybe mine, too, hangs in the balance. And to save it, we’re going to need what I can bring to the table. But I can’t bring anything if my underworld friends don’t trust me.”
“I would hardly call Gavin a friend after last night.”
“Sadly, he’s not the only jerk in the bunch. But that’s exactly why I have to maintain my cover. They don’t deal with nice people, D. They deal with criminals.” I moved toward the door. “I need to call Ruby.”
“Jade.” His voice was both soft and serious.
I turned back. His smoldering steel-blue eyes drilled into me.
“Yeah?” I said, trying to inject some spice into my tone. It was a challenge when he was looking at me like that.
“You can’t start stealing again,” he repeated. “You swore an oath.”
“Actually … I didn’t.”
“What?”
“I was crossing my fingers behind my back.”
His jaw bulged. “I don’t think it works that way.”
“Oh, it does. It does, and i
t is. To keep my cover, I have to slip on the ol’ cat burglar outfit.” I flashed him a grin. “You know you like it on me.”
“I do not.”
“Then why are you blushing?” When he glanced at a wall-mounted mirror, I said, “Ha, made you look! Anyway, I’m going to start stealing again.”
“Not if you want to maintain your oath—your knighthood. Lose that and you’d lose any chance at finding Walsh again, at least by using our records.”
Coldness rushed through me. “You’d really do that? What about the good I can do for your side? We still have to find Federico!”
“You fought in Gavin’s pit. He owes us answers. It will have to do. Jade, you say you’re worried about your old friends not trusting you. Well, I can’t trust you if you’re a criminal.”
“You did before.”
“Actually, I arrested you. Multiple times.”
I thrust out my chin. “I’m doing this.”
“You’re not.”
I wrenched open the door, then stormed off down the hall. “Watch me!” I shouted over my shoulder.
“Jade!”
I ignored him as I marched down the halls, finding a staircase and going down. Sisters glanced at me in surprise as I went, and I realized I was scowling. I made myself clear my expression for their sakes and even managed to say “Thank you” a few times. I really was grateful. Hell, they’d just saved my life. With, yes, a little help from Davril.
And with no help at all from my criminal compatriots—Thanks a lot, Gavin—for whose sake I was now considering risking everything I’d gained through my alliance with the Fae. Just thinking about it put the angry expression back on my face (I could tell from the worried looks of the Fae I passed), but I couldn’t get rid of it so easily this time. Finding a door to the outside, I stalked out into the castle courtyard. Knights in armor fought in mock battles on one side, while others shot arrows at targets on another. More manned the encircling wall. And looming over everything was the dark, scarred mass of Stormguard Keep, gargoyles perched on its corners.
Towers stuck up from the outer wall at each of the four corners. I strode to a stairway leading up into one, and the knights there let me past, though several gave me quizzical glances as I made my way out onto a balcony. Wind blasted me, almost knocking me off my feet, and it blew my long hair out behind me. I could even feel it misting my eyes. Before me and below me stretched the grand cityscape of New York, and for a moment I reeled in awe at the splendor of it all, with its endless spires, some topped with fantastic castles, bathed in the light of the sun, and with pegassi, griffons and other winged beings bearing riders through the lanes of the sky between buildings. Plus, there were the zeppelins and dirigibles, sunlight winking on their envelopes. Post-Fae-rival New York was awesome.
My mind was still in too much turmoil to appreciate it for long, though. I dug out my phone and checked the reception. Better. I texted Ruby, then waited impatiently for her to reply. Minutes ticked by, but she didn’t. Knights on patrol approached me, saw my expression and veered away. Smart lads.
At last, frustrated by Ruby’s lack of communication, I texted Skycab, the Uber of the airways, and instantly received a notification that an air taxi was en route and that I should alert the castle guard as to their approach. I did, not wanting the knights to fire on the driver.
While I was standing there with the wind roaring all around me, tapping my foot impatiently and wishing for the thousandth time that Ruby hadn’t made me quit smoking, a man cleared his throat behind me.
Not surprised, I turned to see Davril. Wind ruffled his short, curling blond hair and made his blue eyes slightly moist. He didn’t look angry, I was relieved to see, only concerned. Maybe even worried.
“Yes?” I demanded. Probably not the best way to start the conversation, but I was in a mood.
“Jade,” he said, speaking slowly, approaching the topic at an angle as if it were a horse that might spook. As if I might spook.
“That’s my name,” I agreed.
He held his hands up, palms out, again as if dealing with a panicked animal. His forced gentleness was beginning to irritate me.
“Jade,” he said. “Think about this.”
“I’m going to see my sister, and that’s all there is to it.”
He inclined his head. “That’s fine.”
“I’m so glad you think so.”
He gritted his teeth, obviously trying to maintain his patience. “Go see Ruby. Tell her hello for me. Have some sister time. Then come back to … us.”
I watched him. Had he been about to say Come back to me? I shifted uncomfortably. “But…” I said, leading. There was always a but with Davril.
“But please don’t jeopardize your knighthood with anything foolish. As you yourself said, we need your assistance to combat our foes. And you need our assistance to combat yours.”
I sniffed. “I’m not leaving the Order. If you kick me out, that’s on you.”
A horn blew behind me. I glanced over my shoulder to see two griffons leading a floating sleigh toward the castle. Knights tensed, then relaxed as their captain told them to admit the taxi. The driver of the sleigh brought it in toward the tower, and I waved to him, letting him know I was his customer.
As the taxi came closer, I stepped toward the parapet. Below gaped a long drop to the city streets.
“Be smart about this,” Davril said.
The taxi arrived like an old-fashioned stage coach with griffons instead of horses. The guy in the coach driver’s chair smiled and tipped his hat to me.
“Skycab at your service, ma’am,” he said. He snapped his fingers and the coach door opened on my side. Neat trick.
“Thanks,” I muttered.
I ducked my head and stepped into the coach, then turned back to see Davril coming closer. He wasn’t trying to be gentle anymore. He wasn’t playing it safe. Real concern, maybe even fear, danced in his beautiful eyes, and his lips looked very full and very kissable. I ached to reach out for him, ached to make myself stay, but I knew I couldn’t.
“Be smart,” he repeated. “Come back. Without committing any crimes.”
I held his gaze for a long moment, the sleigh rocking under my feet and the wind howling all around us.
“We’ll see,” I said. I patted my side where the bandage was. “Thank you.” Then I raised my voice to the driver: “Go!”
Davril lifted his hand to me, I don’t know why, but the coach shot forward and the tower receded. So did Davril. I closed the door and took my seat, but my mind wouldn’t stop spinning.
“Where do you want to go?” the driver yelled over the wind.
I gave him the address where Ruby lived. It used to be where we lived together, but not anymore. I missed her something awful. Missed living with her and seeing her every day. Rooming with my kid sister had sometimes frustrated me, but at that moment I realized just how important she was to me and what a big hole had been carved out of my life without her.
I couldn’t stop thinking about Davril, though. Had I just screwed everything up? Then again, I hadn’t actually done anything wrong—yet. But the moment I stole something …
The driver flew us along the edge of Central Park, and I stared from the ornate windows out at the shadow-wreathed stretch of forest, wondering what was going on in there now. It used to be one of my favorite places in the city, where I could see real grass and trees and people having fun in a semi-natural environment, but just like with Ruby and me living together, those days were gone. Now it was home to monsters and madmen, and its borders were patrolled by the toughest cops and mages on the police payroll. It was the last place anyone wanted to go for a stroll these days.
The sleigh kept going, eventually entering a darker, more decrepit part of the city, but also one that was fun and enjoyably chaotic: Gypsy Land. Not just gypsies lived there, of course. Regular people did, too. And then there were the misfits like Ruby and me.
The cab driver let me off on the roof of our a
partment building. I paid him and made my way inside, entering from the roof access. I trooped downstairs, noting the stains and the smell of cabbage. It was a different world than that of the Palace, and I didn’t know which one I preferred. I was a creature of both now. Or neither. One was like a dream. One was home.
I found Ruby’s apartment door and knocked on it. What am I doing? Knocking! Sheesh! It still felt like my place, too.
When no one answered right away, I used my own key and entered, being sure to deactivate the defensive wards first. The place was messier than when I’d lived here, but it was the same, with warm-colored throw pillows on the couch, funky art on the walls, and a flower-filled vase in the kitchen. Also, there were swords on the walls and a few magical artifacts.
“Ruby!” I called. “Ruby!”
No one answered.
I scoured the rooms, but nope, she wasn’t around. I wondered where she could be. Was she out on a job? It bothered me that she might be out burglaring without me. After all, I was the thief, not her. She was just the glorified getaway driver. I knew she was still in the game, though. Maybe I could talk her into hanging it up.
I flopped on the couch and tried to watch some TV, but I couldn’t concentrate. I kept thinking about the look on Davril’s face as the sleigh had been pulling away from the tower. Part of me thought, Don’t screw this up, Jade. Another fired back with Screw WHAT up?
I flipped channels until I got hungry, then heated up a microwave dinner and ate it at the small dining table off the kitchen. One of these days I would have to learn to cook. And until I found some way to make money I wasn’t exactly flush enough to eat out at a moment’s notice. Maybe Ruby would have some funds.
It was late at night when she finally showed up. I was half-asleep on the couch with a beer on the side table and another one (well, an empty bottle, anyway) wedged between the cushions when I heard the window overlooking the fire escape rattle. I blinked and roused myself.
“Ruby?”
I swiveled to see a dim shape drop from the window to the floor. Alarmed, I jumped up and ran over. Frigid air washed in, raising goosebumps on my skin, but I barely felt it.
