Wild Cards

by Katalina Leon

  “You’re Roy’s cheerleader, aren’t you?” All his protective instincts kicked in. Poor kid wasn’t asking enough tough questions. “Is there something going on between you two? If there is, give me a clue before we start working undercover together.”

  Her lips parted in a moment of mute shock. “No! There’s nothing between Roy and me but a professional relationship. How dare you! Don’t disrespect me that way again.” Looking flustered, she tugged her vest into place. “Not that it’s any of your business, but I’ve had no personal relationships while employed as a PHD and likely never will. It’s not an issue.”

  He paused to think about what she’d said. “That’s sort of sad. It sounds like an issue to me.”

  Her cheeks flushed, and he couldn’t tell if she was irritated or embarrassed.

  After a tense march down the hall, with him wishing he could take back what he’d said and say it more diplomatically, they arrived at Theater A.

  Kai swiped a security card and opened a side exit. He pushed the door open and entered the empty theater. “Who are we supposed to contact? Or should we just rummage through the back room and help ourselves to some outlandish outfits?”

  An elegant lady dressed in a black tunic and trousers stepped from the shadows. “Rummage through my costume department and I’ll skin you alive.” She grinned, making the lines around large brown eyes crinkle. Her tightly wound chignon and impeccable posture lent her the look of a ballerina. “My name’s Gisele. I’m the theater director. Roy told me you were on the way.”

  Gisele’s gaze swept over Adara. “You will be easy to dress.” She approached, taking silent steps in slipper-like shoes. Stopping in front of Kai, she placed her hands on his broad chest and gave him a gentle thump, as if she expected him to be hollow like a chocolate bunny. “My, my, what a big boy. So handsome too. I don’t know what I’ve got that would fit you, but I’ll find something.” She turned toward Adara. “First things first. We’ve got to get you out of that frumpy uniform and into something a little more eye-catching.”

  He glanced at Adara, loving what he saw. “I don’t know what you’re going to do with me, but making Adara eye-catching is going to be a piece of cake.”

  Gisele shot him a sly look that he failed to interpret. “But what sort of cake? Angel or devil’s food?”

  Chapter Four

  Adara entered a dressing room with Gisele close behind. What had she gotten herself into?

  Gisele took hold of her shoulders and steered her toward a lit vanity table then motioned for her to sit. “Roy mentioned we can’t afford to waste time.” She removed Adara’s hair clip and reached for a hairbrush. “So don’t fuss too much about the outfits I pick, just wear them. This isn’t a makeover. You’re not supposed to look like your usual self, understand?”

  She nodded, wishing she could soulscan the intense woman, but she couldn’t get any sort of reading on her. “I understand.”

  Through squinted eyes, Gisele studied her. “How much makeup do you typically wear to work?”

  “Not much. Lip gloss is about it.” She didn’t want to mention that she’d grown up in despair of being compared to a beautiful mother who was literally a love goddess. When your mother was a nymph of Venus but you took after your father, it was enough to discourage a girl.

  “So, this is it? You’re low maintenance, aren’t you?” She brushed Adara’s hair so hard she might have been mad at it. “If I glammed you up, I’ll bet no one would recognize you.”

  The hairbrush scraping her scalp made her skin tingle. “Isn’t that the point?” She glanced around. “Where’s Kai?”

  “He’s in the other room. I sent my assistant out to get something in his size.”

  She caught herself smirking in the mirror. “No extra-large wizard cape and pointy hat on hand?”

  A hint of sarcasm twisted the concise lines of Gisele’s lips. “You’d like to see Mr. Moana taken down a notch and forced to wear something ridiculous, wouldn’t you?”

  The thought of Kai with his brooding eyes and dignified air wearing a pointy hat speckled in stars and crescent moons upon his big head was amusing. “No! I didn’t mean it that way.”

  “What did you mean?”

  A touch of guardedness took hold. This woman was hard to figure out. She appeared human, but there was something else as well. “I don’t know what I meant.”

  “Mr. Moana’s a good-looking man.”

  “No shit, he’s gorgeous!” Whoops, that slipped out.

  “Ah. I see.” The brush stilled in her hand. “Feeling a little out of your league?”

  Exposure was something she dreaded, especially in front of a stranger who gave off an odd vibe. “I don’t even have a league. I’m permanently benched.”

  “No one interesting in your life? You’re young, surely you date?”

  “No.” Her response came out too quickly.

  “Why not? If a man looked at me the way Kai looks at you, I’d be doing something about it. That’s a good man.”

  Squirming, she shifted restlessly on the seat. “Do you know Mr. Moana?”

  “I don’t need to.” Gisele’s tone was dismissive.

  She met Gisele’s gaze in the mirror. “Then how could you possibly know he’s a good man?” She wanted to believe it, but what did this lady know anyway? Without the ability to soulscan, she was lost. “Beside, you don’t understand. I can’t… I’m different.”

  “Stop.” Gisele held up a hand. “If you’d seen as much of life as I have, you’d know being different isn’t necessarily a bad thing.” Stepping away from the brightly lit vanity, she stood in a shadowy corner. “Look.” Her face shimmered and, for a fleeting moment, a pair of iridescent green wings glittered behind her back.

  Adara gasped. “You’re a Fae!”

  Gisele returned to the task of brushing. “To be precise, I’m a Halfling. My father was human.”

  A genuine Fae, and according to myth one of the most capricious creatures imaginable. She’d always wanted to meet one, but being a wary race they only revealed themselves to a lucky few. “I thought the Fae preferred to live in woodland areas with ancient trees. There aren’t many old-growth forests around here. How long have you been in Vegas?”

  An impish smile lit her delicate face. “Since Bugsy Segal built the Flamingo. Vegas is a city of Fae. There is a small community of us here. I’m surprised you didn’t know that.”

  “Wow.” She gaped. “You knew Bugsy Segal? How long do Fae live?”

  “Fae live for centuries. Halflings? Who knows? Every year I’m surprised I’m still on my feet.”

  “It must be unsettling not to know.”

  She set the brush down. “Do any of us know how long we have?”

  “I suppose not.”

  “Exactly. Fate can turn on a dime. One day, you’re safe and you have a whole future stretching ahead of you like a long, leisurely drive on Route 66, and then boom! The road turns out to be a cul-de-sac. I say live for today.”

  What else was going on under her nose that she didn’t notice? “Why haven’t we met before?”

  “Timing is everything, and I’ve got great timing. I’m never off. We all have our special talents, don’t we?” Gisele reached for a makeup kit and opened it. “I used to be a showgirl. Way back when, I knew how to light up a room, make a man drool and empty his wallet. Later, I became an expert on how to fade into the wallpaper. That last trick was far more demanding but very rewarding. Roy told me you’re an empath, a gifted one, but that you can only read humans and animals.”

  She gulped and almost volunteered that humans had been dropped from the schedule. “I’m so work-focused, I guess I’ve been missing some important stuff. I didn’t realize we had Fae working in this hotel.”

  “Do you know what I think?” Gisele lined up a row of tiny bottles, pans of powder, and a passel of brushes.

  Being so out of her depth was disconcerting. “What?”

  “I think that being an empath keeps you s
o busy trying to get into everyone else’s head that you’ve forgotten to explore what’s going on inside yours.”

  That was a stinging slap in the face. “Um.”

  “Now you looked peeved. Why is that? All I’m saying is that being able to read people is great, but so is talking to them. You’ll learn almost as much. Maybe it’s time to branch out.”

  Was that a taunt or genuine caring? “Sounds like you don’t think too highly of my job, or perhaps you want it for yourself.”

  A smug grin curled her lips. “Sweetie, I’ve had your job. Never again. By the way, I’m the one who recommended Roy hire you.”

  “Hold on. I’m certain we’ve never met before today. How do you know me?”

  Gisele shook her head. The pale silver hair shimmering around her face made it easy to envision how beautiful she must have been in her youth. “I’m not here all the time. I show up when I’m needed. You really don’t have a clue, do you? Take a guess.”

  Drawing a whooping big blank, she shook her head.

  “Okay, I can see you’re still pouting, so I’ll just tell you. Your mother and I go way back. I was present the day you were born. I’m your fairy godmother, Auntie Gisele.”

  The name didn’t ring any bells. “I don’t have an Auntie Gisele or a fairy godmother.”

  “Yes, you do. I’ve been here the whole time. For years, I’ve been holding on to a blessing for you that’s gone unclaimed.”

  “What sort of blessing?”

  With child-sized hands, Gisele picked up an eye pencil and sharpened it. “What do you want it to be? The choices are unlimited. I’ve been waiting a long time to grant you a boon.”

  “A boon?”

  Taking a compact from the kit, she opened it and stroked a wedge-shaped sponge applicator across the surface. “You know, a gift, a special talent or power. Just ask and it’s yours. But choose carefully because I’m only going to offer you one.”

  “Why would you do that? How do I know any of this is real?”

  Gisele turned Adara’s chair away from the mirror and daubed concealer under her eyes. “The honest answer is you don’t. If I’m not what I say I am and the boon is not real then nothing has changed for you, has it? You’ll be no better or worse for meeting me. But if I’m telling the truth…” She grinned and when she did, she looked like a girl. “That’s where things get interesting. A wise choice could make a huge difference in your life.”

  Adara reviewed every childhood tale about the Fae that she could remember and came to the conclusion that they were more likely to kidnap a child than bless them. “You’re just going to grant me a boon, no strings attached?”

  She wagged a finger. “Oh, I didn’t say that. There’s always a string. When new things enter your life, something always changes.”

  “I’m not sure I like the sound of this. I hate change.”

  “That’s a bit of your human DNA kicking in. Sometimes it skips a generation or two, but sooner or later it’s bound to show up and when it does, anything can happen. In the world of Halflings, it’s what we call a wild card. You’re not fully nymph or demon. You’ve got human grandparents on both sides. See? I do know you. Human DNA has tremendous potential, but humans hate change. Fear it, actually. It’s their Achilles tendon.”

  The statement brought her to a halt. Was she more human than she’d credited herself with? Could her longstanding assumption that the uneasy mix of her nymph-demon pedigree was at the root of her problems be incorrect? This was a whole new perspective. Instead of lurking on the edge of the human experience, maybe embracing her humanity was the answer. “What are you suggesting?”

  Gisele clasped her hands. “I haven’t suggested anything, yet.”

  “Nope. I’m not that naïve. You’ve been leading the conversation. I’ll go on record as saying I’m not sure I trust you.”

  Picking up a fluffy brush, she dusted powder across Adara’s cheekbones. “You shouldn’t trust me. Trust yourself. Or better yet, call your mother. We go way back. Ask Grace if it’s safe to talk to strangers with boons.”

  “I will.” Okay, maybe she was overreacting. A lot of what Gisele said made sense. Funny how she’d never taken her human heritage into consideration. “It’s not practical or logical, but I’m going to take a gamble. I would love a boon.”

  “You’re going to trust a Mob Fae?”

  “Yep.” She laughed.

  “Good.” Gisele laughed too and, not surprisingly, she sounded exactly like a fairy should with her sweet, high-pitched tinkle. “It’s been a long time coming.” She reached under her collar and took hold of a slender golden chain strung around her neck. “This is for you.” With a graceful motion, she swept the necklace over her head and handed it to Adara.

  The chain was feather-light in her hand. A tiny polished heart made of carved crystal added the only discernable weight. The smooth stone was warm from lying against Gisele’s skin and reflected bursts of rainbow light from its center.

  “Put it on.” Gisele looked impatient. “I’ve been waiting twenty-four years to hand that to you.”

  She slipped it over her head and allowed it to fall between her breasts. The moment she donned it, a tingling sensation shot through her. “Oh, what was that?”

  “Anticipation. Your auric field knows something big is about to happen.”

  “What?”

  Using a tiny brush, Gisele filled in her brows. “I don’t know. You get to choose your own boon. Frankly, if I were young again, I’d choose an adventure or an irreplaceable experience.”

  Wow, could she trust herself to make this sort of choice? A wave of emotion engulfed her. “I don’t know what to choose.”

  “I think you do.” Gisele picked up an eye pencil and smudged the soft pigment along Adara’s lash line.

  “How does this work?” A weird sense of excitement made it difficult to remain still. ”Do I tell you what I want?”

  “No. When you’ve made up your mind, gently take hold of the heart and whisper your choice. The heart will know the best way to deliver your desire.”

  “And just like that, I’ll get my wish?” Adara covered the heart with her palm. “Feels like Christmas. Too bad I’m hunting a murderer.”

  “Nix Christmas. More like trick or treat.” She blended eye shadow across the lids. “Getting your heart’s desire might provoke a few fears.”

  “Uh-oh. This is the string attached, isn’t it?”

  “Could be. Are you going to let a skinny little string keep you from your heart’s desire? I expect not. You’re Grace’s daughter. She was incredibly courageous to follow her heart and marry a firebrand. No one wanted her to do it. If she hadn’t been brave and bucked tradition, you and I would not be having this conversation.”

  She sat stunned, staring at the far wall.

  With swift, light strokes, Gisele finished Adara’s makeup and went to work styling her hair with a curling iron. Time dragged and her thoughts wandered. Every time she was certain she’d hit on the perfect boon to ask for, another option would pop into her mind and cause a fresh round of indecision.

  Gisele pinned a few loose curls in back and allowed the rest of Adara’s hair to flow free. “Don’t overthink it. I can practically see the hamster running on its wheel. Your first impulse was likely the correct one.” She raised a palm in warning. “Stay put. I’m going to find an outfit for you.”

  Her gut clenched with nerves. “Something wizardly?”

  “Something appropriate for your role as a professional enchantress for hire.” Gisele walked inside a storage room that doubled as a closet and riffled through the racks. “Ah, here it is. Come to me, darling.” She gathered a few items into her arms and returned. She held up a pair of flirty platform sandals and a shimmering aqua dress with a sweetheart neckline. “Try these on.”

  Adara was scandalized. On her off hours, she was a hoodie-and-jeans type of girl. The strapless dress was far more revealing than anything she’d ever choose for herself. “Now?”r />
  “Yes. Why would we wait?”

  “Will it fit?” She eyed the tailored apparel with doubt. “I’m at least a size 14. Maybe a little more,” she muttered.

  “And I’m a fairy godmother. Trust me, the dress will fit.”

  The sleeveless dress was slit up the thigh. “Damn, I don’t even own the right underwear for that kind of outfit.”

  Gisele turned the dress and displayed a lacy bustier and nude panties draped over the back of the hanger. “I already thought of that. Give me credit for being the sort of fairy godmother who wouldn’t let you walk around in a silk designer gown with your bra straps showing and visible panty lines.” She thrust the dress forward. “I have to run an errand. I’ll leave you alone to get ready.”

  “Don’t you want to see if the dress fits?”

  “No.”

  Adara accepted the clothing and struggled to hang on to everything in the transfer. “Wait. Are you coming back?”

  She shrugged. “I have no idea.”

  “We have a pretty serious situation going on; I can’t afford to sit around waiting.”

  “You won’t have to. If I’m not back soon, someone will come for you.”

  “All right.” She was used to wearing sports bras and wondered how the hell she was going to figure out the bustier by herself.

  “Oh.” Gisele grabbed a perfume spritzer from the vanity. “One last touch. I can’t let you leave without a bit of perfume.” She misted a burst of woodsy fragrance on Adara’s hair and nape.

  The light scent was deeply evocative of fresh green meadows. “It’s nice. What is it?”

  “Essence of Fae. It’s everything the Fae love about the natural world infused into a rare decoction of forest ferns, mossy waterfalls, and the kisses of a newborn fawn. It keeps my homesickness at bay.”

  The fragrance was uplifting. “You’ve been very kind. Thank you.”

  With her nose wrinkled, Gisele scowled. “The Fae don’t like thank-yous. Don’t ever say it to us. Just remember my good deed. That’s the most important thing.”