“Ilya.” I bark her name so loud, all color drains from her face. I can’t bring myself to care. “Tell Arranna we’re here and we demand she see us. Now.”
The frosted glass doors to the main room slide open before Ilya can bat an eye. She flies through, and I wonder if it’s the last we’ll see of her. I don’t wait to be asked in. I stroll through the doorway like I own the place.
This room has also been redecorated. Floor cushions made of expensive silks make me wonder if I haven’t stepped into the harem room instead of her majesty’s court. Several feet in front of us are a set of stairs that lead up to a royal platform that appears to have been made with real gold. Arranna is sitting on her throne (also gold), shaking her head at me. Her hair cascades over her shoulders in thick, luxurious waves so dark I can see my reflection, and I’m not even close to her yet. Totally should have brought my sunglasses. She’s at least four times the size of the other pixies and about a hundred times more striking. Her beauty is so intense, it’s almost hard for me to look at her. I know that’s my human side coming out. Humans aren’t made to deal with things so astonishingly otherworldly. It’s not necessarily a bad thing, I keep telling myself. It simply is.
I whip off my headscarf and shake my hair loose. I’m a girl. We compete. Sue me. I glance at Keller. He’s rocking a very bland expression. That will surely piss off the queen. She lives for attention like an alcoholic lives for his next sip.
Come on. Show her some love so she’ll play nice. The moment I think it, I wish I could take it back. If Arranna gets her mitts on Keller, she’ll lap him up like milk in a saucer. Then I’ll have to kill her and that throws a kink in tonight’s plans. I walk with purpose down the center of the room, watching my step so as not to squish any of the slumbering pixies curled up on the cushions. Wouldn’t that be a tragedy?
The corner of Keller’s lips quirk up ever so slightly. She’s all right, I guess.
All right? Dude, she makes Angelina Jolie look like Dog the Bounty Hunter.
I guess.
I groan inwardly and stop a few feet from the base of the stage. Keller follows suit. You’re so transparent.
Would you like me to drool a little?
Two loud claps break up our private banter.
Arranna rises from her gilded thrown. She’s wearing a short, skin-tight, green dress that accentuates her curves and her diamond-like skin. Her long legs shine as if they’ve been buffed with extra strength furniture polish. Her wings flutter softly. “Is there something I can do to help you?”
Unlike the pixies at the entrance, Arranna’s voice rings loud and clear. She carries herself in a very regal manner and her speech is no less.
I lift my chin and curtsy at the same time, a combination of strength and respect. “May we speak privately?” The room is full of pixies. Some are hanging from the rafters like bats while others are stretched out on the pillows strewn on the floor.
Arranna purses her pink lips, seemingly considering my request, then like someone who has spotted chocolate cake, she disregards me as if I’m a stale cracker. She tilts her head at Keller, studying him like a lioness stalking her prey. Interest burns in her bright green eyes. Her nostrils flair, and I swear her skin shines brighter, like she’s flipped her sexy switch up to optimum effect mode.
A stab of anger has my clenching my fists. “Allow me to introduce you to Keller.” I slide my palm down his arm and lace my fingers through his in a he’s-mine-bitch move.
Arranna wets her lips with the tip of her tongue and offers Keller her manicured hand. Keller accepts her small hand for the briefest of moments before wrapping his arm around my shoulders. Oh, how I adore this man.
Lifting one eyebrow in challenge, she says, “I’ll speak with him in my private chambers.”
Tramp. My blood simmers beneath my skin. I’m about to self-combust up in here. “Like hell,” I tell her. “Trust me, queenie. You want me on your good side.” I’m usually not the jealous type. Usually. Let me just say if I had claws, bitch would be blind right now.
She laughs. “Do I? Perhaps you’re not the biggest gun in town anymore.”
Keller squeezes my hand and steps forward. “I’m not sure if you’re aware Josie here is working for the Assembly. As am I.”
“I—”
“I suggest you figure out which team you want to play for,” Keller says, cutting her off, his voice coated in gruff authority. “Whoever your big gun is, he is nothing compared to us. It would be best if you remembered that.”
Arranna plants her hands on her hips. “I don’t care for your tone, vampire.”
“Trust me. He doesn’t care.” I move in close. Arranna stands her ground. The only reason she’s looking me in the eye instead of staring at my knees is because she’s literally put herself on a pedestal. “Where is Esmeralda?”
“She’s fluttering around somewhere, I’m sure. What business do you have with her?”
Should I tell her the truth? I know Esmeralda is not in this alone, but she has a hefty dose of payback coming her way. At this point I’ve got nothing to lose. “You’re lackey is spreading too much Pixie Dust around.”
Her eyes widen for the briefest of moments. “Of course she is. We are pixies, after all.”
“Toxic dust, Arranna.”
Nervous laughter bubbles past her lips. She quickly puts the lid on that. “I’m certain I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
Now it’s my turn to laugh. I add some hysteria into it for effect, all mad scientist-like. Then I sober. “We’re just as certain you know exactly what I’m talking about. Take a look around. I’m guessing all this luxury didn’t come via pixie trust fund, did it?” I don’t wait for her answer. “It ends now.”
Her spine stiffens as if someone has rammed a broomstick up her ass. The queen does not like to be threatened. I file that tidbit away for future reference. The broomstick up the ass part, not the threatening part.
“And if it doesn’t?” she asks.
I fake charge her like a bull. She shrieks and jumps back. Throwing my head back, I laugh again, all the while wondering how I’m going to stop their little drug ring from growing. Keller beats me to it.
“Ever seen a volcano erupt?” He reaches for my hand and we turn our back on Arranna, leaving her and her pixie crew to wonder exactly what Keller meant.
We’re almost out of the room when Arranna says, “Ilya will see you out.”
Fantastic.
As if Ilya is the equivalent of four armed guards, she leads us back through the hallway, her wings flapping with purpose. I look to the heavens at least a hundred times, and only stop when I think my eyes might get stuck just like Mama told me. My thighs are on fire from the exertion of walking such a steep incline. If it weren’t for Ilya, I’d ask Keller to carry my ass up. I’m proud, but not that proud.
This entire outing was a bust. I came here for answers, but I’m not sure I got anything more than green skin. How dare Arranna put the moves on my man. I blow out a breath. I need to let it go. I’ve got bigger issues than vampire-loving sluts. Just for clarification, I’m talking about Arranna, not me.
The sleek, overhead lighting gives way to the primitive wall torches. It’s pretty much a straight shot to the exit. Still, Ilya insists on leading the way like the good little Girl Scout she is. I turn to see if we’re being followed and notice a small jet-off hallway to the left. We missed it coming in because it was so dark and I was focused solely on getting to Arranna and Esmeralda. I make a spur of the moment decision, tap Keller’s shoulder, and pull him the other way.
We walk no more than a hundred feet when I see a door with a neon blue light shining under the crack at the bottom. Blue is now my trigger color. I march toward the door with legs that have forgotten they just climbed Everest. Ilya flies in front of me. Her left wing pokes me in the eye, and it takes every flipping ounce of control I have not to squash her right here and now.
“Back off, gnat.”
“Yo
u can’t go in there,” Ilya declares, her voice at least two octaves higher than when she was flirting with Keller. She buzzes around my head in tight circles.
Oh, right. I get it. She doesn’t want me to see what’s behind the pretty door. Silly me. Which means I’m so going in there. “Keller, please entertain Ilya here.”
Keller reaches out and plucks her right out of the air with two fingers. He tucks her into the front pocket of his jeans. Even for someone as small as Ilya, that’s got to be one tight squeeze. Thank goodness he prefers his jeans with breathing room. Otherwise, Ilya would be dead via asphyxia. “Consider her entertained.”
I shake my head. “Careful, lover boy. Her squirming might get you a little excited.”
“No.” His gaze devours me.
“Right.” I stand on tiptoe and kiss him on the cheek. His beard scruff tickles my lips and I want to linger. “I keep forgetting you only have eyes for me,” I say with my lips still touching his skin. It’s not a lie. Finding someone who wants, needs, craves only one person is a rarity few ever get to experience.
His knuckles caress my neck. “When we’re done here, I’ll make sure you never forget it again.”
I step back and glance at his pocket. The bulge now known as Ilya thrashes about. She’s not going anywhere. Not until we see what’s behind this door. “I’ll hold you to that, Irish. Shall we?”
He moves past me to open the door. Sometimes a girl’s gotta let a man be all chivalrous and shit. Actually, he’s in full protection mode now. I don’t like it, but I get it. He feels about me the way I feel about my city.
Keller slowly turns the doorknob and gives me a shake of his head. Locked. I move back to give him room. He knocks the door completely off its hinges with one swift kick. The door crashes on the ground about three feet away.
He moves into the room, allowing me to see inside. I blink several times. My eyes have got to be deceiving me. Someone must have sounded an internal alarm and warned the others, because nary a pixie is in this room. They didn’t have time to clean house, though. Now I have indisputable proof of just how much they are mixed up in this drug business.
After taking only one breath, I grow a little lightheaded and feel the beginning stages of a nightmare coming on. Hell, no. I’m not going down again. I pull my shirt up to cover my nose and mouth and step inside. Long tables are lined up in rows of at least ten. Every square inch of the large room is covered in a makeshift assembly line of sorts. Test tubes, Bunsen burners, cutters, black lights, small transparent bags…
This is a regular drug operation, pixie style. I never thought I’d live to see something like this. Ask any human about pixies and the first one that comes to mind is Tinkerbell. If they knew pixies were making a drug that could be the next big thing, the Holies would burn every Peter Pan book in print.
“They are out of their miniscule minds.” Keller walks between the tables, taking inventory, touching nothing.
“What’s in it for them?” I ask, still standing at the entrance. “Pixies don’t need money.” Though they do seem to be enjoying the extra funds.
“Power? Control?”
I blow out a breath and wonder if the dust particles are small enough to get through my shirt. I’ve got to get out of here soon. “I’m not seeing that. Something else it at play here.”
“There’s another door over here.”
I jog over to Keller, careful not to brush against any of the tables. His shirt is stretched tight across his back, a warning that he’s about to kick his way into the next room. I stand back. With a growl, he takes this steel door down just like the last.
This time I’m going first. I hurry past him and run face first into wards so strong, I bounce off the air as if I’ve just barreled into a glass wall. My ass slams into the ground with a resounding crack. I clench my teeth against the pain. Yeah, Keller is always going first from now on.
Crouching next to me, he grips my elbow to help me up.
My shirt slipped down during my embarrassing fall. I quickly pull it back up and adjust it so it fits tight against my nose. “Not yet. I need a second.”
Instead of insisting, he plops down next to me. “What hurts?”
I can’t believe I’m freakin’ injured again. Can’t I get through one day without breaking or ripping something? “Tailbone.” I’m panting. I can’t help it. Breaking news: Josie Hawk busted her ass…AGAIN.
Sliding his hand down my back, he stops and rests his palm against the base of my spine. “Is it broken?” His eyes darken with concern.
Seriously? A broken ass? Probably. “I hope not.”
“I’ll carry you.”
Pfft. “The hell you will. I’ve got to walk out of here on my own. I know they’re watching.”
“Josie, I don’t give a feck about them right now.”
“It’s a pride thing.”
I know he wants to roll his eyes, or swear under his breath, or carry me out over his shoulder like a caveman, but he’s way too cool for any of that. “May I at least help you up?”
I gotta give him something. “Sure.”
This time he offers me both hands. I grab on and he pulls me to my feet. Maybe I didn’t break it after all. Sa-weet! I take a step and pinch my lips into a flat line, gritting through the pain. Still, I force one foot in front of the other and head back toward the entrance. Each step gets a little easier, and I’m already plotting my revenge. Instead of roasting marshmallows, I’m going to skewer a bunch of drug dealing pixies and roast them until they talk.
But first I’ve got to get past those damn wards. “You wouldn’t happen to be carrying anything shiny on you tonight, would ya?”
“No, why?”
I see the door and finally feel as if I can breathe again. I pull my shirt back into its proper place and wipe the sweat from my upper lip. “We’re about to go meet up with the witches. They’re always a lot more helpful when you come bearing gifts.”
“The gift has to shine?”
“Preferably. We’ll just have to make a pit stop and pick something up.”
Keller chuckles low. Recognizing a taunt when I hear one, I slow my roll, waiting for whatever it is that’s about to come out of his sexy mouth.
“My darling,” he says, slathering on the Irish lilt. “I believe you’re carrying more than one shiny.”
I turn around and nail him with my best shooting daggers stare-down. “Don’t even think about it. I’m not giving them one of my babies.” Seriously? He wants me to give away a blade? Not gonna happen. I’ve got a much better idea.
“Keller, love?”
He lifts one eyebrow.
“You’ve got a shiny right in that front pocket of yours.”
His brow creases for a moment as he considers my comment. Then his eyes light up. “You’re not serious.”
Oh, but I am. I pat his pocket and watch his eyes sparkle. “They’re gonna love Ilya.”
Chapter Fifteen
“That was a total waste of time.” I carefully remove all six of my weapons and lay them on my dresser, before peeling off my shirt and throwing it in the trash. I could wash it but it’s a reminder of my epic night—epic equaling disastrous in this case. Total fail.
Before the first rays of dawn could lick at our heels, Keller and I had decided to head back to my place after losing two hours of time trying to find out where the witches were congregating. Witches are a lot like gypsies, and often move their coven around so their camp can’t be infiltrated. I admire their tenacity, but would hate to pack my stuff up every month. Even though we’d found them, they couldn’t help us tonight. Apparently they’re holding a twenty-four hour vigil in honor of someone or something. Witches only. I can respect that. “Waste. Of. Time.”
Keller’s leaning against the door, arms crossed over his chest in a very relaxed fashion. “The witches or the pixies?”
How can he be so chill when I’m so…so… My boots come off next and hit the floor with two loud thwacks. “Both.”
>
“I don’t think so.”
“Really?” I pull my socks off and toss them in the laundry bin. I’m pretty positive they weren’t exposed to any toxins. “We didn’t find Esmeralda.” I narrow my eyes. “And you lost Ilya.”
“I didn’t lose her.”
“Fine.” I sigh, letting all the frustration slowly leak out of my system like a deflating inner tube. Things could have gone worse, I guess. “You let her go. Softy.” I’m pretty sure he released her because he was tired of listening to her tiny bouts of screaming coming from the vicinity of his man junk. I know I was. “Arranna was zero help.”
“Actually, she told us quite a bit,” Keller says. “Someone else is the ringleader. The pixies are at least one notch lower on the totem pole.”
My brow furrows. “And boy, are they reaping the rewards of the cartel. We still don’t know who’s wearing the head cheese hat. Queenie took a good swipe at my ego, though.” A bigger gun than me? As if. I flex my arms in the mirror then turn back to Keller, who’s sporting a big-ass grin on his face.
“I think her Highness liked me.”
My mouth hangs open like a gasping fish. “You think? How was that supposed to work anyway?” I zero in on the spot that has my name written all over it. He shoves away from the door. I watch closely as he pulls his shirt over his head and sends it flying across the room. I almost lose my train of thought. His body is absolute perfection. Lean and tight. He unsnaps the top button of his jeans and I finally remember what I was thinking about. “You and she don’t fit.” The two of them together would be like a sapling next to a redwood. Ridiculous.
“No. We don’t fit at all. How’s your shoulder?”
“Fine.”
He moves closer, one deliberate step after another leading him straight to his target. Me. “Your tailbone?”
“Better?” I bite my lip.
“Better isn’t good enough.” Leaning down, he kisses a path from my jaw to just below my ear.
Dark Secrets: A Paranormal Romance Anthology Page 140
