by Theda Vallee
“I didn’t mean to hurt anyone. It was an accident. Please, let me help you sit up at least. That has to be painful.”
“Piss off, Osservatori scum!” he spat out at me.
He had no reason to think I was any different than the other agents trampling through here. From what I understood, pixies were treated like the cockroaches of the supernatural world. It was no wonder they’d decided to take matters into their own hands and sell their dust. They might as well make some money off the assholes that hated them.
A nasally voice, like nails on a chalkboard, assaulted my ears. “We’ve caught most of them, no thanks to you.”
I turned to find Leontyne standing next to me, a sneer on her perfect face. Her clothes were stained with blood, yet her glistening red hair looked like she’d just left the salon. I forced myself not to reach up and self-consciously fix my hair.
“Hey, Limousine, thanks for the backup. Looks like you’re working your new team pretty hard,” I said, offering her a smile. “If you’re here to blame me for everything, you can get in line.”
“I wonder when you’ll grow up and tire of your little ‘Call Leontyne by the wrong name game.’ Anyway, it would make my day to chalk this up to your ineptness. It seems someone tipped the pixies off to our sting ahead of time.”
“Well, there’s always next time,” I said with a shrug.
Easton sidled up next to me, a smile on his placid face. It took everything in me not to groan aloud. He was as pretty as he was dumb. My lust-ridden sister Nerina, had lost her mind over his surfer-boy aesthetic when he’d come on board, but she’d lost interest after a five-minute conversation. If he was too dumb for Nerina, that was saying a lot.
“May I interrupt?” he asked, bending over in a slight bow.
“Dude, stand up. You’re going to get stuck that way,” I said, shaking my head in annoyance.
“Can that happen?” he asked, standing up quickly. He was short for a fairy, but he made up for it with his physique. The man had an eight pack.
I bit back a laugh, shaking my head. “No, that can’t happen.”
“Luc has requested your presence. May I escort you to him?” Easton asked.
“Sorry, Leukocyte, looks like I’ve been summoned. We’ll have to plan a girl’s night later,” I said with a wave. She replied with a ladylike snort. If I didn’t know better, I’d say she was laughing. “Lead the way, Easton.”
I watched his taut ass hustle through the crowd in front of me. These fae seemed to have a never-ending supply of sexy men. I wasn’t usually a fan of buff, blond, and dim, but I could see the appeal. With his bronzed skin, violet eyes, and Colgate smile, he was definitely ogle-worthy.
Luc came into view, towering over the group of people he was directing. I could see the anger on his face from across the field. His normal charismatic smile was tilted into an unattractive frown. If he’d looked like that when we first met, I wonder if I would’ve been as smitten.
“What part of surveillance don’t you fucking get?” he bellowed out as soon as he spotted me. He strode over, stopping a few inches in front of me, blocking my view of Easton’s amazing ass. “Do you understand the problems this is going to cause? Every time I think you’re making progress; you go and do something like this.”
“Can we save the lecture for the car ride home?” I asked. Luc was my boss and, if you had to put labels on it, my boyfriend. He wasn’t very good at either. However, he exceled at yelling and refusing to listen when I tried to explain things. I was so used to it, I didn’t even get upset anymore when he started one of his tirades.
He ran his fingers through his blond hair; his honey-colored eyes flickering with anger. “What’s the matter, Etta? You don’t like being yelled at in front of everyone? Well, that’s too bad because that’s exactly what’s going to happen to me when I get to headquarters and give my report.”
“Alright, mom and dad, let’s not fight in front of the children,” Brady said, getting in between us. He’d become our unofficial mediator as of late. “You do realize she was being attacked by pixies and had to defend herself, right? Did you want her to just sit in the bush and get eaten? That’s your job, Mr. Bossman.”
“Is that true? Were you being attacked?” Luc asked.
Everything on my body hurt, and I was heartsick about the deaths I’d caused. I didn’t have the energy to defend myself or argue with him. Instead, I lifted my arms and raised both my middle fingers, before turning to hobble off towards the car.
“Etta, get back here. I’m not done talking to you!” Luc yelled after me.
I turned my head, and shouted over my shoulder, “What part of fuck you, don’t you get?”
Chapter Two
Silence sat between us like a dense fog as Luc pushed his precious Porsche Panamera beyond the speed limit. Shifting uncomfortably in my seat, I twirled a strand of hair, refusing to acknowledge his pouty ass. Blood soaked through the towel he’d put down to protect the car’s interior, which pissed me off even more. He didn’t seem to care one iota that I’d been hurt.
There were probably a few other ways I could’ve dealt with things today, but I still would’ve blown my cover. Would he have been happier if I’d just stayed put and let them finish me off?
“Are you going to brood the whole way home? Do you even care that I was almost lunch for a gaggle of creatures?” I demanded, breaking my self-imposed vow of silence.
The muscles in his neck twitched as he tightened his grip on the steering wheel. “Do you really want to do this while I’m driving?”
Oh, fuck no.
“Are you kidding me? What was I supposed to do? How would you have handled being eaten alive? I’d really like to know. Isn’t it your job to train me? Instead of guiding me, you act like a dick every time I make a mistake. How am I ever going to learn the right way?”
His right hand raked through his hair, something he did when he was angry or frustrated. “You’re right.”
What? Did he just say I was right? I’d been about to launch into a tirade cataloging all the ways he was a raging dick. Now what was I supposed to do? Who just says someone is right in the middle of an argument?
“Okay, well thanks, I guess. So, what do we do about it?”
Reaching over, he flipped on the radio, flooding the car with the weird jazzy crap he favored. “Just let me have some time to think, okay?”
I nodded in agreement, unsure what else to do. Dating my boss was the worst idea I’d ever had. If my stupid vagina had listened to my brain, I wouldn’t be in this predicament. But no, after years of swearing off men, I had to jump his bones because he was hot. Well, that and the fact that our magic acted like horny teenagers the second we were within proximity of each other. Most days I barely tolerated him, but how could I break it off now? Stupid, stupid hormones.
“I can’t go with you tonight. I have to meet with Pietro,” he said, pulling the car into an open spot near my family’s bakery.
“It’s fine. Nerina and Brady are going, so I won’t be alone,” I said, giving him a small smile.
“Will you come over afterward?” he asked.
I sighed, wishing I could tell him to fuck off. Despite my anger, I knew my life would be easier if we made up. Small flickers of light pulsed along my skin where his hand rested, our magic tangling together with need. It’d been that way since we met. Our magic reaching for each other every time we were close. No one had been able to tell us why, or how to make it stop.
“Fine. I’ll come over later,” I said.
He leaned over, brushing his lips against mine. Waves of blue light floated in the space between our bodies, as he deepened the kiss. Pulling away after lingering for a few moments, he leaned his forehead against mine.
“I’m sorry, cariad. I don’t know how to balance being your boss and your boyfriend. I’m trying.” He ran his hand down my cheek, tilting my head up to look into his eyes. “I love you.”
“I’ll see you tonight,” I said, w
ithout returning the endearment. Thankfully, he no longer looked devastated every time I didn’t say the words back. I had a feeling he was waiting for the day I realized my true feelings. He probably had some fantasy that all kinds of lovey-dovey shit would come pouring out of me someday, and we’d live happily ever after. Kudos to him for keeping the faith, but it was never going to happen.
Sliding across the seat, I let myself out of the car. The puncture wounds on my body ached in protest. I needed a shower and a glass of wine, not necessarily in that order.
I limped to the side gate and stepped into our garden courtyard, the familiar surroundings washing over me like a balm. No matter what went on in the outside world, this was my refuge. As I walked the stone path towards the back door, the smell of dinner wafted out the window, making my mouth water.
“Nonna, please tell me that’s gnocchi I smell,” I said, as I opened the back door that led to our kitchen.
I took in the room I’d spent most of my life in and sighed contently. Sure, the kitchen was the hub of our business, but it was also the heart of our home. The exposed-brick walls and walnut butcher counters gave the room a simple rustic charm. A stone oven was the showpiece of the room, taking up the entire back wall. The first bread sold in our bakery had been cooked in it. We’d thought about remodeling a few times, but none of us could bring ourselves to change anything in the room.
“Dolce, you’re covered in blood again. What has happened this time?” Nonna asked, rushing to examine me.
“They’re just tiny cuts. Did you know pixies bite?” I asked, kissing the top of her head.
“I hope you plan on showering before we go out tonight,” Nerina said from across the kitchen. She was bent over a mirror studiously applying makeup.
“What, you don’t love my Bloody Mary look?”
“You want me to take a look at whatever’s bleeding and doctor you up?” she asked, running an eyeliner pencil over the top of her eye.
“I’m fine. I’ll slather on some fae goo after my shower.”
Nonna shook her head in frustration. “How is it that you are the one to always come home injured?”
“Just the luck of the Massonis, I guess. Now, about dinner, what is it? I’m starving.”
Nonna waved her arms, dismissing me. “Go, clean up. Gnocchi and pesto will be waiting for you when you’re done.”
My stomach grumbled as I thudded down the stairs, ready to get my grub on. The shower hadn’t been nearly as relaxing as I’d wanted it to be. Most of my body was covered in bite marks, and they’d stung relentlessly under the warm water. I’d applied a thick layer of fae balm once I dried off, but the stinging had yet to subside.
Aunt Sophia and my cousin Gia were taking plates from the cabinet when I came into the kitchen. They ate dinner with us almost every night, because there was always more than enough to go around. Nonna had grown up cooking for an extended family of fourteen people. We’d convinced her to halve her recipes a few years ago, but most nights there was still enough to feed a small army.
“I heard you were pixie jerky,” Gia said, as she carried a stack of plates to the counter. “How is it you manage to get yourself injured every time you go out?”
“Why does everyone keep asking me that? It’s not like I’m trying to get hurt.”
“Well, you seem to be a pro at it,” Gia said, opening the silverware drawer. “Maybe you just like all the attention.”
I snatched the plates from her, my temper flaring. “Isn’t it your birthday in a few weeks? You should play nice if you want a present.”
“It’s your birthday in a few weeks, too, so back at ya,” she said, flipping me off behind Nonna’s back.
I mouthed the word ‘skank’ at her before stomping off to the dining room. I’d learned a long time ago that there was always a bit of truth in sarcasm. Gia had been joking, but somewhere deep down, she was pissed at the attention I got when I came home injured.
How could she feel that way? She knew damn well what our lives were like. Anything that could go wrong, did. Our house had been in mourning since we were children. Both of us lost parents at a young age, Nonno had disappeared during a fishing trip, and Red took off with my daughter. That was just in our immediate family. If I started listing the horrible misfortune of our extended family, I’d get depressed. Why wouldn’t that same bad luck carry over to my job? She should be used to it by now.
Slamming the plates onto the table, I tried to relax. Tensions had been running high in our house for the last few months. We were all adjusting to this new life we’d been thrust into. As much as I tended to feel sorry for myself, I knew my entire family had been impacted.
Gia tended to take things out on me. Most days, she wasn’t actually mad at me, she was just tired and frustrated. Aunt Sophia still had nightmares most nights, from when the Osservatori had arrested us. Even during the day, my poor Auntie jumped out of her skin every time there was a knock at the door. Gia had been dealing with her high-strung mother since her father passed away. We were the only support she had, and that meant sometimes we’d get the anger she couldn’t lob at anyone else. Even if she was being a jerk, I needed to stuff my temper down and try to be kind to her.
Nerina bounced through the door and into the dining room, carrying a steaming bowl of gnocchi. Saliva pooled in my mouth as I greedily watched her set it on the table. Food cured any ailment, even if it was a temporary cure. I could dwell on the reality of our lives later. Right now, pesto was calling my name.
“Is that what you’re wearing?” Nerina asked as we settled around the table.
I looked down at my outfit, not sure what part of it was offensive to her. It wasn’t fancy, but the invitation had said casual dress. “What’s wrong with it?”
“I just thought you’d want to look nice for our night out,” she said. “Didn’t you get Brady’s text? He sent you a picture of what he was wearing.”
“I don’t care what he’s wearing. Jeans and a tank top are fine. I’m not changing,” I said, not even bothering to point out my shirt had a sequin pineapple on it, which upped the wow factor.
“Okay, but if everyone is grossed out by your sores, don’t say I didn’t warn you.”
The open sores did look gross. “I’ll wear a hoodie.”
The rest of the family settled around the table, bowing their heads for Nonna to say a quick prayer. As soon as I heard the word Amen, I piled my plate high with little fluffy balls of heaven. I hesitated for a moment, before adding a third scoop to my plate. A manticore almost ate me today, this meal was a celebration of life.
Aunt Sophia filled my wine glass to the brim, winking at me conspiratorially. “What time will Luc do the pick-up?”
“He’s not coming tonight. I’m riding with Nerina,” I said, chugging the wine.
“Is that because you guys got in a fight?” Nerina asked.
“How do you know about that?” I demanded.
“Brady texted me. Luc must be furious if he’s not coming with you tonight. He doesn’t usually let you off your leash. What did you do?”
I stared into my wine glass, trying to keep from yelling. It wasn’t her fault our lives were a damn soap opera. I was going to throttle Brady when I saw him.
“It’s not that bad, and I didn’t do anything. My hiding spot on our mission was compromised by a swarm of hangry pixies. To make matters worse, there was a manticore flying around on patrol. Who knew pixies and manticores were tight? Anyway, the pixies started eating me alive, I magicked them, all hell broke loose. Blah, blah, blah. Just another day in the Osservatori,” I said, waving my hand in the air like a wand.
Aunt Sophia refilled my glass of wine and patted my hand sympathetically. She was the best, mostly because she never acted like I should’ve known better. Probably because she spent most of her life confused about everything. She figured the rest of us were, too.
“So, you let your magic get out of hand again?” Gia asked.
“There wasn’t a lot
I could do,” I said through a mouthful of food. She was really trying to test me tonight.
“It just seems that there are always other options when these things happen to you,” Gia said, adding air quotes around the word ‘things’ and ‘happen’. “If my life depended on avoiding mishaps, I’d probably try to be a little more creative in how I solved my problems.”
I closed my eyes, counting to ten. Everything in me wanted to lash out. At the very least I would’ve been satisfied to dump pesto down the front of her favorite blouse. Instead, I grasped my wine glass and gulped down the contents. This was shaping up to be a two-bottle dinner.
“I’m well aware of my circumstances. I know what a mistake will cost me and probably you guys, too. I’m doing my best,” I said, keeping my voice calm and even.
“Well, one day, your best isn’t going to be enough. Then what are we going to do?” Gia snapped back.
“Enough! We are all living with this new world. Etta did not ask to be strega. It is the fate she has been dealt. Like her, we’ve each been given a role to play in this life. We have only two choices. Either we accept this fate and live through it, or we fight it. What will fighting bring? Will it change our stars somehow?” Nonna asked, her stern face peering at each of us in turn.
“No, but it might up our odds of surviving,” Gia said, defiantly glaring at Nonna.
This wasn’t good. No one ever won a staring contest with Nonna.
“Giana Marie, I love you like my own daughter. I feel your pain, but I promise fighting is not the answer. The further we become from each other, the more they have power over us,” Nonna said.
Gia gulped, blinking to hold back her tears. Nerina leaned over, wrapping her arms around Gia, whispering something I couldn’t hear. I wanted to hug her, too, but I was afraid she wouldn’t want me to. We’d been raised together. She was my other sister. In my mind, it had always been the three of us against the world. I couldn’t imagine losing that because of the damn Osservatori.
