“Hey, hey, hey,” he says, softly. “You okay, Alvin?”
No. No, I most certainly am not. But he shouldn’t have to take care of me. After what he saw I’m capable of, that’s not fair. Still, I shake my head.
“Right…” He clearly doesn’t know what else to say, so he turns from me to Collin. Or, more likely, the emptyspace he sees I’m cradling. “So, uh, this Avatar…That’swhat it can do?”
He scans the destruction around us, a crease forming between his eyebrows, but he’s giving me an out. I could put this all on Collin. That would be the smart play for a paranormal like me. But I’m done lying to Rafa.
The muscles of my face weigh down with guilt. “No. Apparently, it’s whatIcan do. With my magic. If I get angry enough.”
The elf throws up his hands. He’s still standing a few feet back. “Midnight’s teeth, you truly are a dramatic, little fellow!” He shakes his head. “You’ve just done the most incredible thing, and all you can think of is to be miserable!”
I look over at the dozens of huddled silhouettes on the sidewalk, hugging themselves, trying to stay warm on a chilly San Francisco night under a drenching rain. They are staring back at their smoking homes in shock. Some families lean against each other and weep. Only a few have realized they can avoid the downpour by standing on the other side of the street, where not a single drop falls. And none are paying any attention to the three of us, who are just hanging out in the middle of the road. Clearly, we’ve been hidden by more fae magic.
“I know you won’t understand this,” I say. “But I just ruined their lives.”
The elf cocks an eyebrow. “Ah. I see. So, if I promised to provide them all with enough money to rebuild and live comfortably for, let’s say, the next year—wouldthatpersuade you to stop sobbing?”
“Don’t answer him!” Rafa snaps, glaring daggers at the elf. He’s immediately back on his feet and in the armored man’s face. “You’re not going to entrap him again that easily, elf!”
The fae prince sighs but seems amused. “Settle down, Sir Galahad. There are no fair maidens to rescue here. This one would be free of charge. No Obligation.”
“Why would you do that?” I ask.
He studies his fingernails. “Consider it a gesture of friendship. I made a bad first impression, and I will admit that my behavior toward you over the last twenty-four hours has been perhaps… less than kind. Now that I’ve gotten to know you a little better, I’d like to start over.”
Rafa scoffs. “You mean, now that you’ve realized how powerful he really is, you want to get on his good side.”
“Your cynicism wounds me, Hunter. But my offers are genuine. Both to help the humans affected here… and for my friendship.” The fae prince looks down at me, with meaning. “I am Eirian, a Prince of Winter, and I assure you, I can be a verygoodfriend to those I consider my allies.”
“Your ally? Unbelievable!” Rafa shakes his head. “Alvin, if I were you, I’d just tell ‘His Highness’ here to?—”
“Yes!” I say to the elf, quickly. I then try to speak in the formal language Rafa used before, after the car crash. Hopefully its precision will keep me out of trouble. “I would consider it kind,andan act of friendship, if you helped these people and made them whole. I thank you… Prince Eirian.”
“Very well. You have my word. It shall be done.” Heinclines his head, regally. Not even the hint of a sneer. “Now, do you think we might encourage you to step out of the middle of the road? My glamours have held off the firetrucks so far, but it is becoming tiresome to keep diverting them.”
I perk up my ears and take in multiple sirens in the distance, which means that not only has the elf hidden the three of us and caused a serious hyper-local downpour, but he’s also extended his magic some blocks away. That would take a ton of power—and all of it supposedly based on the “ambient magic” I somehow pumped into the air.
What exactly did I do?
Well, one thing I did for sure is heal whatever burns I got from running into the fire. I look down at myself, and while my clothes are basically just charred scraps at this point, my skin is unblemished. The gross vomit and the cuts on my hands are gone now, too. Even the achiness from the Obligation seems to have burned away. Mostly I just feel bone-deep exhausted.
And Collin is looking completely back to himself as well. He’s snuggling into the crook of my elbow, the damage to his face gone.
He notices my attention, squeezes his eyes shut, stretches his arms, and squirms slightly, like an adorable puppy. “Shite. I’m really liking being in your arms, Alvin.” He opens his eyes again with a sigh. “But the elf is right. We should go. There’s always the chance the vampires could return.”
I nod and stand, and he slides out of my lap. I hold up what’s left of my pants against my hip so my dingus isn’tjust hanging out there and make my way to the curb. The back pocket is still intact, so Collin smoothly shifts up next to me. His expression is warm and, despite everything, a smile of my own flickers in response. Somehow just having him close makes me feel like things could still turn out all right.
“Much better!” the elf says, grinning at me like we actually are friends. “Well, I do say, this has been a truly memorable evening, but now that I have the power to return home, I believe I must.” He twirls his fingers again and a long pale-blue feather appears. He tilts it toward me, his head inclined at a polite angle. “But throw this in the air at a crossroads, and I will come. Day or night.”
“Cool.” Rafa steps between us. “And what would happen if he throws it in the trash instead?” He narrows his eyes, clearly open to a fight.
It’s a fight I don’t have the energy for right now. I reach around the Hunter with my free hand and take the feather.
“Okay,” I say. “I can’t promise I’ll ever use it, but thanks.”
The elf’s eyes mirror Rafa’s, hostile slits filled with threat, but when they shift back to me, they relax again. His tone becomes as serene as a snowy night. “At least you will have the option.” He then continues with slick nobility. “And over the next few days, I’ll make arrangements to provide funds for the residents affected here. In the meantime, I’ve extended enough glamour around you that you’ll be able to travel within the city without anyone noticing anything amiss with your wardrobe. That said, Iwould still suggest changing before midnight.” His smirk finally re-emerges as he directs a pointed glance at Rafa. “You never know what unsavory characters you might meet on these mean city streets.”
He gives me a rakish wink, pleased with himself, and then is gone. A slight breeze fills the now empty space.
