My shoulders tense. “You, uh, mean you have a message for Ms. Stryker?”
“No, this message is for you. The Winter Queen is aware of the service you performed for this world, and you have piqued her curiosity. She invites you to take tea with her on the night of the waning half-moon.”
I might have been sheltered from the paranormal world growing up, but even if Ms. Stryker hadn’t told me herself, I would already know that the Winter Queen is one of the most powerful magical forces in all the realms.
Eyes wide, I turn to Collin.
“That’s seventeen days from now,” Collin offers, equally baffled. “A Thursday. There should be nothingespeciallydangerous about meeting during a half-moon or any other moon phase.” He purses his lips. “Aside from her being an exceptionally lethal and capricious force of nature, that is.”
Right.
“Please let Her Majesty know I’m very flattered,” I say cautiously. “I’ll, uh, have to check with my boss. I don’t have that day off.”
Eirian’s silver eyebrow arches with crystalline precision. “You’ve been formally invited to the palace of the Queenof Night at the request of the Sovereign herself. The ground outside her gates is littered with the bodies of those who starved while desperately waiting for an audience. But by all means—do make sure you have enough PTO before gracing her with your answer.”
I snort. I think I’m beginning to appreciate his humor. (God help me.)
“Thanks for understanding. I’ll use the feather to get back to you as soon as I can.” (I left the last one he gave me in my freezer. I figured it could help me with my electric bills, if nothing else.)
“Be sure you do,” he says, but not unkindly. He then stands in glacial silence, like he’s not eager to go.
And I suppose I don’t want him to, either. Not yet.
“Prince Eirian, I have a question for you, one I was kinda too busy to ask before, but if we are supposed to be friends now or whatever, I’d like an answer. And I’d like it not to cost me anything.”
His perfect, pale lip curls, curious. “Go on…”
“Why did you ask me to steal the watch? I understand why you’d want it. It can make anyone more powerful, I guess. But how’d you know I could get it?”
His glance flicks to my side pocket, like he can see the ancient druidic magic emanating from within. “Your Avatar doesn’t have the answer for that?”
“He can’t read minds.”
“Of course.” A ripple of cunning plays across his features before he chooses to reply. “It’s a fair question. I have indeed wanted the watch for some time. And, as a member of the Winter Court, I have access to a number of unique sources of information. Powers thatcanread mindsand see the future—for a price. I approached you because I was given reason to believe you could retrieve the artifact when no one else could. And if some of the more breathless accounts of your provenance also proved correct, there was even the possibility of you someday becoming an ally—a distinction I grant to a precious few. I will admit, both claims struck me as questionable.” He leans in, his smile wolfish. “But as the humans you so admire might say, ultimately, the juice appeared worth the squeeze.”
His gaze is so intense, I’m tempted to take a step back. But I won’t. Instead, I harden my jaw.
“You didn’t exactly treat me like someone you wanted for an ally.”
“No, I did not. You believed yourself weak and vulnerable, and it was in my interest for you to remain under my thumb. I needed you to fear me, so I could take advantage of whatever power you did have.” He gives a regal half-shrug. “And I fully expected that if you ever becameworthyenough to be my ally, you would understand.” His expression then softens with something like self-discovery. “But you were so adorably pathetic, I found myself exercising considerable restraint. If I recall correctly, I put up with quite a bit of nonsense and didn’t draw blood even once. Very unlike me.”
Translation: he was an unholy terror because elves are assholes, and I should be grateful he didn’t do worse.
Right. Moving on!
“So… you know what I am, then?”
“Yes. At this point, I believe I do.” He taps his chin with a delicate finger. “But you don’t, do you?”
I turn to Collin, who sucks in his lip. This is one ofthe few questions about me he can’t get a clear answer for, but it’s not like we’re completely in the dark.
“I think I have a pretty good idea.” I return to the fae warrior, ready to push my luck. “You’re saying you knew my father was a dragon.”
Behind him, a woman in a pastel blue pantsuit, buried in her mobile, barrels down the sidewalk, coming straight for his back. The normal neatly steps around us, completely oblivious that she changed course to avoid the collision.
Eirian gives me a hard, warning glare. “I would say it is dangerous for us to have this conversation, even under the cover of my best glamour—and that learning more will expose you to dangers you can’t begin to imagine.”
He resumes his chilly elegance. “But come to Winter and ask me there. I cannot promise I will not demand a favor to share what I know, but I will not protect you from yourself. It is not our way.” The corner of his lip slashes up into a smirk. “You will certainly want to keep that in mind when you visit for tea.”
