Page 68

“And what else does it say?”

“Uh, it says, under our names, that we are hereby granted the title of Heroes of the City . . . Oh.” That sounded official. They wouldn’t send a hero of the city to jail, right?

“And as our new heroes, you have some . . . leniency when it comes to the law,” Leomaris explained.

“You mean we got wiggle room?” Zee asked, brightening.

Leomaris took a deep breath. “Adam, Victor, Zodiac, it appears as though we’re going to need heroes to protect this side of the veil, should anything as insidious as Gideon Cain decide to make its presence known in the human world again. Inexplicably, the vampires beyond the veil have preempted any war by surrendering in the face of our gift . . . although nobody quite understands what that gift was. There are still a great many insidious beings who may threaten the peace of this world.”

“Erm . . . There was a, uh, gift?” The vampire queen’s decapitated body?

“No, we have no idea what that gift could be. No idea at all,” Victor emphasized, giving me his side-eye.

“While I am authorized to offer you this position,” Elion continued. “You must of course agree to accept the new title and its responsibility. We are not forcing you. It’s your choice.”

I opened my mouth to agree, as going to jail definitely was not somewhere I wanted to be, when Zee raised a finger. “Hold up. This is all fine and dandy an’ all, but we need to know the important shit, like is there a uniform and do I get a swishy coat?”

Leomaris handed the tote bag to Zee.

Zee narrowed his eyes, glared, and only after he’d made sure everyone around us knew he was suspicious of gifts from a fae, he opened it. Zee gasped, his eyes got all big and emotional and his wings popped out in surprise. “You got me a coat?!” he squeaked.

Leomaris clearly knew exactly how to get Zee on side. “Made especially to your dimensions.”

“Oh my fuckin’ fuck, you know my stats?” Zee pulled the coat from the bag, gave it a flick, and swept it on, slotting its specialized slits around the base of his wings. It was similar in style to Leomaris’s coat but a dark, rich purple velvet. And it looked fine on him.

“My stars!” He spun on the spot, making the coat flare. “Fuck Hollywood. I’m a fuckin’ Hero of the City now. Adam—” He scooted close, and whispered in my ear. “I want this coat. And also, would like it a lot if you did not have to go to jail, which would mean me having to save your cute ass and us being fugitives for the rest of our fabulous, criminal lives. Tempting, but messy. So please, say yes.”

I glanced at Victor, then held out the certificate for him to check over. He scanned it, and while Zee pranced around the foyer, swishing his new coat, Victor asked, “On your word, this is a legitimate offer with no hidden motives?”

“No hidden motives,” Leomaris confirmed. “This world is not prepared for some of the more powerful beings that are now eyeing human cities as prime real estate. We need your help. And what better deterrent to testing us than the last dragon who happens to run a sanctuary for Lost Ones?”

Victor’s gaze slid to me. He nodded.

“We accept,” I said. I was going to be a real hero after all.

The agent unlocked my cuffs and pulled them free.

Leomaris nodded, and dismissed the other agents with a few terse instructions, sending them back outside.

Zee swept up to Leomaris. “I could kiss you. But won’t. Boundaries. You need anything? Drugs, sex toys? I’m your guy.”

“Uh . . . maybe don’t offer the SSD agent drugs and sex, Zee?”

“Fuck. Right.” Zee sprang back. “Joking . . . obviously.” He slid his attention toward Victor, and struck a pose in front of him. “You like, Fancy Fangs? Wanna take it off, Your Lordship?”

Victor huffed a sigh. “It’s delightful, and yes, but perhaps later and in private?”

I smiled at their antics, and then at Leomaris. “Am I really free?”

“You are, yes. Just make sure you don’t turn into the type of Lost One we need to guard against. No more eating people.”

A little nervous laugh tittered free. “What? Me?” I only ever ate the bad ones. Mostly.

“Your normal human act isn’t fooling anyone anymore, Mr. Vex. In fact, we need you to be exactly who you really are so the world sees we are ready to protect those who need it—Lost Ones and humans alike. There will be a ceremony, mostly to show the city you are . . .” Leomaris swept a hand toward me. “Relatively harmless.”

The city wanted me, all of me, exactly as I was. I didn’t need to pretend anymore? My insides got all zingy and light. “I can definitely do that.”

“Best day ever!” Zee squeed. He grabbed Victor’s hand and yanked him away from the front desk. “Excuse us. Adam? Kitten? Join us. We’ll be waiting.”