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“Nothing,” I tell her. “He wanted to taste my blood. Too bad the curse made my blood taste terrible, so he didn’t really get anything out of it, but he still removed it.”

Jade shakes her head. “The Commandant is really acting strangely where you are concerned. He never does something for nothing.”

“He said that I don’t bore him.”

My friend cocks her head. “I guess that would be a big deal for someone who's lived as long as he has. I heard that he’s over seven hundred years old.”

My eyes widen. That’s old. Freakin’ ancient. It makes me feel a little weird that I’m still attracted to him after hearing that, but I am. Not that I’m going to act on it. Right now would be a terrible time to get into a relationship. Then again, Julian didn’t really seem like the type to get in a relationship. Maybe we could just fall into bed together, a time or two . . .

I shake my head, clearing it of those thoughts. No, bad girl! That’d be a good way to blow up my whole life, getting involved with the head of another criminal organization.

“So what’s all this?” Jade asks, changing the subject. She pulls the takeout bag toward us.

“Oh, that’s part of my bargain. Julian is sending me food so I can be as healthy as possible. He says health tastes best.”

Jade looks in the bag and snickers. “How much food does he think a human needs? This is enough for a whole week!”

I shrug. “Maybe it’s supposed to be for a whole week, I don’t know. It arrived not long before you. Help me eat it?”

“Girl, you don’t even need to ask. It’s from Benvolio’s. I’ve heard that it's the best in the city, and it takes forever to get a reservation. I didn’t even know they did takeout.”

“Maybe they only do it for scary people like the Fraternity.”

“Or rich people,” she counters. “The Fraternity has nothing if not money.”

I wonder again for a moment what kind of stuff the Fraternity does to get their money. One doesn't get filthy rich without being at least a little ruthless. And Julian seems more ruthless than most. I get a little pit in my stomach again at the thought of being involved with him on a business level. Even though he’s done nothing to me, he seems so . . . changeable. Who knows when he’ll switch up on me.

Jade doesn’t notice the dark turn of my thoughts and heads to my kitchenette, digging in one of the boxes until she finds a fork. She then hands me my box of food and picks something out for herself. She takes the first bite, and her eyes roll into the back of her head.

That makes me laugh. “You’re exaggerating.” I take my own fork and take a bite. Damn. It is good, even though it’s not piping hot anymore. I take another bite and another. I think this is the best food I’ve ever eaten.

Jade snorts. “Speak for yourself. I haven’t eaten all day, and rehearsal was brutal. They re-tooled the fifth dance number again. Gem just can’t leave well enough alone.”

Gem is La Couronne Bleu’s choreographer. I don’t interact with her too much, since I’m more of a “park and bark” singer. I don’t dance while I sing, just sway at the most or sinuously twist around the microphone. It works to give the show variety, and I haven’t had any complaints about my performance. But according to Jade, Gem is a drill sergeant and is always tweaking the choreography.

“Well, she just wants the show to be its best,” I say diplomatically.

“Yeah, well, what can you expect from one of the Sidhe? They’re all assholes.”

That gives me pause. “The ‘Shee’..?” I repeat the weird word back at her.

Jade looks up. “Right, you’re still new to the Other World. The Sidhe are fae. Fairies. Look, I don't know how to say this, but . . . most of the performers at La Couronne Bleu are Others.”

My brows raise. “Really? Everyone seems so . . . well, not normal, but weird in a normal way. One that’s par for the course with showpeople.”

“Others are people too,” Jade says, defensive. “Some are downright dull. Just because they’re Others doesn’t make them monsters or whatever.”

I feel embarrassed. “I’m sorry, Jade. I’m new to all this, and every time I think I’ve got my bearings on all this, I'm hit with a new curveball.”

Jade relaxes at my words, her hackles going down. “No, you’re right. I’m sorry. I shouldn’t keep tossing random Other knowledge at you while you’re still getting used to the idea that humans aren’t alone.”

“I want to know,” I insist. “Especially if it affects me. So how many Others are there?”

Jade shrugs. “Probably like seventy percent of the cast and crew. La Couronne Bleu’s always been a neutral zone, safe for Others, so it attracts us. No one’s dangerous, that’s all you really need to know.”

I nod slowly. “Will people tell me themselves? What they are?”

“Probably,” she says, taking another bite of whatever she’s eating. It looks like lobster. “Others tend to like to step out of the shadows once someone’s Initiated, which you are now. Once it spreads that you’re part of our world now, people will probably approach you. Especially once it gets out that you’re in good with the Commandant. People might try to hit you up for favors.”