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Dante laughs, the sound tinged with echoes of violence. “They aremywolves, after all. It is only because of their predator instincts and excellent eyesight that we were able to develop this mining process.” He lays his hands flat on the table. “Frankly, you should be happy I’m telling you at all.”
The room falls into total uproar.
Unbidden, the Winter Fae’s face crosses my mind and I think about the state of the North. Perhaps, I can make a deal and get a small portion of Black Opals to give her. She might need it in an emergency.
Three people shout out exorbitant numbers, as if the bidding had already started.
I tilted my head to the side and study Dante. Everything about him is designed to make others underestimate him. But I see him, and I know.
Danger lies beneath his skin.
Something bubbles up in my stomach, making me feel very apprehensive about looking directly at him.
I shove it down, amp up the exhausting shield of my glamor, and take back control of the room.
* * *
The soundof cheap glasses clinking against each other is the only thing I can hear over the ballad blasting from the crappy speakers.
I’m back at the dive bar, Water Witch Absinthe, surrounded by my usual group of friends. Adam, Marcus, and… Marie.
I guess you could call Marie a friend.
I am paying because, well, I’m loaded now.
The negotiations did not go poorly. In fact, they went so well that the day after the billionaires left, taking their violent tendencies with them, Boss called me into his office. The Warlock grinned, pouring me a glass of Fae mead so smooth, I could bathe in it. It was so old that my ancestors could be considered babies in comparison. He told me he would grant me whatever I wanted at that moment.
My chest tightens, and my fists clench. Every bone in my body wants me to ask for the Winter Fae’s name, but my body compels me to ask for the week off.
The Warlock’s mouth drops open and a look of shock crosses his face before he tilts his frosty head back and bursts into laughter.
“You, my friend, are the best Fae I’ve ever met.” He claps a huge hand on my back. There is a mischievous glint in his eye.
Instantly, I knew I made a mistake. I might never have an opportunity like that again, and I wasted it on… Lucinda. Bitter resentment coats my mouth with a bitter flavor, making my stomach roil.
“Gods, they play such sad music here,” Marcus complains.
I nod. The Water Witches have renovated again. The smell of kelp and salt really draws out the odor of stale urine. “Moroseis a better word. And I kind of like it.”
What did they call it? Ethereal new age or something.
“Awh, you have to go see your mommy tomorrow, don’t you?” Marie edges closer to me with a shot in each hand. “If you're scared, you could come to my place. I can protect you.” Her fangs slide out.
I roll my eyes. “Lay off, Marie. I think I saw some humans walking in. Why don’t you bother them?” I have doubts that vampires can even get drunk after spending so much time with this female.
She pretend-pouts, but I see that same strange flash of real disappointment in her eyes. “What’s gotten into you? You’ve been such a bastard lately. Are you changing your personality to impress that Winter Fae you used to pine over at the docks? Come on. How long has it been? Over a year since you last saw her?” Marie makes a disgusted sound. “Pathetic.”
Everyone at our table becomes eerily silent. Marcus and Adam look at me with careful expressions.
My cheeks grow hot in a way that has nothing to do with alcohol, and I look directly at Marie. “Who are you to say I’ve changed? I was never more than a toy to you, anyway.”
She snarls in response. “Don’t you dare start with that shit, you arrogant ray of sunshine. Need I remind you your kind is weak, holed up in their ‘sunshine tech court’ because they are afraid of the world? I thought you were different.” She glares at me with something two degrees shy of pure hatred. Slowly, she scans me from head to toe before saying, “It turns out you’re just another male who can’t take the cold.”
She whips around and walks over to the group of human men.
No one speaks and I feel so… embarrassed? Ashamed? I don’t know. All I know is that I want to get the hell out of here.
My chair scrapes against the ground as I shove myself. No one says anything as I throw a handful of gold on the table and storm out of the bar.
