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Cory shot me a look before facing the road.
I chuckled. “They’re tricksters, but they’re not—well,mostof them aren’t evil. Hell, some of the fae I’ve represented clients against have ended up hiring me themselves later. They see lawyers kind of like they do salespeople and evangelists—people who perform trickster magic without the magic.”
“That sounds like a bit of a backhanded compliment.”
“It keeps me in the good graces of most of the fae, so…”
“Okay, I can see that. You have to exploit loopholes and technicalities—I can imagine the fae respect that.”
“They do.” I laughed softly. “Even when they’re on the receiving end of it, they respect it.”
“Huh. You really do know your way around the tricksters, don’t you?”
My humor faded. “You wouldn’t know it, given my current situation.”
Cory didn’t say anything right away. I half-expected Andras or Raziel to chime in, but they seemed to be preoccupied. Andras was once again poring over a piece of parchment that I assumed was a copy of the agreement. Or maybe it was the briefing he’d accused Raziel of neglecting to read. I don’t know. Raziel, meanwhile, had moved from my shoulder to just below the window, and he currently had his hands and faced pressed to the glass like a child peering into a toy store. I couldn’t imagine this was his first time seeing a city. Maybe his first time inthiscity? Well, whatever—I didn’t even mind if he left tiny handprints on the window as long as he wasn’t chattering in my ear.
After a block or so of silence, Cory took a breath and glanced across the console at me. “I don’t blame you, honestly.”
That was unexpected. “Really? For getting drunk with a fae and scoring myself a pair of…” I motioned toward Andras and Raziel.
“I mean…” Cory shrugged. “Okay, fine, you could’ve gone into it differently. But like… I get it, you know?”
I tilted my head. “You do?”
“Well, yeah.” Some color rose in his cheeks, and he breathed a quiet laugh. “I’ve been single almost as long as you have. It fucking sucks.”
I chewed my lip. This was one of those moments when I realized how little sense the entire world actually made. How in hell was Cory alone? I could give a laundry list of reasons why I totally understood my own inability to land a partner. My less than sparkling personality. The endless hours of my demanding job. That whole thing where I was a partner at my own law firm but couldn’t afford to buy a house because on top of a mountain of student debt, my ex-husband was a better lawyer than I was and had taken my ass to the proverbial cleaners.
But I was mystified thatCorywas still single. He was cute as hell, of course, but he was also one of the sweetest people I’d ever met. The fact that he was patiently driving my stupid ass over to the Fae District this early on a Saturday morning underscored how willing he was to help his friends, even when they’d put themselves into ridiculous situations. I adored how much his quick wit could catch me off-guard with a perfectly timed punchline. The fae thought my work in the courtroom was trickster craft? They’d all be in awe if they ever tried to hold on to their train of thought when he gave one of those spectacular smiles. Or maybe that was just me, though I doubted it. I’d seen him smile and trip up friends, waitstaff, bartenders—even that one cranky cop who’d been about to write him a parking ticket.
If there was any human in this car working actual magic, it sure as shit wasn’t me.
And my mind had spun out just thinking about how absurd it was that no one had snatched him up.
I shook myself, prompting a yelp from Andras, who I’d dislodged. As the demon righted himself amidst some more swearing, I said to Cory, “Have you been looking? I, uh… I thought you were staying single for a while. On purpose.” God, I was rambling.
“I was. After Ryan, I needed a break from men.”
I grunted in agreement. Hell,I’dneeded a break from men after that fuckknuckle.
“It’s been almost two years, though,” Cory went on. “I’ve had enough of hookups. I’m so damn ready to actually be with someone, you know?” He sighed heavily. “Just… haven’t had any luck.”
“Wow,” I said. “That sucks.”
He nodded but said nothing. I chewed the inside of my cheek and, like him, stared out the windshield. I felt a little better about being so despondent about my situation last night. IfCory Millercouldn’t find someone who wanted him for more than swipe-right-one-night, then my only hope probably was, for real, trickster magic.
Fuck. That was a depressing thought.
Right then, Raziel’s wings kicked up a breeze as he levitated off the door and gestured wildly out the window. “Oh! Oh! Look! Thereisa Pinkberry here! I told you, Andras! I told you!”
From my left shoulder came a sharp string of colorful curses, followed by, “Please, don’t take this wanker in that place. I’ll sell youmybloody soul if you—”
“Oh, shut up!” Raziel whirled around and shot Andras a glare. “You haven’t got a soul to sell!”
“I do so! That’s slander, you—”
“Can it, demon.” Raziel turned a pleading look on me. “Can we? Please? I love Pinkberry, and it’s beenages!”
