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She’s the dragon shifter, no doubt about it.
Like their legendary counterparts, dragon shifters had a thing for gold, precious gems, and treasure in general.
“Hello, welcome to the Magiford Curia Cloisters,” Emi said. “How can I help you?”
“Hello.” The dragon shifter’s voice was low and pleasantly husky. “I need a visitor’s pass for myself and my assistant. We’re expected by the shifter department.” The dragon shifter motioned to the fae that was hovering behind her.
He was a fae noble, and he was dressed to compliment his employer’s darker hair and clothes with his dark gray suit and purple tie. His golden hair sparkled in a way that was only possible with fae illusion magic.
“Of course,” Emi said. “Let me check my records before I make your passes. Can I get your names, please?”
“I’m Gisila of the Von Faulken line,” She held up her hand sliding down one of her bracelets to show her lineage tattoo—a band over her wrist that represented her family line. That done, she glanced back at her assistant. “Orrin.”
The handsome fae stepped forward. “Orrin of the West Coast Winter Court,” he rattled off his alliance to his monarch, and I studied his face trying to place why he seemed so familiar.
“Welcome,” Emi said. “If you’ll wait just a moment, I’ll have your passes processed.” She smiled, then bowed to the pair before she retreated to her computer—looking up the schedule to confirm the shifters were indeed expecting the pair.
Emi was obviously going to be busy, so I tried to discreetly tap Sunshine’s shoulder. When she glanced up, I inclined my head to the left trying to hint that we should leave.
Sunshine pointedly looked at Gisila—who was fixing her bracelets.
I scowled at Sunshine even though she couldn’t see it with my mask on.Yes, Iknowshe’s the dragon shifter. But we should leave! She’s way above our paygrade!
My slayer instincts were prickling—I hadn’t been around raw power like this since I’d appeared before the Regional Committee of Magic to get approval for my employment with the task force.
My gut instincts would have been set off by so much power even if Gisila meant no harm. Nothing good ever came from mixing with the powerful when it came to supernaturals. They were dangerous, no matter how benevolent they might appear to be—and dragon shifters belonged with the elite top tier of supernatural society.
Unfortunately, Sunshine was as bold as the light she was named after, so she planted an arm on the lower desk surface making it clear that she wasn’t going to budge an inch.
As Emi typed away on her computer, Gisila scanned the area, her eyes—which were slightly unsettling with her slit pupils—landing on us.
She took in my dark uniform, her eyes lingering on the task force patch. “Ah, you must belong to the new task force I’ve heard so much of.” Gisila handed the briefcase off to her assistant.
I bowed, hoping that said enough so she wouldn’t expect me to say anything else.
“Orrin said it was a newer program,” Gisila continued. “And very forward thinking. But… I am surprised to see a slayer among their ranks.” She smiled—which was probably meant to be reassuring, but as a dragon shifter too much power oozed off her to make any of her movements reassuring to my slayer instincts.
I glanced at her assistant, surprised he’d heard of the program. The task force wasn’t widely talked about outside Magiford. Had he researched the city for her? For what point?
As I studied Orrin’s face, I finally placed him: he was the handsome fae I’d seen outside of Tutu’s on my run last week.
“I have your passes here,” Emi cheerfully said.
Gisila turned to face Emi releasing me from her scrutiny. “You’ve finished?”
“Nearly. I just need you to sign these papers, and then return the badges when you leave.” Emi smiled as she passed Gisila and Orrin the clipboards.
The duo signed off on them and passed the clipboards back.
Emi handed them each a visitor’s badge. “Just pin these to your clothes, and you’ll be allowed upstairs. I hope you have a wonderful day and thank you for visiting the Magiford Curia Cloisters.” She bowed, and the dragon shifter and her fae assistant swept off without a second glance at Sunshine or me.
Sunshine waited until the duo reached the staircase that would take them upstairs before she whistled. “Wowee, now that is power! I guess the legends don’t lie about dragon shifters.”
“Yeah.” My figurative hackles were starting to settle back into place now that Gisila wasn’t nearby blasting us with her power. “She must be here to meet some big players. The Regional Committee of Magic, probably.”
Sunshine peered up at Emi, who shook her head. “I only know what you heard—she’s reporting in to the shifter department.”
“I figured as much,” Sunshine grumbled.
