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The child deflates. “I’m not just staring. I’m complimenting.”
“And?” Felicity casts a sneaking glance in my direction. She’s embarrassed by the child’s behavior on my behalf. A good sign. She cares about my comfort. That’s a trait I’ve always admired in others.
“It’s no insult. The witch has it right,” I reply, projecting my human illusion once more. “My wings do kick ass.”
“How high can you fly with those?” Lucy asks as a few of her peers huddle up behind her, their eyes equally wide.
“Higher than any pixie or dragon you’ve ever seen,” I boast, rewarding myself with a quick taste of their well-placed approval.
“Whoa! Did you hear that?” a young werewolf pup asks.
“Can you fly us?” I know I should excuse myself before the delicious Felicity falsely assumes I don’t care about the health of a dear friend. But I can’t help myself.
“Do werewolves howl at the moon?” I ask. The kids are putty in my hand.
“Yes, yes they do!” the werewolf boy yells.
“To be continued,” I tell them, slipping their doe-eyed teacher a business card. “And please keep the flowers. They were for you, anyway.”
And with that, I hop in the car and book it to the hospital. Greiko really did come through for me tonight in a funny kind of way. I should really start finding a way to thank him one of these days.
4
FELICITY
“Ididn’t see them,” Lucy says, her shoulders slumping as she leans against the doorframe.
“That’s because you didn’t look,” I answer, then run my jet-black nails through my hair.
“You don’t know that,” Lucy replies, and I know I’ve got her.
“I do because they were right where you left them,” I retort. “Maybe you’re not remembering correctly.”
She shrugs. I don’t roll my eyes because I know it won’t do anything but egg her on.
Lucy hates her sneakers, but they’re the only ones she can play in since her last pair broke. It’s not my fault she chose a pink and yellow star pattern she now regrets. We all change. That’s life.
“Do you want to know where I found them?” I ask and smile as she backs off. “That’s right, you know where I found them. Just use your imagination and pretend they’re triangles and squares.”
“Not helping!” she hollers back, heading to her room. I can’t believe she thought shoving them under a couch in the readingroom was the best hiding spot. I’d be ashamed if I weren't annoyed right now.
I take the opportunity to apply more than my usual swipe of foundation powder, a strip of black eyeliner, and a single coat of mascara. If Argoss can take time out of his busy day to tour the orphanage, I can look my best while he does it.
I hadn’t expected him to return the message I left wishing his friend the best. I may have also dropped hints that he could see where his donation went anytime, though it was really more out of habit. I thought about it for way too long before the demon returned my call.
How’s tomorrow?was essentially the gist of it. I smile at the thought as I apply a touch of bronzer.
Tall, dark, and handsome. It’s such a cliche, but it fits him like a glove.
A tall, dark, and handsome glove.I frown at my reference, not sure if I like it, and then I add a touch of color to my lips and cheeks.
Leaning over the chipped porcelain sink, I inspect my hair up close like I should have thirty minutes ago. Back when I could have fixed it. I’d let the kids braid it last night because I wanted to rock something cute that didn’t look like I tried.
My reflection in the bathroom mirror tells me I’ve already nailed it, but I keep working in the last of my Curl Gurl sample. The orc who founded the makeup brand, Gurleah Brussex, got the recipe from her alchemist grandmother. But it was Gurl’s marketing skills that made the brand a household name. It smells great and works like a charm. Literally.
I smile at my reflection. The beach waves turned out beautifully, especially after Bo, one of our werewolves, was kind enough to fix Lucy’s outlandishly thick braid. I’d let the witch take care of one of the six chunks I’d separated but knew it was a long shot that her try would last.
If only she didn’t use magic to get it done. But alas, I have to support her skill, even if I don’t know a thing about it myself. The girl is going places, magically and otherwise. I’m sure of it.
