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“If you wanted to find something out, you’d be able to do it, wouldn’t you?” I looked back at mouse man, but he was already gone.
Chapter Four
“When do you anticipate returning?” Hank said. “Just so I can make sure everything is working smoothly.” He was holding a clipboard, his pen hovering, as if he really cared about anything going smoothly.
It had been quite strange when we walked into the outpost and found Hank waiting beside the door.
“Is there a reason you’re here? I didn’t request anything special that would warrant a visit,” Kaden said.
“Just here to offer our support with whatever travel accommodations you might need,” Hank said, lines deepening on his forehead and around his eyes.
I stepped back slightly so I was out of Kaden’s peripheral and then shook my head, knowing he was planning something.
Hank smiled and waved a hand toward the door. “Have a good trip, and I wish you well with whatever you are trying to accomplish.”
Kaden walked through the door, and Hank leaned close, whispering, “Don’t worry. We’ve got this under control.”
He nodded and smiled before holding the door open wider.
The world I walked into was lush and impossibly green. A small road led through a village of cottages, lined with flowers that seemed brighter than normal. It was like walking into a dream.
“Why is it that they all act so weirdly around you?” Kaden was staring at me as if he already knew the answer but wanted to hear my take on it.
“I wouldn’t know. They seem pretty normal to me.” There was no way I was uttering my two cents on this. It was awkward enough unsaid. And how had Hank known what Kaden was planning today? Cookie? The mouse man? “Where are we?”
“The home of the leprechaun. They know how to do things that no one else can, ancient arts that are long forgotten, even by my kind.”
We walked down the small road until we came to one of the first cottages.
Kaden reached out a hand but stopped short. He fisted it and then put it in his pocket, as if he didn’t want to make physical contact with me or something. What was that about?
“Before we go in, you need to be careful saying yes to anything. Leprechauns are technically part of the fae and are as slippery as can be,” he said, giving me another problem to ponder.
This person might not only be able to undo my transition, something I needed, but I’d have to watch every word I said so I didn’t compound the issues. Looked like it was going to be a tricky day.
Kaden was knocking on the door to the cottage a few minutes later. An older man opened the door. He was a bit short and stout, but didn’t have the weird little hat or green suit that screamedleprechaun. Maybe this wasn’t the right person?
“Finn,” Kaden said.
“Kaden, it’s been a long time. Come in.” Finn waved a hand, inviting us into his home, that featured well-worn wood floors and the smell of tobacco.
He motioned to some chairs near his fireplace.
“Can I offer you a drink?”
“No. We’re fine,” Kaden said.
I was glad he’d declined, as I’d be afraid to drink anything offered after the warning a few minutes ago.
Finn took a seat opposite us. “Then what can I do for you? I’m sure you didn’t come out this way for nothing.” He was already eyeing me up as if he had a hunch about something different.
“This conversation will have to remain between us,” Kaden said.
“I don’t tell tales—but you know that, or you wouldn’t be here,” Finn said, and then picked up a pipe from a nearby table and began stuffing tobacco into the bowl.
“This is Billie. She’s transitioned to a full Kradix.”
Finn nodded as Kaden spoke, as if what he’d sensed was just confirmed.
