Finnegee was a drink immortals used for energy, similar to the way mortals used coffee.
“But I’m guessing,” Quintz went on, “considering where you’re at right now, it might be too much for your heart.”
“That’s probably true, and I’d rather not risk it. I’ve been lucky to make it this long.”
“Help yourself to anything you think will sate your appetite.” The way he said it, Kinzer detected the invitation to enjoy breakfast and Quintz’s body as well, something he certainly wouldn’t have minded having more of later.
Kinzer looked around the crowd in the room, noticing glares his way. Not everyone seemed as trusting of Kinzer as Quintz was. They appeared suspicious, uneasy even, particularly Brock, though he imagined that had more to do with their previous interactions.
“This is my team,” Quintz announced.
“I assume there are more,” Kinzer said.
“Then you assume incorrectly.” A female immortal rose from one of the tables and approached them. Her long, dark hair was pulled back into a ponytail. She wore gray slacks and a white button-up shirt.
“I’m Kelley,” she said, kissing him on the cheek, as was the familiar custom of old—a very polite gesture that had long since been abandoned.
Kinzer snickered, seeing the formality as trite, especially under the circumstances.
“I heard so many great things about you,” Kelley said. “I suppose I shouldn’t have expected manners would have come along with the rest.”
“I haven’t had much time for manners, and I have never enjoyed the luxury of being treated with sweet kisses. Obviously, you must have had a great view of Heaven from your throne.”
“I had my day of privilege,” Kelley acknowledged. “But those days have come and gone for all of us. Surely if anyone has shown you that, it’s our Treycore.”
“Yes,” Quintz added. “Few of us have enjoyed such privilege. Kelley is our second-in-command, Kinzer. You would be wise to be cordial.”
“Don’t underestimate me, Kinzer.” As the words escaped her lips, she transformed from the immortal he’d slighted to Dedrus—his friend, his lover, the one he’d lost.
Some impulse within him, some trick of the mind, convinced him for even a moment it was the real Dedrus standing before him, but he reminded himself that it couldn’t be more than an illusion. Kelley shifted back into her previous form.
“Shifter?” Kinzer asked.
“I can manipulate your thoughts. Primitively, but illusions are my game,” she said.
“So that was you last night?” he asked, anger in his tone. He approached her quickly. Several immortals seated around her jumped to their feet, pulling out their broadswords.
Kelley eyed him peculiarly. “Me? Last night? What do you mean?”
“I saw something in my room.”
“Kinzer,” Quintz said. “I injected you with a lot of medicine in hopes of healing you speedily. Also, you were very tired. It’s likely you had some sort of hallucination.”
“It was a very real hallucination.”
“I mean, I’ve been around long enough to know that hallucinations can seem—”
“I’ve been around long enough to know what a fucking hallucination feels like, and that wasn’t one, okay?”
“What did you see?” Kelley asked, like she was trying to soothe Kinzer’s aggressiveness about the incident.
“A woman I was friends with, who I cared a great deal about,” he replied. “Like the man you chose to shift into.”
“I’m sorry,” she said. “I knew from your case history he was someone you worked closely with. I only did it for show.”
“You can’t read my mind, then?” he asked.
She laughed.
