“Perhaps you should see who it is through the peephole or something?” Rogue suggests as she tries to quiet the baby phoenix. “That might help.”
The kid smacks her forehead, muttering, “Duh, Kat.” Scooping up the tiny animal, she pads over to the door. I watch carefully, ready to pop up and defend her if need be. Placing her face against the door, she closes her eyes and inhales.
I suppose she’s working on developing her shifter skills, but I’d prefer her just to check it out right now.
“Oh!” Kat says as she pulls away with a vaguely tipsy but happy smile. “It’s Dank. He’s the doctor for Jasper’s family—or maybeone of them? I don’t know, but he has an office here to take care of the caliphate.”
Rogue arches a brow. “They sent a royal physician to set up shop at the school for those dudes? Fancy.”
“Wait!” I say as I hold up my hand. “How do you know he’s not reporting to those fuckers at the court? He might even tell the admin we’re here, Kat.Thinkfor a minute.”
That makes her laugh, and I have no idea why. State U is full to the brim with snakes and spies; I can barely get coffee without it being an online gossip piece on the message boards. Is it that different here? I frown, looking at Rogue again, who shrugs.
“Dank picked me up from the surface and brought me here. He was kind, and ever since, he’s been helping me without tellinganyone, even the prince, the things he’s figured out. Trust me when I say that if I have learned to put faith in him, you should, too.” Her grin is a little proud, and she reaches for the door to open it.
I could stop her again, but something about the way she’s so confident in herself makes me pause. Kat is still learning to believe in her men, and they’re around her twenty-four-seven. If she’s found someone who her gut is telling her is good, contradicting that because ofmytrauma would only set her back. Rogue and I will have to extend the same courtesy to her as she is to us; she needs us to acknowledge that she’s capable of making the right decisions.
“Okay,” I finally sigh. “Let the random doctor in so he can tell us why the shit he’s here.”
The sparkly Fae claps her hands and nods. “Our healer is a stone-cold bitch, so I’m kind of excited to meet one who isn’t a judgy, hippie-dippie pain in my tight ass.”
My lips curve as I shrug. “Li, Slade, and Iggy domostof our healing, but a really amazing professor in the shifter department helped them when Lucas was poisoned. I would definitely trust Zuzanne again if we needed her.”
The heavy door swings open as our new friend greets what looks like a goddamn plague doctor—and I should know because they were still roaming about when I was a damn kid. I gape in surprise as the demon glides into the room with a black bag, sparking extremely long-lost memories to run through my mind. I shake my head to clear it of the death and decay images and then give Kat a judgmental look.
“You might have warned us about his appearance.”
She wrinkles her nose. “What does that matter? Just because he’s suited up doesn’t mean he’s bad. Dank does this because his actual appearance scares people. It doesn’t bothermeat all, but I guess others are shitty, so he covers up. I think it’s very cool, actually.”
Man, this girl has some weird-ass lines.
An odd, metallic chuckle comes out of the mask, and I look at the doctor curiously. “Is Dank your real name? I know demons have interesting monikers, especially ones who are older. By your choice of garb, I assume ancient as fuck, which is why I asked.”
“I am very old indeed, Madame Morgana of Swallowtail.” I blink in surprise, and he laughs again before pulling off the mask. His flaming bird skull and ashy feathers are less shocking now that Kat mentioned he frightens people, but I can see why he staysbehind the disguise unless he’s comfortable. “Far older than you or most of your families… though your prince is quite seasoned as well.”
Rogue frowns, pushing to her feet a tad bit unsteadily. “How do you know all about her? Do you know about me? Did Kat tell you, or is this some tricksy demon thing?”
The feathers fly, burning up mid-air as Dank shakes his head. “No, it is not a trick, young Fae. However, you have asked many questions, and I shall answer them in order. Madame Katarina has considered me an ally, to my great pleasure, but she did not tell me about you. My real name is not one you’d be able to pronounce, and Dank is what your demonic friend calls me. Dr. Danckwardt is the more formal version. I know your family as well, but it’s from your own mates.”
“Dank, what do you mean it’s from their mates?” Kat looks confused, but her kinkajou chitters a bit at the doctor before hopping down to head back to the plucked game hen. That makes the demon smile, and I’ll admit, it’s a bit terrifying. “How do you know their mates?”
“Allow me to sit with you, as I am here on urgent business, but I will explain as I prepare. Is that agreeable, Madame Katarina?”
Wrinkling her nose, Kat grumbles. “Stop calling me that. These people know and my guys know, but let’s go with Kit until everyone knows, just in case. I was getting used to it, anyway.”
Dank floats over to the couch, sitting down with his robes splayed out around him. He places his mask next to him and reaches down to open his bag. “I have brought what we need for your stony friend, Master Kit, but also more of your potionas well. You should stock it in greater quantities now that your caliphate is aware of your true nature.”
Rogue snaps her fingers, grinning broadly. “I get it. Those mojo bottles help you fool the other demons with scents and pheromones and whatever. I bet it has a little something-something to prevent summoning little demon babies, too, huh? Scary bird man is onpoint,Kat.”
Kat’s face turns almost purple, and the doc lets out a rusty chuckle that is obviously tinged with fondness. “I mean, I’m sure it does, doesn’t it?”
“Of course, Master Kit. I aim to protect you whether you are in danger from others or from your own choices. That is what family physicians do, and you are part of the royal caliphate family.”
I get it now, and I kind of like this dude, too. I know why the kid trusts him so much.
“What’s the thing we need to give someone?” Rogue asks as she arches a brow. “And who else had to take it?”
Kat nods and then looks at her gruesome friend. “That’s a good question, Dank. What is it and why is it urgent?”
