A woman stepped up to their table. ACanis lupus,Myanin realized when the woman’s eyes glowed as she looked at her. The waitress held a small pad in her hand and a pen in the other. “What can I get for you, ladies?” the wolf asked. Myanin wondered whose side this wolf was on, or if she was even aware there was a battle going on between the supernatural races. She also wondered what pack this woman was a part of.
Tenia was staring at a piece of paper. Myanin deduced it must contain a list of the food and beverages the establishment offered its patrons.
“I’ll have a bowl of beef stew,” the fae said. “A glass of water and some of your bread as well.”
The wolf scribbled down the order and then looked at Myanin. “And for you?”
Myanin stared down at the paper and read her options. There was no cotton candy listed. Nothing sounded particularly appealing, but as she read over the words she realized she was starving. Maybe it was the constant struggle going on inside of her. Keeping Lyra’s magic in check was no easy feat and seemed to be taking its toll on her, even if she didn’t want to admit it. Much to her chagrin, she supposed she couldn’t live on cotton candy alone, no matter how badly she wanted to. Maybe by eating something she’d regain some of her strength and the internal battle wouldn’t feel so taxing. Besides, she had no idea how long she would be surveilling the wolves once they left. “I’ll have the steak, a baked potato, and a glass of ale. And the soup,” she added. “Also, a piece of the apple pie and the peach pie as well.”
“Got it.” The she-wolf recorded her order and marched off.
When Myanin glanced up at Tenia, the fae’s eyes were wide. “I thought you were going to live off cotton candy.”
Myanin shrugged, keeping up the guise that all was well in the land of “the djinn who was slowly losing her mind”. “I figured we don’t know exactly how long it will be before we can stop and actually sit for a meal. Might as well take advantage.”
Tenia didn’t look fully convinced as she nodded slowly.
Myanin glanced around. She watched the woman who’d taken their order walk through a door that swung back and forth as many different waiters and waitresses, heavily laden with trays of food and drink, rushed in and out. Supernaturals, djinn included, ate a lot. Myanin would have ordered even more, but she’d stopped herself when she’d realized she had no idea what currency was required for payment. She didn’t imagine they took human money. For all she knew, they’d have to wash dishes to pay for the meal, not that she was about to do that. It reminded her of an entirely too recent experience when she’d been a slave to her former elder. That ar hadn’t worked out well for the elder, and it wouldn’t work out for anyone who tried to make her scrub a cooking pot in this gods-forsaken tavern in the middle of nowhere. She mentally shoved the memories of Lyra away, not wanting to think of her past for even a second.
“How will we pay for this meal?” Myanin asked, already envisioning how she would fight or threaten her way out of here.
“I will take care of it,” Tenia said. “This establishment is owned by a troll. Gold and jewels are the most welcome form of payment, which I have in sufficient quantity, though he would accept … other things if we couldn’t pay.”
“Or I could remove his head from his body. I don’t think he would be too concerned about payment then.” She felt the magic in her blood sting just beneath her skin, almost as in warning.Why, Myanin? Why did you kill me?Lyra’s voice in her mind stung just as much as her magic did. Was she cursed to be forever reminded of the blood on her hands every time she so much as hinted at taking another’s life? Even if she wasn’t completely serious?
“You could, but it might start another supernatural war. And in case you’ve forgotten, we’re already in one of those.”
Myanin grunted, both in response to the whip of Lyra’s words as much as to Tenia’s. Then they both sat in silence. Tenia didn’t seem bothered by the lack of conversation, and the djinn certainly wasn’t uncomfortable. She preferred the silence, considering at the Order compound, it was never quiet. If one of the power-hungry mongrels of the Order wasn’t running their trap, then the constant sounds of sparring were assaulting her ears. Even in sleep she found no peace.
“So, what’s your story?” Tenia asked.
Damn, that didn’t last nearly long enough.“I don’t have one.”
“Everyone has a story. Especially if they end up working for the Order and can’t hide the fact that they have no desire to actually be there.” Tenia rested her elbows on the table, setting her chin on her joined hands. It was a very human gesture, Myanin noted.
“Does anyone reallywantto work for the likes of Alston or Ludcarab?” Myanin countered. “Regardless of whether or not I agree with their plight, they’re dishonorable.” As soon as the words left her mouth, Myanin felt the slash of the whip again, burning the inside of her body instead of the outside. She was no better than them.Why, Myanin?Lyra’s voice filled her mind.Why did you do this to me?Myanin clenched her fist, her body rigid as she fought off the assault of her tormentor. Lyra’s magic hummed beneath the surface of Myanin’s skin, but this time it felt a little different, as if it were growing claws and beginning to dig them into the marrow of her bones. Thesamedamn question. Perhaps she should welcome the new question being asked of her now. She managed to breathe through the pain, whether real or imagined she couldn’t tell, but gradually she regained control. If Tenia had noticed something, she didn’t let on.
“True,” Tenia agreed. “But that still doesn’t tell me your story. We’re going to be spending a lot of time together. I need to know I can trust you. I’ve already proven that I’ll help you out when you need it.” The fae motioned to the bags sitting in the chairs next to them.
Myanin couldn’t deny that fact. Tenia had taken her to multiple stores just so she could stock up on cotton candy. It might not seem like much to someone else, but to Myanin it proved the fae would have her back, at least when it came to Myanin’s favorite food.
“Fine,” she said as she silently considered how much she was willing to tell the fae. “I’m on a mission.” She waited for the voice, her own or Lyra’s, but for the moment it was silent in her mind.
“The djinn elders sent you to the human realm?” Tenia asked, her voice rising in surprise.
“Not exactly,” Myanin muttered. “It’s more of a self-appointed quest.”
Tenia snapped her fingers, and suddenly the noise that had been all around them was gone. Myanin looked around. Everyone in the room was still talking and eating.
“I’ve put a silencing ward around us,” Tenia explained. “The only way for us to trust one another is for one of us to take the first step,” she said and then took a deep breath. “I have no desire to work for the Order. I am disgusted by what they’re doing and what they believe. But I don’t have a choice.”
Myanin eyed the fae as she stifled a snort. She’d made her own choices believing the same thing. She wondered if Tenia’s choices had her on the run, too, or if they were actually honorable?
“Alston has my young,” Tenia said through clenched teeth. Her hands began to visibly shake as she continued. “He knew it was the one thing that would make me comply.”
Okay, that was definitely a much better reason than running from your own race because you snuffed out the life of one of your leaders. Again, she waited for a voice, but still there was blessed silence. “No offense,” Myanin said, “but why you? He has plenty of fae who seemed to have voluntarily signed up for the coming shit show.” Myanin grinned. “I learned that one from a troll.”
Tenia snorted. “They like to curse.”
