Xavier gestured to his raised drafting table that overlooked the Pacific Ocean.
Two guns glared up at me amidst a bunch of disorganized papers fluttering in the breeze from the open window. Once again, the scent of salt filled my nostrils.
My chest loosened a bit. I might not have gotten to chill at the beach this morning as planned, but at least I could enjoy this spectacular view for a few minutes.
Xavier lifted a plain manila envelope just as a bee slipped in through an open window and buzzed around his face. He swatted at it before turning his attention toward me.
“Your new mark is more dangerous than most. This contains everything you’ll need to know to bring him down. You’ll have to travel to Beijing, and our client wants it done by the end of the weekend. Your flight leaves in two hours.”
“Twohours?” My voice rose an octave. Getting to and through LAX was difficult enough, but I wasn’t at all prepared to leave. “Are you cra—holy crap!”
Xavier’s vampire reflexes kicked in as he grabbed a gun. Only a millisecond later, I moved for the other, as a flash of white appeared in the air next to us and fell to the floor.
“How many times do I have to tell you we’re late?” The white rabbit landed cleanly on the ground, and hopped right in front of me, not at all deterred by the guns pointed at him.
I lowered my weapon. “How did you even get in here?”
“I told you, I’m a pooka! I flew in.” The white rabbit gestured to the window, cracked open only two inches.
My eyebrows pulled together. “Okay, I’m going to need some clarification on that.”
He snapped his “fingers,” and suddenly, he was no longer fluffy or white or in the cobalt waistcoat, but a black horse with a blue blanket on his back. One stomp of his hoof, and the figure changed again, this time into a gray Persian cat with a blue collar.
The cat remained there only for a second before it was replaced by a bee buzzing around my head and screaming, “You’re late!” in a tinny voice.
Well, that explained how he’d gotten in the window.
“So you’re a shape-shifting fae who can take multiple forms?” I clarified.
“Yes,” the pooka said and returned once again to his rabbit form. “Most of us can change into many creatures—at least a dozen. Each individual pooka has their preferences and limits, but we’re much more adaptable than your common shifter.”
“Okay, I get it now. Although I am still not sure why you’re here.”
“That you don’t understand anything is obvious.” The rabbit’s golden eyes shifted to Xavier. “Would you like to clear up a few things Mr. Doru?”
I was about to retort that me not knowinganythingwas rude and just ridiculous, when Xavier gulped. I blinked at the strange sound of discomfort and twisted toward him.
His face was much whiter than normal, which made my eyes pop open.
I didn’t think I’d ever seen Xavier intimidated by anyone in my life. And now arabbitwas making him anxious?
Xavier stepped forward. “She still has eight days with me.”
The rabbit gave a single hop, and his balled-up fist shook at the vamp. “Eight days! Is that all you’ve got to say for yourself? She’s been in your care for thirteen years, and clearly knows nothing about her heritage or the rebellion, and you want to quibble abouteight days?!”
The rabbit pulled out a fluff of white hair. “This is blasphemy! And what’s worse, it’s putting me even further behind!” He pulled the golden pocket watch out of his waistcoat again, glanced at it, and let out a scream. “Oh gods! She’ll have my head!”
My eyebrows furrowed, not sure what to make of that last statement, but needing answers. Sane ones.
“Xavier, when he says heritage, what’s he talking about?”
“He’s—” Xavier’s mouth snapped shut as the rabbit hopped onto the drafting table.
“The vampire hasn’t told you for thirteen years, and he clearly doesn’t want to tell you now.” The rabbit glared at Xavier. “Rumors flitted through the rebel ranks that he’s been using you in ways that we would not approve of. Until now, I didn’t believe them.Obviously,I was wrong. This sort of treatment nullifies the contract.”
“What do you know of the contract I signed?”
“The contract thatyousigned? I know nothing of the sort.” The rabbit scowled at Xavier before his eyes snapped back to me.
