So I better get moving.
2
DANICA
As soon as Vas disappeared with my note, I changed from sweats and into my usual uniform of jeans and a t-shirt.
Then Kyla and I headed to Mariam’s. Of course, she wasn’t downtown at the fae representative’s offices. Instead, the pixies waiting in her office informed me that she was working from home this morning. They obviously weren’t invited to the monstrosity Mariam called a house.
I wasn’t either.
“Wow,” Kyla said as we drove up the long drive.
I surveyed the sprawling, four-storied McMansion.
“Yeah. Neither power nor money can buy taste.”
Kyla let out a choked sound as she took in the marble columns and the huge fountain they’d recently had built in the middle of the driveway.
“That’s new,” I said, surveying the naked fairies, which appeared to be either killing or seducing the minotaur below them, while water spewed from the minotaur’s mouth.
“Are they–?”
I shrugged. “No idea.”
I was surprised the light fae guards had let us this far. As I had the thought, a slender male rushed out the front door toward us. He’d tucked his long blonde hair in a braid, displaying his pointed ears, and he wrung his hands as he took us in.
I parked, turned off the engine, and opened my door.
“Ms. Amana,” he chewed on his lower lip. I had no idea who he was, but the same obviously wasn’t true for him. He attempted a smile. “My name is Drostan…. I’m Mariam’s new executive assistant. She doesn’t have any meetings scheduled with you today.”
“I know.” I got out of the car. On the other side, Kyla did the same.
It was noon. Mariam was probably eating lunch. I was prepared to wait.
Drostan wrung his hands some more and I caught on. A few months ago, I’d helped the light fae locate some missing artifacts that had been stolen by humans. The reasons they’d been stolen were mostly due to fae arrogance, and the entire situation could have been even more embarrassing if I hadn’t located them before the hate group who’d stolen them did even more damage.
Clearly, I was considered important enough that Mariam’s people would no longer turn me away at the gate. Go me.
“I can wait until she’s free, but Iwilltalk to her.”
He hesitated, and I took one step closer to him. Then I let him feel a hint of power.
Thanks to the removal of the Naud Chains–and the sudden influx of my power–the suppression spell that had once kept me almost powerless was no longer an issue. My power surrounded me like a dark tornado, stretching toward the fae until he shivered like he was about to piss his pants.
Kyla gaped at me and I shrugged. If there was one thing I no longer had, it was time to waste.
And patience. I guess I didn’t have that either.
“Danica,” a voice snapped, and I slowly pulled my power back into me. It no longer hurt to stop using it.
Mariam stood in the entrance, her hands on her hips. Her blonde hair had been left free around her shoulders, dangly earrings hung from her pointed ears, and her blue eyes were currently narrowed in annoyance.
“I need to talk to you,” I said, stalking past Drostan.
“I gathered,” she bit out.
The fae began stuttering apologies behind me and she merely held up a hand. “It’s fine, Drostan. Ms. Amana doesn’t believe in manners.”
