We both knew that a favor from the werewolf Alpha was a big deal. It was unlikely she’d ever have this chance again, since Nathaniel wasn’t the kind of guy who was in the habit of being indebted to the fae.
If I survived the next couple of weeks, I might feel bad about that.
“I need twenty-four hours,” Mariam said. I stared at her and she raised one eyebrow. “While I can imagine you’re impatient, given the circumstances, it will take me time to talk to my king. I will contact you as soon as I have an answer.”
I’d have to accept that. We got to our feet. Mariam nodded at me.
“Good luck,” she said. Surprise flashed through me. The fae seemed to actually mean it.
“Thanks.”
* * *
DANICA
Our next stop was in the same neighborhood, just a few streets away.
Aubrey was a fae I’d met while working the case Mariam had hired me for. His sword had been stolen, and I’d managed to recover it before he ended up on his king’s shit list.
“He’s a flirt,” I warned Kyla. “But he’s a good guy. He even gave me an ancient weapon.”
Incredulous silence.
I smiled as we pulled up to the gated entrance. The gates slid open. Like Mariam, Aubrey had instructed his guards to allow me to visit without an appointment. Nice.
“You’re going to have to fill me in,” Kyla said.
“It’s a khopesh. It was once acursedkhopesh, and it was entombed with King Tut.” Now it hung on the wall in my living room.
“I meant the fae,” Kyla smirked.
“He’s a weapon’s collector. And he may be my best lead when it comes to negotiating with his king.”
I turned off the engine and stepped out of the car. Aubrey had a fountain as well. But it had been here last time I visited, and it wasn’t anywhere close to the ostentatious display Mariam’s was.
Aubrey stood in the entrance of his home, the door open behind him. He smiled at us as we approached.
“Danica. I assume you’re not here for that history lesson about ancient weapons.”
“Unfortunately not. Iamhoping for some of your time, though.”
“Of course. And who’s this?”
“Kyla.”
Aubrey stared at her. “Werewolf?”
She nodded, and his mouth dropped open. Aubrey gaped at her for long enough that it got a little awkward as we waited him out. Kyla peered at her nails, likely well used to this reaction.
The chances of anyone having the specific biology required for them to turn into a werewolf when bitten? Low. The chances of afemaleturning? Approximately one in a million amongst the werewolf population.
Aubrey’s silver hair was half-up today, the style highlighting the sharp cheekbones that encouraged a woman to trail her fingers along his cheek. He needed a shave, but the scruff tempered his other-worldly beauty enough to make him approachable.
Violet eyes twinkled at me. “And how did you end up with a werewolf sidekick?”
“She could bemysidekick,” Kyla muttered sulkily. Aubrey laughed and stepped back, gesturing for us to step in. Kyla immediately sneezed.
Aubrey sent her an apologetic look. “Your nose should become accustomed within a few minutes.”
