Bathin gave a begrudging shrug. “Not at all ironically, I’m sure.”
“I will hoove you in the hatch so hard you’ll spit glitter for a decade!”
I laughed.
“Try it, old woman,” he said.
“Old!” She snorted again, and this time there was a little steam along with the glitter. “Hoove you,” she snarled. “Hoove you so hard.”
“No hooving,” Delaney ordered. “Xtelle, the dance and song were nice.”
Bathin grumbled something under his breath, but Xtelle turned so her ample ass was facing his way. She swished her tail, then twisted so she could see Delaney and ignore Bathin.
“Thank you, Delaney. Aren’t you the sweetest?”
That tone reminded me of a Valkyrie swooping in to drag the dead off the battlefield and into a community event.
“You can only stay in Ordinary if you follow our rules. Can you do that?”
“Of course.”
“You will not harm or kill any supernatural, god, or mortal while you are here. Nor will you reveal a supernatural’s or a god’s true self to any mortal.
“Use of power must be done without mortals seeing or suspecting you have said powers, and all mortal laws, whether local, state, federal, or global must be adhered to.”
“Go on,” she purred. “It’s so…orderly.”
“You can’t let mortals see your real form.”
“My—what do you mean, my real form?”
Even Bathin sent a quizzical look over to Delaney.
“You can’t look like a unicorn. Do you have the ability to project a different image? If not, I’m sure we can ask a witch or a wizard to cast an illusion to cloak you.”
“Cloak me? Cloak this? I am radiant! I am glorious! Witness my pinkness and tremble in awe!”
“Nope,” Delaney said. “Pink talking unicorns don’t exist as far as mortals know. I’m here to make sure it stays that way.”
“I won’t be stifled.”
“This isn’t about stifling. This is about following the laws of Ordinary, which my sisters and I, along with the officers in our department, enforce. It’s about keeping mortals safe, supernaturals safe, and gods safe. If you can’t follow the law, then you can’t stay in Ordinary.”
“B-But where would I go?” The kitten eyes were back. With sparkles. And tears.
“Anywhere else in the entire world. There are other safe places for supernaturals. This is the gods’ vacation town, and therefore it follows strict, ancient rules the gods decreed. Rules of which I am the arbitrator.”
“That’s not fair.” The unicorn pouted.
Bathin heaved a huge sigh. “By the love of—those are the rules, Xtelle. You’re fond of rules when they work in your favor.”
“I’m not listening to you.”
“Yes, you are. In or out?”
She unwobbled her lower lip and canted one back foot, considering the offer. “Must I disguise my true self?”
Delaney nodded. “Yes.”
