“That is understandable. Perhaps we can discuss the current situation.”
Considering I didn’t have anywhere else to be, I nodded. “Sure. You want to stay in the living room or go to the kitchen? Have you eaten yet?” Making the decision for us, I headed for the kitchen. “Phlox might know what’s in the fridge better than me.” I opened the refrigerator, only half surprised to find it better stocked than usual.
“I am not hungry, but please feel free to eat,” Ray answered as he followed me into the kitchen, Phlox hot on his heels.
“Leon fed last night, so I need to eat,” Phlox answered as he pulled things out of the fridge. Bacon, eggs, and sausage were soon frying on the stove. It was still difficult for me to wrap my mind around the idea of a pixie eating meat. “You want some too?” Phlox asked me.
“I think I’ll just have some cereal later,” I answered. “But thanks for the offer.”
“No worries.” Phlox waved a spatula in the air and turned his back on me and the fairy.
Swallowing hard, I asked, “So, what do you want to know?”
“Let’s start at the beginning,” Ray said as he pulled out a kitchen chair and sat. I’d met less than a handful of fairies over the years but each and every one carried themselves with the confidence and surety of a creature that knew it was at the top of the food chain. Hellfire Rayburn was no different.
I spent the next hour and a half rehashing last night’s speculation. Regurgitating those thoughts didn’t do a lot for my appetite, making that bowl of cereal less appealing by the second. By the time Ray was finished clarifying my words, my hands were shaking, and I felt a little queasy.
“Here, eat this.” Phlox shoved a piece of toast lightly covered in grape jelly my way along with a glass of O.J.
I wasn’t sure I could stomach the food but did as I was told. While I hadn’t brought any souls back in the last twenty-four hours, I’d pushed my necromancer abilities pretty far the previous day. My blood sugar was still on a roller coaster of highs and lows.
“Thanks,” I offered while taking a tentative bite.
“You need more than that, but it’s a start.” Phlox had taken a seat beside me, his shorter legs kicking the air. His pixie wings were gone as he leaned against the chair’s back. Turning his attention to Ray, Phlox asked, “So, what do you think? Are we catastrophizing?”
Ray was quiet for a few moments before he reluctantly shook his head. “Unfortunately, I do not believe so. Your concerns are more valid than I’d hoped. The simple fact that Tenzen Huxley has found two objects of attachment is cause for concern.”
I chewed on my bottom lip. “I suppose Aurelia could be wrong.” Even I didn’t believe those words.
“Unlikely,” Ray answered, dashing the whisper of hope I’d conjured.
“Agreed,” Phlox quickly added. “If anyone would know, it would be Aurelia.” He cocked his head to the side and amended, “Or you. I’m guessing it’s a distance thing.”
“Kind of. I need a body. If I have that, then it doesn’t matter where the soul is. Djinn are a little different. If I’m around their object of attachment, I can feel the soul within, so that is a distance issue.” My face scrunched. “That sounds a lot more complicated coming out of my mouth than it is in my head.”
“I believe I understand well enough,” Ray said.
I was glad because I didn’t think explaining it again would come out any clearer.
Ray started to rise. Before he could get too far, I said, “Wait!” Ray halted mid-rise, a single crimson eyebrow raised. “Sorry, I just… Do you have a few minutes to spare? Franklin’s working on a case—multiple homicide with questionable decomp of the victims. Last night he said he had some questions regarding fairy affinities, and…I think it would be best for him to explain. I can give him a call. If you have time.”
Ray lowered back into his chair. “I can spare a few moments. This is a human homicide case?”
I nodded while pulling up Franklin’s number and hitting send. “It is.”
Franklin answered after the second ring. “Everything okay?” Franklin worriedly asked.
Not really. “Everything’s fine. I’m sorry I worried you. Remember what we were talking about last night?”
Franklin was quiet for a beat before he answered, “We talked about a lot of things last night. I’m afraid you’re going to have to be a little more specific.”
I wanted to smack my head on the table. My only excuse for being so damn vague was lack of sleep. “You had some questionsfor Queen Silvidia, and I suggested discussing it with Hellfire Rayburn first. That’s his official fairy name, but most of us call him Ray.” I raised a questioning eyebrow Ray’s direction, and my tension eased when he nodded his assent.
Franklin gave a hesitant “yes. I remember.”
“Well, it just so happens that Ray is sitting at our kitchen table.”
“I… What? Why? You said everything was fine.” Anxious concern filtered through the connection.
