Liam's smile deepened. "But it's ever so entertaining."
"Children—all of you," I grumbled.
There was no time to talk after that as the medusa came to a stop in front of us. Up close, I could see her eyes looked more snake than human. Fae and strange, they were slitted. Their pupils were golden with spots of purple in them, a strange combination that worked for her.
Arlan lingered in the background, sipping a goblet of wine and flanked by the twins as he watched us. Seeing my gaze on him, he lifted his glass in a toast.
I focused back on the medusa who still hadn't spoken, the ensuing silence slowly ratcheting up the ambient tension. Silence was a tactic skilled interrogators used on their subjects. Most people weren't good at sitting without speaking. Leave them alone long enough and eventually they'd start talking of their own accord.
Only we weren't human and all of Liam's enforcers were highly trained in the same disciplines. The night could end, the sun rise and set again, without them saying a word.
Someone had to break the standoff. As usual that someone was me.
"I thought a medusa turned people to stone as soon as you met their eyes." It was the first thing I could think of. It helped that I was honestly curious.
A choked sound of disbelief came from Nathan as Anton’s expression went curiously blank.
A long-suffering grunt came from Liam.
To everyone's surprise, Callie laughed, the sound warm and carefree. "I think I like you."
Oh goody. Just what every vampire wanted to hear. A possibly sociopathic assassin liked them.
"It's a common myth that we turn everyone we meet into stone. It's a rare ability and not something we would use while a guest in another's barrow."
"How do you stop yourself?" I asked, genuinely curious.
She leaned forward pointing to her eye. "Special contacts."
A small line rimmed her pupil, evidence of a contact.
"Do they also correct vision?" I asked.
She straightened. "If I had need of it, I'm sure they would."
"I never thought to see a human solution for a magical problem." At least not for a Fae as old as I suspected she was. The high-bloods tended to be divorced from the human realm and treated their technology with a mixture of distrust and awe.
“There are other, older ways to prevent it, including control, but this is the easiest and ensures no mistakes,” she said.
Wanting a more accurate read on her, I dropped into my magic sight. Darkness blotted out my vision, obscuring any magic she was carrying. I blinked, glancing away, only to find the dark spots followed.
I let go of my magic sight to find her watching me with a knowing expression. That was impossible. This was our first meeting. Unless my secret was spread much further than any of us had guessed, she should have no inkling of what I could do.
Yet, I couldn't shake the feeling that the reason my magic sight suddenly only saw darkness was because of her.
"What brings you to our fair city?" Liam asked, inserting himself smoothly into the conversation.
"Business." Callie's attention moved to take in the approach of the Fae woman who'd previously offered me fairy wine.
Callie bent to take the offered drink, warmth and kindness radiating from her as she dipped her head in a regal nod. "Thank you, my friend."
The strange Fae blushed, her bashful smile aimed at the ground. "Anything for you, my lady."
Callie brushed her hand down the Fae's hair, her bracelets clanking as they slid partially down her wrist exposing a flock of black birds, many more than mine, tattooed on her forearm. A quick glance showed them rising from a dark well of shadow near her elbow.
I nudged Liam and nodded toward her forearm. She was one of the Scattered. There was no doubt left in my mind.
Now my only question was whether she intended me to see. Why else would she wear a dress that practically guaranteed someone would catch a glimpse? For someone belonging to a group supposedly in hiding, she was awful cavalier about a mark proclaiming her status.
