He revved his donkey carriages, optimistically readying them to move.
“Is there anyone you haven’t bedded?”Azul hissed.
She tapped her chin thoughtfully.“Let me think… Hmm.Oh wait, you.”She gave him a dazzling smile.“So far.”
“You wish,” he muttered.
Not dignifying that jibe with a response, she smiled up at the stony Obsidian fae blocking the way to the glass cubicle ahead.“Beautiful day,” she observed.Nothing.Not even a twitch.“Mind if I pass, handsome?”
He flicked her a glance.“The border is closed.”
She pointed to the outbound traffic.“Doesn’t look closed to me.”
“But it is closed to you.”
Cha did a double-take.Mr.Stoic Obsidian Fae chose a bit of witty wordplay instead of ignoring her?Okay, yeah, it wasn’t allthatwitty, but compared to his imitation of a wall, it was a step up.She pushed out her lower lip in a sultry pout, leaning an arm along the side of the carriage and arching her back to display her cleavage a bit better.Her bosom already looked pretty fabulous in the tight-fitting red leather jacket with the zipper conveniently at half-mast.(Conveniently and with foresight, because she’d lowered it when she got out of the carriage.) With her other hand, she raked back her short bob, hitting some dried ick leftover from the fell wolf battle and hoping it didn’t show to disadvantage.“What would it take to…ease the opening?”she purred, letting her gaze slide over him, making the double-entendre obvious.
It wasn’t hard to look interested.The tall fae had a nicely chiseled physique, along with big feet and long fingers that boded well for other parts of his anatomy.His dark eyes lingered on her with return interest, lingering on her breasts, but it was the glitter of the gem she’d palmed and held resting on the hand near him that truly caught his attention.He trailed a clawed finger down her bare forearm to her palm, the gem disappearing.“All I can do is get you to the border agent,” he cautioned.
“That’s plenty.You’re my hero.”
He actually cracked a smile.“Look me up on your way back through.”
“I’ll do that.”She idled Katu forward as the guard stepped aside, the slow black was very slow here.Even if you wanted to try to run the border, you’d be going so stupid slow someone on foot could catch you.
“You’re my hero,” Azul said in a high voice no doubt meant to be hers.He added a snort.“I can’t believe you’d trade sex to cross the border.”
“I traded the promise of sex,” she corrected.“Huge difference.Also a little sparkly jewel I figured he’d like.”
“You did?”Aha, she’d surprised the arrogant prince.“I didn’t notice.”
“You weren’t supposed to.”
“The agent looks female,” he observed.“What will you do now?”
“Who says I can’t charm a female?Dy loves me.Most of the time,” she amended, thinking how she’d carelessly hurt Dy’s feelings by cutting off communication.You’d think she’d know better, having experienced how much it hurt when Dy’s main focus went to Phinny.
“I’m sure it’s a challenge for her.”
“Never said I’m not an asshole.Now hush.Listen and learn.”She pulled up to the booth.The Obsidian fae woman inside had her back to the lane, her long, white hair glimmering like magical moonlight.She leaned her elbows on the rim of the open window on the other side, deep in conversation with the agent across the way.
Without turning around, she said over her shoulder.“Border is closed.”
“Damn bosses,” Cha returned agreeably.“Never thinking about the impact on the little people.Bet that pisses you off, huh?
Now the fae looked at her.“Doesn’t matter to me.It all pays the same.”
Cha nodded, making a face of annoyed agreement.“Not much, though, right?Shit wages, I’ll bet.”She tipped her head at the slot for identification papers, where a pretty jewel now sat.“People like us, we have to stick together, share the wealth.”
The Obsidian fae woman glanced around, then snatched up the jewel with an avaricious smile, not nearly so smooth as the guard had been.“I can’t let you through.Orders from above.”
“Sure, sure.Makes it hard on all of you, though.”
She frowned.“How’s that?”
Cha jerked a thumb behind her.“Look at that jam.It’s backing up for leagues.When they finally open up, you’re going to be here way past quitting time, dealing with the backlog while the higher-ups are home enjoying the evening meal.”
“I hadn’t thought of that.”She looked out over the long queue of growling carriages.“They can all go home themselves.”
