I dip my chin in respect and say, “I’m grateful for everyone’s support.”
Ri returns her attention to the cards. We sit in silence for a while, watching the women play the game I don’t understand or know rules of.
“What business, Vera?” Ri licks her fingers before taking a new card from a deck. “I know you didn’t bring Ezkai Phoenix here to watch me play cards.”
“You’re familiar with Oka Oya,” Vera says.
Ri nods.
“We want to know how to convince her to mentor Phoenix.”
The game pauses. Three pairs of eyes snap to Vera.
“You want to get Oka Oya’s help? That’s ambitious even for you, Vera,” Ri says.
Who is this legendary Oka Oya that her help is so hard to get? I’m even more curious than before to know more. Actually, now I’m burning with the desire to get Oka Oya to mentor me.
Vera shrugs. “Entertain me, an ambitious fool, please.”
Ri clicks her tongue and shakes her head. But she says, “Does Noire approve of this?”
“Noire approves of anything and everything I decide.”
Ri snorts. “That arrogance will be the death of you one day, Vera.”
“I made my peace with it. You can stand on my grave and tell me ‘I told you so’ then.”
One of the doors opens and another young fae woman walks out, laughing. Her cheeks are rosy, and her hair’s messy as if she just rolled out of bed.
A handsome fae man follows her out.
“Jax?” I frown. “What on earth are you doing here?”
A lazy smile spreads on his lips. Only the sight of it enrages me. The girl sits at the table with us, and so does he.
Under one of his eyes rests a very large, very new purple bruise. Can’t say I’m surprised someone punched him. He definitely had it coming, no doubt.
“I’m a loved friend of Ri’s,” he says. “Her studio is my favorite place in Jaakii. And what are you doing here? Pleasure or business?”
I snort. “Favorite place in Jaakii, you say? That says a lot.”
He’s appalling.
“Does it now? It says a lot to people who don’t know the full story. Would you like to know, Phoenix darling?”
I flip him off. He barks a laugh.
“What happened to your face?” Vera surveys his bruise.
Jax shoots me a sideway glance and shrugs. “A guy at the bar didn’t like that I was more handsome than him. He tried to rectify the situation.”
I snort and shake my head. Is Jax ever truthful about anything? Or so only lies spill out of that mouth whenever he opens it?
“You know each other?” Ri looks at Vera.
Vera shrugs her shoulders. “Jax is a new acquaintance. Potential future friend.”
Jax presses a palm in the middle of his chest. “Oh, I’m flattered, Vera.”
