“These people defended themselves against other people whoyoulet into the hotel,” Austin said.
The hotel manager—what was his name? Daniel? Well, he was in the lion's den, so that fit—blinked, trying to follow Austin's reasoning, then said, “What?”
“I'm sayin' you're the one responsible for the damages.”
“You were part of tonight's security!”
“I came to oversee things just in case. I was countin' onyourpeople to do their jobs. It looks like I shouldn't have. Good thing the Faerie God was smarter than me and brought his own guards. If he hadn't, you'd have a lot more than damaged property on your hands. You could have been responsible for the deaths of several people. I'm sure the Faerie God would have been fine, but what if his wife had been killed? What then, huh? You should count yourself lucky.”
Oh, Austin was having way too much fun.
The hotel manager paled. Then he stuttered, “I . . . I suppose our insurance will cover this.”
“Good. Glad tah see you're bein' reasonable.” Austin tipped his hat. “Why don'tcha go start that insurance paperwork? I'll see to it that the guests are safe. Now that I've got some officers to back me up it shouldn't be a problem.”
“But . . . but you had some officers with you earlier.”
“No, I didn't. You must be confused, Sir.”
“Didn't you?” The manager rubbed at his head. “Oh, what a night.” He staggered off.
Austin said to Azrael, “Sorry about this, Faerie God, Sir. I know you were just trying to do some charitable work here tonight.”
“Thank you,” Azrael said. “I don't hold the Lexington Police responsible for criminals targeting me. You did all you could, Officer. Now, if you don't mind, I'm going to see to my wife.”
“Vervain!” Odin shouted and shook me.
“Huh?” I looked back at him. I'd been totally engrossed in the conversation between Austin and the hotel manager.
Because I had no idea what they were talking about.
“What are we doing here?” I asked Odin.
“Fuck,” Trevor muttered.
“She's forgotten it all,” Viper said. “It must be another power of that trickster.”
“A trickster who let her go,” Odin said. “What the fuck is going on?”
“What are you guys talking about?” I asked. Then I looked down. “And what happened to my skirt?”
Chapter Forty-Five
I didn't forget everything. I remembered what the trickster told me to remember—that he had my best intentions at heart. And to not worry about Katila. Once I remembered that, I remembered the battle, Katila abducting me, and meeting the real trickster. Beyond that, I had nothing. No specifics of our conversation other than his reassurance.
“You said that he was doing this for the humans,” Odin said. Again.
“I know, honey,” I said.
“She's not absentminded, Odin,” Re said. “She's been enchanted.”
“Whatever he told you, he didn't want you to remember it,” Trevor said.
“I don't think it was something he told me.” I frowned, a memory tickling my brain. “I think Katila said something the trickster didn't want me to know.”
“Why him?” Azrael asked. “Why work with Katila?”
I shrugged. “Whatever the reason was that he chose Katila, I think he's regretting it now. Why else tell me that he'd take care of Katila?”
