I checked my phone several times, until it was late enough to officially get up. I left Roan sleeping and went to shower. I’d have to wear jeans and a plain shirt, nothing fancy.Oh good grief, Jen, stop over thinking everything. Just go to her shop, sort books, and gossip.
Washing slowly, I tried to pass the time until I could get it over with. I shaved slowly, conditioned my hair, even trimmed the ol’ bush.
Eventually there was nothing else for me to do to pass the time so I got out and dried off, then started to meticulously apply my makeup, but stopped. I’d never shown up at Kelly’s with perfect makeup. I applied my usual layer of tinted concealer and mascara and walked naked into my bedroom.
Alexander and Roan sat on my unmade bed, and looked at me with their mouths agape.
“What?”
Alexander snapped his jaw shut.
“Nothing,” said Roan.
“You’re inmyroom. I’m acting like I always do. If you don’t like it, leave.” I talked a big game, but I wasn’t mad.
“We like it, don’t worry.” Alexander lay back on my pillows, arms behind his head, like he was ready to enjoy the show.
I was too nervous and upset to tease them, though it was my inclination to do so. Instead, I grabbed my undies and dressed in the closet. After that, the morning passed too quickly.
Before I knew it, we’d eaten, and I was walking down to the village. Her shop and apartment were already magically bugged, so they’d know if and when they would need to come in to follow her through her special portal. Once I delivered the news, my part of the job was done. I’d be of no use to them on the rescue mission, although I really wanted to go.
I stood outside the shop, out of her line of sight should she happen to look out.You can do this.I breathed deep, imagining my nervousness exiting my body with the air.
Before I lost my nerve, I strode into the shop. Kelly was checking out a customer, so I waved to her and stowed my bag behind the counter. Bile threatened to rise up my throat, but I swallowed it down.
On a normal visit, I’d sort her new books while I waited on her to finish, so I got to that. Before long, the two customers in the shop were gone and we were alone.
“How was your trip?” she asked after giving me a quick hug.
“Good! I think I’ll be moving to the school soon. It’s not far from being finished, and then I can start really helping.” I tried to look excited.
“I hope that doesn’t mean you’ll stop coming around,” she said, face twisted with concern. What a liar.
“Of course I will. I’ll be at the castle frequently.” Everything I’d said so far was true. “How were things here?”
“Business as usual. I ordered a big supply of that new book from that author you recommended. I think they’ll do well.”
“Oh, I’m sure they will. We’ll put them front and center here.” I pointed to the main table people saw when they walked into the store.
“What’s new with your guys? Anything juicy?”
“Not really, they’ve been busy.” Time to lay the groundwork. “They’ve been trying to get that shapeshifter guy to give them more information about them, but he’s not talking. I think their investigation is stagnant.”
“That’s too bad,” she mused.
I fought the desire to roll my eyes. Once I was beginning my deception, I found my anger and hurt at her lies helped me. “The worst thing happened,” I said. Time to drop the bomb. “You know my cousin Riley? Who had the twins?”
“Yeah, one was half shapeshifter, right?” She said it so casually, like the information wasn’t important to her at all.
“Right. The half shapeshifter baby died.”
She dropped her book and gasped. “No.”
I put down the stack of books I’d been leafing through and turned fully toward her, putting as much sympathy and pain in my voice as I could. “It’s awful. The funeral is tonight. I’d say the entire Unseen community will be there.” Our theory was that she’d either run to her people and they’d come to the ‘funeral’ to try to hurt us en masse, or she’d use that cover as a good time to go to them, while we were all distracted.
“Do they know what happened?”
“They called it failure to thrive, which I know is a term humans use. We got a human doctor in. I assume they have to kill him now?” As far as I knew, she didn’t know about the spell they were working on to prevent a human from talking.
