“What human?”Peter asked, making his voice sound casual.The hair at the back of his neck stood up.
“The young witch.He went to convene with nature.If you attempt to follow him, I will stop you.”He raised a hand and puffed out his chest.“I’d rather not have bloodshed nor endanger these innocent youths—” He gestured grandly at the students, most of whom were filming openly now that there was talking.Peter supposed it could be mistaken for a performance.“—but if you will not yield, I will deal you retribution.”
Peter relaxed his stance, ready to move fast.Something prickled at the back of his mind.
“With what weapon will you fight me?”
The Fae looked confused.“I…shall best you in unarmed combat.”
Convene with nature?Peter knew Fae had different customs, different expressions and culture.He glanced at the empty table the Fae was standing at.It was quiet, with a nice view.Theo would like sitting here.And to a Fae, he’d smell of Peter; an oddly satisfying thought.
Peter wasn’t sure how wise it was, but he asked, “Did the human you think I thralled go that way to follow the call of nature?”
Peter pointed toward the restrooms.
The Fae’s nostrils flared.“No, he did not.It is pointless.I am his champion now.”
Peter turned to the nearest student, a girl with short black hair.“How long has the hunk been here?”
She lowered her phone before she remembered she was filming.“Uh, like…like a long time.I came in ten minutes ago, and he was already here.”
“At least half an hour,” a student in gym clothes with untouched food in front of him said.
Peter nodded, and relief ran through him.If the Fae had been targeting Theodore, his instincts had kicked in.Beloved, you know the world, though I wish you didn’t.You know when to run.
Peter was proud of Theodore, but there was no time to waste.
“Bloodsucker,” the Fae said, and he looked…uncertain?Most Fae didn’t manage that.“What are you asking these innocents?Stay back!”
“Or come closer.I wouldn’t mind,” the guy in the gym clothes mumbled.
“Kindly hold that thought for a moment.”Peter fished his phone out of his pocket.He called Theodore.It rang for a while, but then his beloved picked up.
“Um, hi.”
“Where are you now?”
Peter heard his own tone of voice.He didn’t like talking to Theodore in that way, but it was necessary.There was a pause on the other end, and Peter was afraid he had miscalculated, had stirred something painful in Theodore’s memory of the not-so-recent events.
“At Celeste’s.”
Peter exhaled.“Good.Stay there.”
“Peter, what—”
Despite the tremor of rising panic in Theodore’s voice, Peter ended the call and leveled a cold smile at the Fae.
“He’s gone, and you won’t ever get him.Let’s talk outside.”
Peter had done this a thousand times, but not with a Fae, who were strong and notoriously dangerous fighters.Weapon or no weapon, this could go very wrong very fast.He turned his back and walked toward the exit.With any luck, he wouldn’t have to fight and murder the Fae in front of all these smartphones and the students attached to them.
But luck was fickle, and Peter was ready to do what needed doing.
Chapter 12
TheostoodinCeleste’skitchen, with Kira lingering by the door like a prison guard and Carl watching him from the other side of the kitchen island.The screen of Theo’s phone showed the call had ended.Peter had hung up on him.
“What the fuck?”
