“And educational?”
Rigel gave me the side eye. “Getting coffee to the mansion is your battle. You’re not dragging me into it.”
“Come on, you’re the best chance of an ally that I have,” I complained. “This is the most important fight I want you to be a part of!”
“No.”
Again, I thought I saw that flash of amusement in Rigel’s eyes.
“What is it?” I asked.
Rigel minutely shook his head. “More of your strangeness.”
“What about this could youpossiblythink is strange? I just have different tastes!”
“It’s not the café,” Rigel said. “It’s that your ongoing fight for coffee is the only real fight you’ve asked me to enter.”
“And?”
“Given your position and myabilities, it’s strange.” Rigel said.
“Maybe, but it’s a good strange, right?” I asked, not really expecting an answer.
Rigel briefly glanced at me, before he turned to the door. “Yes. A different…but good strange.”
Before I could ask him any follow up questions, the bell above the door jingled as someone entered the store.
I started to reel Steve in—worried the new customers might be scared of my pets’ presence.
“Oh my gosh! Is that the Night Queen?”
Surprised, I turned around.
Two women—one of them holding the hand of a toddler—were crowded in the door. They removed their sunglasses so they could gawk at me, their shock turning into smiles.
“It is!” the toddler-toter said. “Hi—we’re big fans. We cheered for you at the races!”
“Your horses were so sweet with you!” the second woman said.
“Thank you,” I said. “I appreciate your support.”
“And you were at the races, too.” The woman stooped over and picked up her toddler, balancing him on her hip as she peered at Rigel. “The screens showed you greeting her.”
Rigel stared at the women and said nothing.
“This is Rigel, my consort,” I said.
The second woman’s face lit up. “You’re married—to a fae warrior? That’s perfect! And you look great together!”
“Yeah—with your opposite hair and eyes you really look like the rulers of the night sky!”
I glanced at Rigel to see how he was handling their enthusiasm, but he’d returned to peering down at Steve—who was looking up at him and wagging her tail.
“Thanks,” I said.
“Can we take a picture with you?” the second woman asked.
“Is that okay with you, Rigel?” I asked.
