The prep work was done.
My outfit was a triumph.
My nerves were at an all-time high.
It was time to nab a siren.
***
The concert was in full swing when we arrived.
I’d need a re-up on my Botox if I continued to furrow my brow with thinly concealed panic at Silas.
“It’s fine,” he said through gritted teeth.
“But the ultimatum…are they here? Are you safe?”
He responded by guiding me deeper into the chaos.
We’d timed our arrival this way, assuming we’d be caught and thrown out if someone saw me loitering backstage during soundcheck. Our jumps were getting better, even if we had bigger fish to fry than being apprehended by human security. Still, we nailed our attempt on the first try, stuck between thick, velvet curtains, stashed out of the way of prying eyes, while Vexa screamed into her microphone.
“Are you ready to rock tonight, Vegas?”
The crowd matched her energy, then tripled it.
I wanted to shove my fingers in my ears, but I knew that now was not the time to get overstimulated. I had to hold it together. The realms depended on it.
The more human of the two, Silas had dropped me into a shadowy corner before taking off. I’d grabbed his hand.
“Your wings?”
He rolled his eyes. “I thought you were going to saysomething sweet. Like ‘be safe.’”
“Answer the question,” I pushed. From somewhere beyond the curtain that separated the bustling ant farm of workers with the public, the audience screamed the lyrics back at Vexa as she reached the chorus of one of her first hits. The vibrations tickled the bottoms of my feet through my heels.
He made a face. “Yes, I’ll show up with my wings. Anything else the humans need? I think a halo is a little too kitschy.”
“Can you set your sword on fire?”
He looked down to the hilt on his hip. “What?”
“I’m serious. Flaming swords are a whole thing.”
He wrinkled his nose. “Are angels cartoon characters to you?”
“Pretty much.” I fought the urge to cross my arms. I’d dressed as Maribelle for the occasion and was feeling particularly exposed. As much as the restraint pained me, I planted my hands on my hips, digging my fingers into my flesh to stop myself from covering up. Fortunately, most of the people sprinting around didn’t have time to pay me notice. They had quick costume changes, lights, sound, water, high wires, harnesses, and if I wasn’t mistaken, a firework cannon to deal with.
“You’re shaking,” he said, putting his hand on my elbow.
“I wish Caliban was here,” I said honestly.
He sagged at the words, but it was so subtle, I wouldn’t have seen it if I hadn’t known what I was looking for. “Unfortunately, I’m the one you’ve got. Do you need anything?”
“Just for this to be over.”
Silas’s gaze darted to somewhere behind me. “Marlow—Az and I aren’t the only entities here. I can sense them, though I can’t tell if they’re fae, or something else. The human stagehands are in black. If you see someone else—”
“Man? Woman?” I asked, eyebrows lifting.
