By Fairy Means or Foul: A Starfig Investigations Novel(14)
He nodded.
Sprites were not meant for cages. They needed lots of fresh air and to be surrounded by nature. They didn’t even do well in cities. A cage would be torture. Right up Rainbowpebble’s alley.
“I’ll see what I can do.” That’s all I could promise.
“I-I thought while you distracted him, I could set her free.”
“Doesn’t work that way. You should know that.”
“You don’t know whether she’s under contract. He might have kidnapped her.”
I shook my head. “She’s under contract.”
I certainly wouldn’t put kidnapping past Rainbowpebbles, but I didn’t believe it. Too risky. He was one crazy fuck, but he wouldn’t court High Council retaliation. Especially not here in Lighthelm, the capital. It would be extremely foolish. Rainbowpebbles was many things, but stupid wasn’t one of them.
Besides, he already tried it with me, and the consequences hadn’t been kind. With increased scrutiny—my father made sure of that—he wouldn’t risk his businesses, no matter how tempting.
“You can’t know that.” His voice trailed off at the end, pained. “Or maybe he tricked her.”
A distinct possibility. Also not illegal. “Stay here. I’m ordering you, as your temporary master. I don’t want you leaving my place. Got it?”
“So much for being equals.”
“I don’t do guilt, Quinn. I’m trying to keep you safe. Now, I want to hear you say you’ll stay here.” His nostrils flared and I could see he wanted to mutiny in every line, but he gave a curt nod.
One problem solved. Now, I just needed to figure out a way to get the horn back from Rainbowpebbles. Easy, right?
5
The Steamy Bean Café was neither a café, nor did it serve beans. I guess you could call it steamy if you counted the smoke from the jiggyweed permeating the building. The Bean was known for its vices—just this side of legal—gambling, whoring, craft nectars, and greed. Lots of it. I’d been here a few times in the past, though I steered clear these days. I wasn’t as self-destructive as I’d been in the days following my expulsion from my clan.
Walking into the Bean was no biggie, but walking out was another story. I needed to keep my wits about me. I pushed through the door, my shoulders brushing the frame. The Bean was meant to accommodate fairy-folk and other magical creatures, but I pushed the limits. I might only be a foot taller than the average human male, but I was built like a dragon, strong, full of muscle, and long limbed. I towered over every creature currently there. Including Rainbowpebbles’ gargoyle bodyguards. Two big, ugly ones—though really, that wasn’t saying much as gargoyles weren’t known for their beauty—stood in front of a door leading to private entertainments. It also held Rainbowpebbles’ office. I knew because I’d been bound with a magical chain and held prisoner for several days many, many years ago. It still chafed when I remembered it.
My entrance stopped all activity, and some patrons eyed me with obvious fear. I wasn’t a regular, which meant I either had business with Rainbowpebbles or I planned to make Rainbowpebbles my business. Neither which boded well for the Bean’s clientele.
I moved toward the door and the gargoyles hissed as I approached. Gargoyles weren’t the smartest creatures—rocks for brains, after all—but even they sensed a dominant predator. And I was a predator, whatever the mighty High Council or those self-righteous Alphae pricks wanted to say about it. I might be part fairy, but my formative years were spent with Maylanth the Taker of Life. Good ol’ Mom sure didn’t see a problem using fire, teeth, claws, or anything else at her disposal to get what she wanted. She’d scoff at the ‘do no harm . . . first’ oath the Alphae adhered to so rigidly.
I stopped a couple feet from the guards and held out my hands so they could watch my nails turn into long, razor sharp claws. A pair of fangs shot through my gum line and I smiled, letting them see what they’d be getting if they took me on.
“Take me to Rainbowpebbles,” I said. They hesitated until I puffed smoke through my nose. Then they couldn’t open the door fast enough.
The gargoyles scampered down a long, dimly lit hallway, surprisingly nimble for animated stone. I controlled the shudder wanting to race down my spine. Last time I was here, I’d been starved, beaten, and had numerous spells cast on me to try to subdue me. None of it worked. Though being held captive had been humiliating. I could thank my half-brother for that. It caused a burn deep in my chest and I rubbed the spot before I thought to stop myself.
One of the gargoyles went to four legs and rushed ahead to warn his master. Fine by me. I’d never let Rainbowpebbles get the jump on me again.
I didn’t wait to be introduced, just burst into Rainbowpebbles’ office. If I accidentally pulled the door off its hinges, well, I’m sure he had repairmen to fix it. Several gargoyles went from artfully arranged statues to aggressively surrounding their master’s desk. The amount of hissing that went on made it sound like a cat fight.
“Call your minions off, before I turn them into sand.” I didn’t bother to raise my voice. He knew I could do it. If so much as one touched me, all bets were off. Defense, after all.
A flick of Rainbowpebbles’ wrist and the gargoyles retreated to their poses, their glowing eyes following my every movement.