By Fairy Means or Foul: A Starfig Investigations Novel(20)

“You knew you’d win. I’ve never seen anything like it. How did you do it? I couldn’t detect any magic, yet you managed a perfect score.” His voice had dropped to a husky whisper.

“Are you listening to what I’m saying?”

He shrugged.

Um, half-dragon? Fierce? Could eat him like a tasty snack? He hesitated before smiling expectantly, only a hint of the wariness he normally wore around him like a cloak.

Well, damn.

“So how did you do it?” he all but begged.

I gripped his elbow and steered him out of the path of a passing centaur.

“Dunno. Maybe it’s like the unicorn’s magic. I seem to have no difficulty finding treasure or cheating at cards,” I said at last. “So why aren’t you scared I’m going to punish you? Because you know I’m within my rights to do so.”

He blinked, the wariness back in his eyes. Then he blinked again and hardened his jaw. “You freed all those servants. You also protected me from that gargoyle. And you wouldn’t use me as a bargaining chip, even when I offered myself up.” He ticked each item off on his fingers in a damning fashion.

I chortled. “I thought at least you’d call on my membership in the Alphae—which doesn’t cover the handling of indentured servants, by the way.”

“Are you saying I should be afraid of you?”

I’ll admit he flustered me with his fast turnaround. “I didn’t say that. I asked why the big change. When I left, you didn’t trust me, now suddenly you’re so confident I won’t punish you. Why?”

He smirked—actually smirked—at me.

“I might have cast some runes, too.”

I placed my arm in front of him so he had to stop walking. “Whoa. Like witch stuff? How would you know how to cast runes?”

“You don’t need to be a witch to cast runes. You just need to know how to read the signs. Besides, I’m a guy. Witches are female. Or hadn’t you noticed?”

I ignored his jab. “Uh huh. So your runes said I was a nice guy?”

He lifted his chin defiantly. “They told me all I needed to know about you.”

“Is that so?” My expression must have turned querulous, because he lurched into motion and looked like he was considering taking off.

“Besides, your dad is Auric Starfig, right?” he called back over his shoulder. “You must get some political savvy from him. Wouldn’t want bad PR.”

Oh my Fucking Fairy Godmother, he believed that tripe? I couldn’t help it. I bellowed in laughter and gripped my sides.

“Say that again,” I sputtered between laughs.

“Why is that funny?” He spun around and crossed his arms over his chest. He looked so put out that I laughed harder. Lava tears streaked down my cheeks, and I bent double, hardly able to draw breath. When I didn’t answer, he stomped off.

“Wait!” I called after him. “It’s not safe for you on your own.”

I hurried to catch up with him, wiping the tears before they hardened into jagged rock I’d have to chisel away. Just another perk of my mixed heritage.

Quinn gave me the side-eye as we kept walking. “I’m guessing you don’t have the best relationship with your father.”

“You think? You were there. You tell me, genius.”

“You don’t need to be rude,” he said.

“Ha! You haven’t seen rude. When we get home, we’re going to straighten some things out between us. When I tell you to do something, you damn well better listen next time.”

Quinn’s expression went mutinous. Lovely. Maybe I would spank him. Teach him a little humility. Yeah, right. I didn’t dare put my hands on him like that or it would more than likely turn into something very different than either of us intended. And since I promised I wouldn’t force him to sleep with me, that meant no touching. My dragon side definitely disagreed with this plan. Which was weird in itself. It never cared in the past whom I did or did not sleep with, remaining totally indifferent in my selection. But more and more I became aware that my dragon possessed distinct ideas about Quinn Broomsparkle.

We were several streets over from the Steamy Bean when a tinkling voice called out, “Excuse me.”

I looked over my shoulder and saw the virgin sprite winging her way toward us at high speed. She was so delicate. A beautiful angel with fine features. And large blue eyes that seemed to take up most of her face. Gorgeous, feminine, exquisite. I stopped and she fluttered to a halt in front of us, breathing heavy.

I held out my palm, so she could rest her gossamer wings. Landing on it, she continued to breathe deeply for a moment or two.

“Fuck, you’re hard to catch.” She stomped on my palm in a fit of pique, her cute bow mouth drawn tight, then waved her hand imperiously demanding I lift her up so we were eye to eye.

“And here I imagined you were going to thank me for freeing you,” I said.

“Fucking right I am, Fucko.” She put her tiny hands on her hips, tapped her foot. “I’m Drutilda Fondlefrank. Nice name, I know. But listen, half-breed, I heard you’re looking for Sahara Burningwood. She’s one bad bitch, ya know? Fuck, I wouldn’t want to screw with her. I wanted to warn you in case you’re too fucking stupid to know better. I mean, half-breed and all.” She shrugged, tiny bells attached to her wings tinkling from the movement.