By Fairy Means or Foul: A Starfig Investigations Novel(21)

Quinn looked scandalized, but I was used to the casual contempt toward half-breeds. That’s probably why there were so few of us.

“So glad I saved you. The world is a better place now,” I drawled.

“Hey, Fucko, I didn’t mean anything by it. I don’t have a problem with your half-breed status. I mean”—she looked me up and down—“you’re pretty good lookin’ for a dragon. I’d do you.”

I heard Quinn sputtering beside me.

“Wow. How exactly did you remain a virgin?” I asked.

“I know, right? I mean, look at this.” She placed her hands under her breasts and shoved them against my nose. “Pretty hot, huh?”

“Mmm.” I went for noncommittal, but she took it as agreement. She leaned her elbow against my nose, striking a pose.

“So what did happen?” Quinn asked, his face pinched in disapproval.

“Hey, you let your cute whore talk?” she said to me. “You’re an okay guy.”

“I endeavor.” I placed my other hand on Quinn’s arm to rein him in, since he looked like he was about to squash the sprite like a bug.

She made a show of checking Quinn out, obviously liking what she saw.

“Well, little human slut, to put it simply, I got sold out. That’s the fucking truth. Our woods got a bad case of pubicpine crabs and we needed some Nixit Fixit powder to stop that particular itch, but that shit’s expensive. My kinfolk traded me because I was so fucking stupid to hang on to my virginity. Thought I’d keep it until I fell in love.” She spat onto my palm. “Fucking dumbass idea.”

“Indeed.”

“Anyway, I wanted to warn you not to be a moron and go after Burningwood, 'cuz that sprite is evil and even worse”—she lowered her voice—“ugly.” She looked around like she wanted to make sure no one else overheard us. “I don’t even think she likes sex.”

“No?”

“See! Fucked up.” She pushed off from my nose and pulled a nail file from the bosom of her gown, started buffing her nails. “Then there’s that zombie shit and stuff.”

“Zombie shit?” Quinn’s voice came out reedy.

“Yeah,” I said. “Rumor is Burningwood has a penchant for turning the living into the walking dead. Not a good quality in my book.”

Quinn swallowed. “No, not in mine either.”

“So, is she still skulking around in Rottingvale Quagmire?” I asked.

“Yep. Far as I know,” the sprite answered. “You planning on going after her?”

“What do you think?”

“That you’re even dumber than you look. Your life. Tried to warn you.” She patted my nose. “Good luck, half-breed. You too, cute human whore. Well, gotta go get laid. Not going through this clusterfuck again.”

With that she flew off.

“She was . . . nice,” Quinn finally said.

I grinned.

“Glad you saved her?”

“Um, all life has value,” Quinn said.

“Keep telling yourself that.” I patted him on the shoulder and we continued on our way.





7





“But I want to go with you.” Quinn paced my living room the next morning, his hands raking through his golden hair. It stuck up at odd angles, but was rather endearing. His scent was also driving me crazy. It made me horny and oddly content all at once. I took a few discreet whiffs to see if he’d added another pheromone to his skin, but all I smelled was him. Besides, I saw a mound of the sprays in the garbage this morning, much to my relief. So, just his natural smell. And my dragon liked it. So did the rest of me.

Quinn didn’t seem to notice my interest as he kept splitting his attention between glaring at me and at the charmed bracelet I’d fastened on his wrist to keep him from being able to leave my domain.

I grunted, turning my attention to scan a letter from my father that appeared only moments ago. He’d already heard about my run-in with Rainbowpebbles. Of course he had. My father seemed to know everything that went on in the Elder. The typical tripe ran through the message: you’re a bad son, you’re an embarrassment to the Starfig name, blah, blah, blah.

I crumpled the letter and tossed it into the fire pit. Wished I could produce a tiny trickle of fire to burn it up. It would be so satisfying. But, no use wishing. It just wasn’t going to happen, though at times it seemed almost within reach.

“Well?” Quinn demanded.

“Did you not hear the part about zombies? No way.” I finished packing my oversized knapsack with necessities, shaking off the heavy feeling contact with my father—even in note form—left behind.

“I can help!”

“Like you did with Rainbowpebbles? I really don’t need that kind of help, Quinn. Besides, I should be back tomorrow sometime. You can just hang out here. Don’t you want some free time?”

“First of all, Rainbowpebbles was going to say no to your stone.” Quinn tugged absently at the charmed bracelet. “I just tried to sweeten the pot—”

“No, you undermined my bargaining and put me in an embarrassing position. You had no business being there and you’re lucky I’m not inclined to beat you.”

He sniffed. “You would have won regardless.”