By Fairy Means or Foul: A Starfig Investigations Novel(66)

I swallowed. “I thought Red Furies were less . . . um . . .”

“I believe the word you’re searching for is civilized. Yes, I know. Most aren’t. Lucky for you and your mate, I’m not like my kin. Though I will admit that devouring that tasty little fairy felt good. I haven’t done that in a couple hundred years, at least. I’m usually vegetarian.”

“Vegetarian?” This was getting weirder by the second. Had I hit my head?

“I didn’t realize dragons parroted everything said. I’ll have to add it to my notes, too.” The Red Fury nodded like it would definitely need to do this soon.

“I don’t. Your notes would be wrong if you put that in there.” I might have sounded a tad defensive.

“Oh.” It pointed toward Quinn. “Is he okay? I have some medical training if you’d like me to take a look.”

“I don’t think that would be a good idea. My dragon is a little possessive.” And edgy.

“Ah, yes, I’d heard that about dragons.” It stood there for an awkward moment. “I’d introduce myself but, you know, I can’t give you my real name.”

“That’s okay,” I stammered. “I really don’t want to be in charge of a demon anyway.”

It laughed. “No, you really don’t. It never turns out well for those that do.”

“I can imagine.”

It smiled. “Can you?”

I shivered. “Well, I’m Twig—”

“Starfig. Yes, I figured that. Your father is Auric, right? You’re actually half-fairy. I’ve wanted to meet you.”

I furrowed my brow. “Me? Why?”

It shrugged. “What else? Curiosity. I’ve never heard of a dragon-fairy combo and I wanted to see you for myself. Little did I know I’d get to do it after being captured by your brother.”

“Half-brother.”

“Ah, right.” It frowned. “Is your father going to be mad you didn’t try to stop me from eating your sibling?”

“I-I really don’t know.”

“Does he know you’re bonded as the wizard’s familiar?”

“How did you know—”

“Oh please, I didn’t fall off the thorn-onion wagon yesterday. Give a demon some credit.”

“Right . . . So, we’re just going to go.” I bent down and scooped Quinn into my arms, watching the demon the whole time. This was surreal.

“I wish you wouldn’t.” It took a step toward us.

“Why?”

“Honestly, I’m lonely. And I have a lot of questions about you. Would you and your mate consider having dinner with me? I can pop us to a little tent near the Expanse that serves excellent vegetarian fare.”

“Uh, wow.” How to get out of this delicately. “That sounds nice, but I really need to get him and the unicorn horn back to Lighthelm as soon as possible.”

Its face clouded over and it bared its fangs, a snarl reverberating around the room. “I can’t let you take the horn. You could use it to force my name from me.” The demon’s voice had deepened significantly and sounded more beast than beauty now.

“No, no, we don’t want to do that. Perhaps you could leave and then we’d take it? We have to return it to its rightful owner. That’s what I do. I find things for others.”

And just like that, the demon stopped snarling, an eager expression on its face. “What? Like someone says they’ve lost something and you find it for them?”

“Or someone wants me to find a precious stone for them. Things like that.”

“You’re the one who posted that ad in the Daily Chronicles! I wanted to apply for the assistant position, but I figured being a demon and all, I wouldn’t really have a shot.” The Red Fury narrowed his eyes. “Would you consider giving me an interview? I’m really good with record keeping and I can brew a mean pot of forest-fury tea. It’s a secret family recipe. Guaranteed to put hair on your chest.”

Now we’d officially boarded the stagecoach to Crazy Town. I pulled Quinn closer, his face nestled in my neck. His eyes fluttered. Then he stiffened in my arms.

“Oh, he’s awake,” the demon said. “Great. I’ve never met a wizard with a dragon familiar. He’s pretty.”

A growl rose to my throat.

The demon held up his hands in a pacifying gesture. “I’m not coming onto him, Twig. He’s not my type, though he is attractive enough. I like the bad boys, though. Rawr, you know?”

This was getting weirder and weirder. Quinn elbowed me gently, letting me know he wanted me to put him down. I released his legs and let him slide down my body, never taking my eyes off the demon and supporting Quinn as he got to his feet.

I nudged Quinn behind me when it became clear he could stand on his own.

“You’re a Red Fury?” Quinn rubbed his eyes.

“Very good, wizard.” The demon beamed. “And please don’t assume I mean you any harm. Twig and I already had that conversation. We can discuss it again over dinner if need be.”

“I don’t know if we have time for dinner,” I said.

The demon’s face fell and its shoulders slumped. “Oh. Sure. I understand. You think I’ll go all berserker on you and crunch you down the way I did that annoying fairy.”