By Fairy Means or Foul: A Starfig Investigations Novel(68)

“Of course. I’m really a well-rounded guy.” He practically batted his lashes at me. No. No way. My father would flip if I hired a Red Fury to work for me. Demons required a rigorous amount of paperwork—in triplicate—and even then there were so many bureaucratic obstacles it would take a miracle . . . well, someone like my father to navigate the spate of red tape.

Since Bill ate my half-brother, I’m not so sure my dad would be keen to help him. Or me if I fessed up to my role in Nyx’s demise. My father could throw both of us out of the Elder without even a backward glance.

Quinn placed his hand on my arm and a jolt of warmth spread through my body. While Bill’s eyelash fluttering didn’t do anything for me, I couldn’t say the same of Quinn’s. The guy was a bigger softy than me. And I was beginning to think that said something. I sighed, pushing my chair back. “Can I talk to you for a minute, Quinn? In private?”

He smiled and a dimple appeared in his cheek. “Of course. Excuse us for a moment, Bill.”

Quinn followed me to the front of the tent and I pulled him behind a large plant so Bill couldn’t see us.

“Are you out of your mind?” I hissed. “Do you know how much paperwork it would take to get a Red Fury a resident’s permit? And even if I could pull it off—which I can’t—why would I do that? Do we really think it’s a good idea to keep a Red Fury in the Elder? He’d be the scariest predator here, vegetarian or not. Do you have any idea what Red Furies can do?”

“No, and neither do you. Don’t let your prejudices color your thoughts. He seems like a good guy. I think you should give him a chance. Besides, he saved our lives.”

“Because we saved his.” I wanted to shake Quinn until some sense settled in that pretty skull of his.

He frowned. “You were willing to accept me as more than I appeared, but you won’t give him a chance. That seems unfair.”

“You couldn’t eat me whole. That guy”—I pointed toward our table—“could do it if I pissed him off. What’s to say he won’t?”

“What’s to say you won’t do the same thing to me?” Quinn crossed his arms over his chest.

“Uh, because you know me. Because I care about you. Because we’re friends. And, oh yeah, I promised not to eat anyone while living in the Elder. And there’s that whole wizard-familiar thing. I’m not sure I could eat you even if I wanted to.”

“Yes, but until you became my familiar I didn’t know that. I had to learn to trust you. And I did. I gave you a chance.”

“Because you’re a pushover.”

“I like him. We both know what it’s like to be judged for the way we appear. It seems cruel to do the same to Bill. Don’t you agree?”

I grumbled. Quinn raised an eyebrow. I grumbled some more. “Fine. But if he shows any signs of being violent, he’ll have to go. And I’m still not sure we can get the paperwork sorted—”

Quinn cut me off by throwing himself into my arms and kissing me silly. Maybe Bill wouldn’t be so bad.

Returning to the table, we rejoined Bill. He looked dejected—shoulders slumped, eyes glassy.

“You don’t want to hire me. It’s okay. I understand. Going out to eat with me was one thing, but you’d worry—”

“Welcome to Starfig Investigations.” I stuck out my hand.

His jaw worked, but no words came out. Considering how verbose Bill turned out to be, it was comical. I snickered. Bill launched himself over the table and snatched me up in a hug. He snagged Quinn, too, and danced around the restaurant with us clutched to his large chest.

“Can’t breathe,” Quinn wheezed. My dragon growled. Bill released us at once and we stumbled, but managed not to fall on our asses.

“Oh, sorry, boss, I forget how delicate humans are. Please forgive me, Quinn. I wasn’t trying to hurt you.”

“Hold up, Bill. I still need to get the paperwork in order. It’s going to be a major pain in the ass. We may even be required to go in front of the residency board to prove you won’t be a danger. I’m going to guess they’ll want a magically binding document to make sure you won’t kill anyone . . . uh, else . . . while in the Elder.”

“I could still pretend I’d eat someone though, right?”

Since I did the same thing myself, I chuckled, then nodded. Bill and I shared a smile. You could ask the predator not to hunt the prey, but you couldn’t ever really pull his teeth.

Quinn shook his head. “Well, now that it’s settled, let’s have some dessert.”

I leaned over to Bill and whispered, “I think he’s pregnant.”

Bill guffawed and Quinn spun on his heel, calling over his shoulder, “I heard that.”





24





The next day we set out through the Expanse.

“You know I can pop us wherever you want to go, right?” Bill said.

“I know, but we need to stop and see a friend and I don’t know exactly where we’ll find him,” I said for the third time.

Quinn nodded in agreement. “We hope you can help us.”

“Oh?” Bill ran circles around us as we continued our trek. Literally. Apparently, Red Furies had an abundance of energy. “What kind of help?”