By Fairy Means or Foul: A Starfig Investigations Novel(73)

“Because I’m violent and untrustworthy.” Bill frowned, his claws scratching across my dining table.

“Because that’s what others would think. Obviously Quinn and I know differently.” I pointed to my table. “Do you mind?”

He’d left furrows in the wood. Since he was red anyway I couldn’t be positive, but I’m pretty sure Bill blushed. “Oops. Sorry.”

Quinn muttered a few choice words under his breath, shot us both a dirty look. With a sharp flick of his wrist the damage disappeared. Huh. I should ask him the extent of his powers. I know there wasn’t enough fairy magic in me to fix the table. But Quinn’s body language clued me in that now was not the time to ask.

Bill and I shrugged.

The day passed slowly. At least for me. Bill was excited to get started and spent the morning filing. It’s amazing how much of a paper trail my cases left behind.

Quinn hardly looked at me, wouldn’t even make eye contact. What was his deal?

“You sure you’re all right?” I asked for the hundredth time.

“Would you stop asking me that? Blood and tears! What’s a wizard got to do to get some peace and quiet? Between you hassling me and that big oaf rustling all those papers, a guy can’t get a moment to think.”

“That hurts my feelings, Quinn. I know when I’m not wanted.” Bill gathered up the current stack he was sorting and stomped into the front office, doing a bang-up impersonation of a princess in a snit. The door slammed behind him.

I sighed, rubbed my forehead. “Nice job. Piss off the Red Fury. That will go well.”

“I can’t help it if he files loudly.” Quinn’s shoulders were so tense that they practically touched his ears.

“You sure you don’t want to talk about it?”

He stared at me for a moment before bowing his head. “Twig, there’s something I need to tell you. Please don’t hate me—”

A knock at the door cut off his answer.

“Come in,” I called.

Brandsome stepped into the room as if he was coming off a modeling gig. Maybe he was. His hair shimmered and his violet eyes were as beautiful as I remembered. He oozed sex appeal in his turquoise leather pants and sheer white top. His magic caressed me, tried to lure me in. My bond to Quinn must have given me partial immunity because while I could acknowledge his beauty and the strength of his magic, I didn’t really feel anything but annoyed that Quinn and I weren’t able to finish our conversation. The meadowmint I was currently chewing also helped.

Brandsome gave me a smile that in the past would have hardened my cock and made my knees weak. Not now, though. In fact my dragon rumbled angrily. It definitely viewed the unicorn as enemy numero uno at the moment. We were in accord on that.

Instead of letting my anger show, I returned Brandsome's smile, then turned to look at Quinn and gave him a wink as he moved to my side. Practically sprinted, actually. Must be worried I’d fall for Brandsome’s magic again. No chance with Quinn in the room. He really was the only one I saw.

When I turned my attention back to Brandsome, his eyes were narrowed and he considered me closely. He all but ignored Quinn.

“So nice to see you again,” I forced myself to say. “You look as beautiful as ever.”

Batting his eyelashes, he practically purred. “You’re a big flatterer, Mr. Starfling.”

He ran a finger across my bicep. While his touch had sent a charge of lust through me previously, now I only felt a slight tingle. Nothing like when Quinn touched me. Just thinking about the way he’d clung to me last night as I set a grueling rhythm caused my cock to harden.

Quinn all but vibrated in anger, while Brandsome tittered. Fuck, they both assumed I was reacting to Brandsome’s proximity. I couldn’t exactly say any different at the moment, but I’d disabuse Quinn of that the moment we were alone.

“I understand you successfully retrieved my horn. I’m ever so grateful.” More eyelash batting and he reached out to touch me again. It took all my control to keep myself from jerking away.

“Please sit, and I’ll get your horn.” I hurried from the room, my skin crawling from Brandsome’s touch, and looked around the front office. No sign of Bill or the horn. Shit. “Bill?” I whispered. “Bill, get your ass in here.”

A second later Bill materialized. I practically jumped out of my skin, my claws shooting from my fingers. “For the love of all that is sacred, would you please stop doing that? Can’t you make a noise or something? The silence is creepy.”

He grinned, a sheepish expression so at odds with his fierce visage. “Sorry, Boss. I freaked when the unicorn”—he sighed like a love-struck youth—“came in. I wasn’t expecting him to be that . . . magnificent.”

I rolled my eyes. I couldn’t really blame him for his crush, though I hadn’t thought unicorn magic would affect a demon like him. “He’s not a nice guy.” I kept my voice low so only Bill heard.

“I know.” He sighed again, a strangely wistful sound. “He’s awful.”

“Yes, exactly.”

“But Twig, you realize I’m a demon, right? I mean, I try to behave in civilized company. Only, when it comes down to it, I’m still what I was made to be. And that part of me recognizes the horribleness in the unicorn . . . and likes it.” He waggled his eyebrows.