“You, shut it.” I glared and started pacing. I needed an Unseelie, but one that I could control. I couldn’t get the Goose Down Hair faerie to help me again, plus she was probably dead or worse, considering what I’d made her do to her queen. And I didn’t know her name anymore, nor did I know the name of the other faerie I’d freed or where to find him. I had no names.
“Raquel! I need Raquel!” I’d find Raquel and help her if she needed it, convince her to leave IPCA once and for all, and get all the faerie names she knew to help Lend. I ran into the kitchen, where David was at the table on the phone. He’d been desperately calling contacts all day, trying to figure out where Raquel was and how we could get ahold of her. I was touched at his concern. He obviously understood how much Raquel meant to me.
“David!”
He held up a finger for me to wait, listening intently. The color drained from his face and I felt sick. Whatever he was hearing, it wasn’t good.
I heard Lend wake up in the next room. “This is getting really old,” he muttered.
I put my hands on the back of the chair, bouncing nervously on my toes.
“Okay, thanks,” David said, putting down his cell and staring like he didn’t quite know what to do with it.
“Did you find her? Is she on some terrible, faraway assignment?” I hoped. Maybe Anne-Whatever Whatever had put her in an incredibly remote part of the world, doing grunt work like herding pixies. We could get her here, though, with Reth.
David’s voice was soft, devastated, not carrying to the other room. “She’s in lockup.”
“She—What?”
“She’s going on trial for treason. Tonight at seven.” He put his head in his hands.
“No,” I whispered. I didn’t think my stomach could twist any more, but it kept finding new ways. Raquel was in trouble. And it was because of me. At least now I knew where she was. My tired brain sluggishly sorted through plans to get her out as I half listened to Lend, Jack, and Arianna, who were still unaware of Raquel’s plight.
David grabbed his phone, then abruptly stood and left the room; I heard the familiar creak of his feet on the stairs.
“Can we switch rooms?” Lend called. “I’m kind of starving.”
“I’ll make you something!” Jack said, cheerfully skipping into the kitchen.
“Can you even cook?” I asked, a valid question considering he didn’t eat normal food. He could only eat food in the Faerie Realms. Jack could help; he could get me to wherever Raquel was. And he knew the Center better than I did, even.
“Never underestimate what I can do.”
“Oh, believe me I don’t.” I sighed. “Lend, do you want me to go around the back so you can come in here?”
“Yeah. Man, this brings whole new levels of suck into my life.”
I tried to smile but couldn’t quite manage it. I walked out the back door; the sky was just beginning to soften, heralding the coming of a new day. Then it hit me, what day today was. I’d lost track in the crazy shuffle of dayless nights and nightless days in the Center and the Faerie Realms, but I was pretty sure I knew when we were now.
Merry Christmas, Evie.
I ran around the wraparound porch, cringing from both my feet and the freezing air before bursting through the front door. I was not a fan of this whole winter thing. At least in the Center all seasons felt the same.
I jumped onto the couch, curling up in the corner in what remained of Lend’s body heat. A lingering hint of Lend’s particular smell remained, crisp and cool like a stream buried in the deep green of a forest.
Arianna was still in the armchair, staring at nothing in this creepy way she had where she didn’t move and didn’t breathe and didn’t appear to be alive—or, well, undead—at all. I was glad she didn’t want to talk, because I didn’t either. I had to figure out how to rescue Raquel.
“…why you are here in the first place,” Lend finished saying. His voice had a distinctly menacing tone.
“Why, to make you the best omelet you’ve ever had, of course.” There was a pause that I could only fill with my imagination. It involved Lend making I’m going to kill you motions with his hands. “Hey-oh,” Jack continued, “I rescued our girl Evie from the Center and helped her get to the Faerie Realms to save you.”
“Our girl is my girl. And that makes everything okay how?”
“It doesn’t,” I yelled. Would we never be able to have a quiet conversation again? “But it’s a start.”
“A start I intend to finish with this omelet,” Jack said, “because after you’ve eaten it, all will be forgiven.”
“I’m not eating anything you make,” Lend answered. I closed my eyes, listening to the sounds of the fridge opening and drawers shutting slightly harder than they needed to. I was big on second chances for people who nearly tried to kill me, apparently. First I forgave Vivian, now Jack.
But not Reth. Never Reth.
Of course, of the three he was the only one who had never tried to kill me. Whatever, though. At least Vivian and Jack had being crazy and raised by the faeries as an excuse for borderline-homicidal tendencies. Well, Vivian’s definitely went past the border and straight into hundreds-of-paranormal-deaths-quite-literally-on-her-hands land.
It was a very complicated land.
“So, we’ve got a problem,” I said.
“What?” Lend yelled.
“We’ve got a problem!” I shouted.
“No, I heard that. I mean, what’s the problem now?”
“I have the solution!” Jack interrupted.
“What?” I sat up, all ears.
“Bells!”
“What?” Lend and I asked at the same time.
“Get her a kitty collar with bells on it. That way you can hear her coming and get someplace where you won’t be hurt by collapsing immediately into sleep.”
There was a thumping noise, followed by an indignant “Ow!” from Jack.
“The problem,” I said, “is that Raquel is going on trial with IPCA and I am not about to let them lock her up forever.” She was my Raquel. How dare they. My fear was quickly shifting to anger. Tasing me was one thing. But if they thought they could get away with persecuting the very best person they’d ever had working for them, they had another think coming.
“Where?” Jack asked.
“At the Center,” David answered, coming down the stairs, but he was cut off by Lend snapping, “You aren’t involved in this, Jack.”
“Oh, I think you want me involved. I believe I’m the only one here who has ever been to a disciplinary hearing. Five, actually. I was shooting for my lucky number seven, but alas, IPCA and I parted ways too soon.”
That settled it. A cheery band we’d make, no doubt. I’d been looking forward to starting some new Christmas traditions this year. Simple things. Reading the Grinch. Decorating a tree. Making cookies. Storming the Center to rescue the closest person I’d ever had to a mom. The usual holiday fare.
Merry freaking Christmas.
IN THE ABSENCE OF RUBY SLIPPERS
This is the worst idea ever,” Lend shouted from behind the closed door as Arianna finished pinning my hair under a brunette wig.
“I’ve been having a lot of those lately, but one of us wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for my most recent one.”
“Well, you look the part, at least,” Arianna said, standing back to admire her handiwork. I was in a fitted, sleek black pantsuit with a blouse underneath. The blouse was white. I hated it already. That, combined with the too-dark hair and colored eyebrows making my tragically pale skin even whiter, and I was not loving life. Still, sacrifices had to be made.
Jack was lying on the bed with his head hanging over the side, his face slowly turning more and more red as the blood rushed to it. He looked phenomenally bored for someone about to break into a secret international high security facility.
I slipped into my favorite stilettos, took one step, and fell over. “Ouch.” Shaking off the shoes, I rubbed at my still-tend
er feet. The stilettos were so not happening. That did it. If I didn’t already want to destroy the Dark Queen, the fact that she had ruined my ability to wear high heels put her at the very top of my hit list. She was so going down.
But not right now. With a longing look at my pile of heels brought over from the apartment by Jack, I instead turned to the other pile and put on plain black ballet flats.
I heard a thunk that sounded like Lend’s head against the door. “This is stupid. Let my dad take care of it. He’s been contacting everyone he knows who is still with IPCA, and—”
I walked over and put my own head against the door, pretending there wasn’t anything between us. “And it doesn’t matter. IPCA isn’t the same. There are new people in charge, and they aren’t messing around. I can help her. Raquel would do the same for me. She has done the same for me.”
“I don’t see what good it’s going to do for you to waltz back in there and—”
“Can I tango back in there, instead? So much sexier than the waltz.”
“Evie, I’m serious! You just broke out of IPCA! You’re going to get tased and tagged again.”
“I really doubt it. Faerie backup, remember?” I went to the window and looked down into the yard, where Reth stood in the midst of the dead brown grass, looking like a god of spring and sunshine who had seriously lost his way. He was staring straight up at me, although how he knew I’d look down right that instant I had no idea. Creeper.
I shivered a little, still not breaking eye contact with Reth. I was in over my head, I knew that, and I knew I’d owe him even more after this. I had no doubt I’d pay in a way I really didn’t want to, and soon.
The door shook as Lend kicked it. “Pretty much the only idea I like less than you walking back into IPCA is you walking back into IPCA with only Jack and Reth for protection.”
“They owe me.”
“True,” Jack said, standing up and swaying slightly as he shook his head to clear it. “Plus, I’m pretty sure Reth’s threat to remove my hands if I don’t help Evie is still under effect. And I’m always up for making hell at IPCA. It’s a favorite pastime of mine.”
Lend kicked the door again, harder. “Along with abandoning people in the Faerie Paths?”
“One time! I do that one time and no one’s going to let me live it down? Just off the top of my head I can name five worse things I’ve done in the last year.”
I put my hand on his shoulder. “Probably not the best way to get back in our good graces.”
My phone buzzed on the dresser and I ran to it, hoping against hope it was from Raquel and none of this would be necessary. Maybe they’d let her out! Maybe…No such luck. Carlee had written: “omg met a guy soooooo hawt older 2 im dying merry xmas to me CALL.” I twisted half my face into a smile, wishing I could call her for details. Alas, more people I loved needed rescuing. “Txt me details, cant talk now, xoxo.” One of these days my life would be normal and I could be a good friend again.
The doorknob twisted. “I’m coming with you.”
I ran over and held it shut. “No, you are so not. We can’t carry your unconscious body around the Center. Besides, I need you here. If something goes wrong, I can’t handle you getting hurt.”
“Wait, so it’s okay if I get hurt?” Jack asked.
“Yes,” I snapped at the same time as Lend and Arianna.
“As long as you’re sure, then,” Jack muttered.
Lend jiggled the doorknob. “What about you getting hurt?”
“I’ve already broken into the Faerie Realms and stabbed the Dark Queen. After that, a bunch of government suits? Not so intimidating.”
“Please tell me stabbing does not factor into your strategy.”
I laughed. “Of course it doesn’t. I left my knife in her neck, anyway. I think I’m just going to run around and punch people, see if I can’t find a teenage girl to tase me.” I knocked teasingly on the door.
“If you really want to get Raquel out, then you need me. You can’t turn into anyone and everyone you see. I can. So if you really want this covert mission to be a success, why on earth are you leaving your best asset at home?”
“I—Because you—”
I looked at Arianna for help, but she shrugged. “He’s right.”
“GAH!” I shouted, throwing my hands up in the air. “Fine!” He was right, of course. I couldn’t risk Raquel’s freedom on anything less than our best effort, and Lend should be part of it. Much as I hated to admit it.
“None of this would be a problem if you’d followed my plan to send all the faeries to hell,” Jack said, his voice laced with annoyance.
“Do you really want to bring that day up again?” Lend asked, the door doing nothing to muffle the threat.
“So!” Jack said, clapping his hands and grinning at me. “We ready to go? What’s the transportation plan?”
“I guess I’ll go with Reth, and—”
Lend shouted, “No, you’re not going anywhere alone with Reth.”
“Fine, I’ll go with Jack, and—”
“That doesn’t work for me either.”
I laughed drily. “Okay then, I’ll click my heels together three times and say, ‘There’s no place like the Center, there’s no place like the Center,’ and then magically appear there!”
He was quiet for a few seconds. “You’ll probably be safer with Reth.” It sounded like he was speaking through clenched teeth. “And I can keep a better eye on Jack.”
“Well, I for one am thrilled to spend more time with Lend. That’s the top of my Fun Things to Do list. We should come up with a secret handshake!” Jack said, pushing me to the side and throwing the door open, which resulted in Lend falling to the floor immediately unconscious. “Oh, whoops.” Jack smiled, his eyes gleaming. “Too bad. I like him so much when he’s talking.”
“Very funny. Keep him safe, okay? I don’t think Raquel’s in the Iron Wing—she would have heard me shouting. Look anywhere you can think of. They might have her in a random room somewhere. We’ll meet in Raquel’s old office in two hours, whether we’ve found anything or not.”
He nodded, not looking at me as he poked Lend repeatedly with his foot.
“And, Jack? That threat Reth made about your hands? I’m going to apply it to Lend, too. Keep him safe. Or else.”
I took one last long look at Lend, wanting to touch him but knowing it’d only make me feel worse because he couldn’t touch me back. Then Arianna wished us luck, and I went downstairs and out the door, where Reth was waiting, hand outstretched. He was holding Tasey, the rhinestones sparkling in the early morning light. “You dropped this in the Faerie Realms. It seemed a pity to part you two.”
I wrapped my fingers around my trusty friend, maliciously hoping I’d get the chance to use her on someone.
PLAN T
You have no idea where Anne’s office is?” I asked, grouchy and beyond footsore, seriously envying Jack’s completely healed feet. We’d already been here for an hour and had nothing to show for it other than a few close calls with security patrols. I’d figured since I couldn’t check every room for Raquel, searching Anne-Whatever Whatever’s office for records was my next best bet.
“Surprisingly enough, I do not make a habit of concerning myself with the locations of offices of people I neither know nor care anything for.”
“I thought you had some big vendetta against IPCA for controlling you.”
“Have you seen anyone who ever once used my name against me? Present company excepted.”
I frowned, checking around a corner to a hall that was, as usual, empty. This was so much less exciting than I had been afraid it would be. Reth walked calmly forward, never pausing, never frantically checking over his shoulder.
I wondered what he did to those poor suckers who had trapped him with his true name. I almost asked, but honestly, I didn’t really want to know. “Wait—you didn’t do anything to Raquel.” I inwardly cringed. Raquel had used his name against him, and there I went remind
ing him.
“Hmm. An uncharacteristic oversight.”
I snorted. “Yeah, mister always has a plan, you’re constantly missing details.” I shouldn’t push the issue lest I convince him that he still had some vengeance waiting, but I couldn’t help it. It was so unlike him.
He waved an elegant hand through the air as though brushing off my observation. “Some things are beneath my attention.”
“Liar.”
He stopped short, and I walked a few paces before realizing he wasn’t beside me anymore. I turned and found myself sucked into his golden gaze.
“You are quite blind sometimes, my love.”
“What do you mean by that?” I snapped. Then my jaw dropped as he actually rolled his perfect, gigantic-bordering-on-anime golden eyes. That was so not a faerie gesture. “You just rolled your eyes!”
“It would appear you are a negative influence after all.” He walked past me and I scurried to catch up.
But it had me thinking. I knew for a fact that on at least one occasion Raquel had directly screwed up his turn-Evie-into-a-fiery-immortal plans. If that didn’t get her on his hit list, I didn’t know what would. I looked at Reth, wondering if he’d left Raquel alone just because of what she meant to me. That line of thought made me feel strange and squirmy inside. It was easier for me to dismiss him when he was unquestionably a jerk. But he’d helped me so much, even if some of it was underhanded and calculating. I didn’t know how to sort it all out in my head and my heart.
We hit a hallway that I knew contained a records storage room. Maybe it listed where they kept employees waiting for disciplinary hearings. I couldn’t palm it open. “Any way you can open this door?”
Looking utterly and completely bored, he put a hand up to the door and pulled it back as though burned. “Iron.”
“Brilliant. I can’t unlock them, you can’t get in them. We’re useless.”
“I do recall saying exactly that same thing before we embarked on this pointless excursion.”
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