“Did you really bring a Fae back to your penthouse last night?”
I stared at him, schooling my expression into careful amusement even as my mind raced. “Why would I bring a Fae up here? I had to chase that redhead from The Pit again. When I got home I was too hopped up to go right to sleep.”
Alec stepped around the counter. “What happened to your vase?”
“I knocked into the table, right before you showed up. Thus the broom. The shards are in the trash. Anything else, Sherlock?”
His eyes fell to the trash can and my lips pressed into a thin line of annoyance. When he looked up again, he seemed sated. Not enough though, when the next words from his lips were, “Where are you going then, if you didn’t sleep?”
“I need a new set of earbuds,” I said evenly. “You know damned well I don’t sleep without them, and I’m exhausted.”
Alec stepped closer, a predatory glint in his eyes. I knew his routine and still fell into step, not moving fast enough to stop him from trapping me against the counter-top. Gritting my teeth, I stared up at him and crossed my arms over my chest. He licked his lips.
“You know, if sleep is a problem . . . I can help you with that.”
“Ew. You’re like my brother.”
“Adopted brother, doesn’t count.” He grinned. “And we were never close siblings anyway.”
“You’re disgusting.” I gagged, placing my hands against his bare chest and shoving him backward. He resisted for a moment, then stepped away with a shrug.
“I have to run my patrol. Maybe tomorrow morning?” Alec winked and chucked his mostly eaten apple at me. I caught the wet core at the last second, right before he strode to the balcony. His wings extended, arms and legs shortening. Within moments, he changed into a shimmering, dark blue dragon that flapped once and disappeared.
—
I almost went to bed. I almost decided that the asinine, mouthy Fae didn’t deserve my help. Or my precious sleeping time.
But some part of me felt responsible for that Fae. I had rescued him, after all. I knew what condition he was in. I really should have insisted he stay; let him throw his tantrum, maybe learn his name so I didn’t have to keep calling him “that Fae.”
“Prick” could do as a filler.
I snorted. He wouldn’t have stayed without a real fuss and Alec would have murdered him in a second flat. A male anywhere near me? Alec was as possessive as his father, and they both seemed to think I had some sort of property value to them. Once, I had even overheard them talking about how many children I would bear Alec. I shivered. No thanks.
Shoving those unpleasant thoughts aside, I tugged on my boots and punched the elevator button for the bottom floor. If Alec hadn’t been so suspicious I could have asked him where this Fae worked. The streets weren’t overly busy this early in the day, but searching on foot could still take a while. Using my bike would draw too much attention, though.
All I had to do was see him safely to his own district. No engagement needed. Then I was free.
I was going to regret cutting my sleep on patrol tonight.
The thought echoed in my mind again when ten minutes passed with no luck. Twenty. An empty soda can clattered away from the toe of my shoe and I sighed, searching the doors and streets around me. I was on the verge of returning home when the door of Smithfield Press banged open. A shock of red hair caught my eye. I ducked around the side of the building, seeking a hiding spot. The roads in this part of the city were narrow, mostly used by foot traffic, so my options were limited. If I crossed the street, he would see me; playing the invisible guardian would be far preferable to dealing with that nasty temper again.
Rough concrete bit into my palm as I leaned out, peering around the corner. He wasn’t moving quickly. His head was downturned, like he was staring at something in his hands.
I took advantage of his distraction to creep closer, crouching behind a line of trash bins. He looked up, as if he could hear the thunder of my pulse. My heart skittered, but he turned, oblivious to his tail. I waited for another chance to move. His right hand was balled into a fist at his side, his shoulders trembling—angry. Again. Always, with this one, always so angry.
In my peripheral, a coyote shifter prowled the borderline, almost parallel to where the Fae was walking. He didn’t notice me, his attention locked on his distracted target. I bit back the growl that rose in my throat. Alec should be watching this area, but as I scanned the skies all I saw were puffs of white drifting across clear blue.
No shifters should be this close to the Fae district unsupervised. There were rules and, as usual, Alec was disregarding them. I could clear the shifter out easy enough—most of them weren’t willing to tango with an Enforcer—but if I moved, the Fae would be alerted immediately. He would know I was basically stalking him.
In my distraction, I missed the coyote shifter moving forward. The animal was mangy, its tail flicking back and forth. I shivered. That patchy, clumped fur . . . what if he carried diseases? Uncertainty jumped around in my stomach. I could stop him right here. Reveal myself.
And that Fae wasn’t in any condition to fight today. The coyote would tear him to shreds. Releasing a string of swears under my breath I stepped out from my shelter, cracking my knuckles. Dark eyes met mine as the coyote’s ears caught the sound.
“Why are you on Fae territory?”
His eyes darted from mine, seeking an escape, but I prowled closer. He tensed, then shifted into human form. “I’m sorry, Enforcer. I’m a bit lost.”
“Lost? In the only part of the city shifters aren’t allowed unescorted?” I loosed the growl I had been holding, watching as fear shivered up his spine. Good. He should be afraid. I moved closer and said quietly, “If I catch you anywhere near this district again you’ll wish the dragons had found you first.”
He nodded and fled, but I didn’t miss the glance he shot over my shoulder. Another shifter with a vendetta against this Fae. I sighed. Alec was going to catch hell from me for not watching the border. When the coyote shifter was almost out of sight, my shoulders relaxed.
Then tensed again when a voice behind me snarled, “What are you, my personal stalker now?”
I spun on my heel. A muscle ticked along the line of his jaw, his expression blazing with anger. His fist tightened around a piece of paper. I scanned the purple marks that darkened his skin—and paused. The bruises on his face and arms were significantly better. More so than they should have been, even with my aid. “How did you heal so quickly?”
The Fae crossed his arms, hiding the paper from view. “I asked you a question first.” He raised his eyebrows mockingly.
“I followed you, yes. I wanted to make sure no shifters tried to bother you. And good thing I did too.” I motioned behind me, at the spot where the coyote shifter had been.
He clenched and unclenched his jaw, green eyes narrowing. “Let’s make something crystal clear: I’m not breaking any laws, so butt out. You’re crossing a line, Enforcer.”
“You’re absolutely right. I am crossing a line. The Fae-shifter borderline.” I hopped back and forth over a crack in the sidewalk to emphasize my point, grinning as I added, “And I’m paid quite well to be here. But don’t worry. You’ve cashed in your last favor.”