“What’s the range?” he asks, leaning forward with enthusiastic intrigue and I try not to let it sting how anxious he is to bail.
“We’ll have to test it out, but it’s mostly an intent thing. If we’re all sleeping and you sneak out with the intention of trying to get as far away as possible versus if you plan to just jog down to the store and back.”
He nods slowly. “So we could all go back home and as long as we never plan to tell anyone or abandon each other, we could go back to our normal lives?”
I waver back and forth thinking it through. “To a degree, I suppose.”
He pops up with renewed energy, and starts throwing a bunch of my shit into a basket.
“What the heck are you doing?”
He gives me a strange look. “Going home. Come on, pack what you need and we’ll come back for the rest.”
I give him an offended glare. “Who says I’m just ditching my apartment to come live in the human world?”
He narrows his eyes, and I get the feeling he isn’t used to being challenged often. “And who says we want to live here? Look around you, Cambria. You really think you can fit three more people into this room?”
“Lucien,” Dorian interrupts carefully. “You’re doing that thing again.”
“What thing?” he asks flippantly without looking up, snatching a stray bra off of the floor and shoving it into his growing pile.
Atlas still hasn’t moved from his spot against the wall. “The one where you act like an asshole.”
Lucien pauses as he contemplates things before sighing and setting down the basket, joining Dorian and I on the edge of the bed. “I apologize, Cambria. I just,” but I wave him off, not needing to hear empty words.
“Look, I get it, really. You don’t have to explain. But I can’t just permanently stay in the human world; I’m fae.”
“And that means?” Atlas prompts, but it’s Dorian that answers.
“She’s magical, guys. She needs to reconnect with her world and recharge or she’ll wither away and die, or lose her magic. Like when the woodcutter tried to take the willow maid from the forest and it killed her because she wasn’t meant to leave.”
I give him an odd look. “Have you already met other fae?”
He smiles, bright blue eyes lighting up. “No, but all stories and legends are rooted around some original fact to spark them. So when there’s a huge trend of common themes, it’s a pretty safe bet that they are on the right track.”
I share a look with Atlas who’s laughing. “He runs a nerd shop full of all that shit.”
Dorian doesn’t even look offended. “And yet, look which of us is prepared for our new life twist? So kindly go suck a dick, Atlas.”
Atlas barks out a laugh and even Lucien looks a bit more relaxed. “Okay, you said you needed to pick up your check. From the club or someplace here?”
I give him the answer I know he’s praying for. “The club. Currency is the same here and there, but our credit cards are different since we use our own banks. And trust me, you do not want to rack up debt with a fae bank, hence why I’d rather go without.”
Lucien looks as relieved as I thought he would. “Then let’s go. We can figure things out on the way and make arrangements for the time we’ll have to be absent from work and the like when we need to return. Thankfully, I’ve accrued a good amount of vacation days.”
Now faced with clearer expectations, Lucien falls into the role of gentleman and offers a hand to help me up. Without all of the strain of the unknown and possibility of permanently uprooting his life, he seems to be handling things a bit better, able to start compartmentalizing.
I head around the room and gather some clothes in a bag, because really, what else do I need to bring? I don’t have much money, and the only valuable things I owned, I left behind when I set out or pawned.
We walk back toward the fairy ring and I get several looks on the street. They obviously notice and Atlas sidles closer to ask quietly, “Spark note version for the class?”
I give him a sad smile. “Basically, I’ll always be shamed because of the symbols, but that’s nothing new for me. It was the walk that was the big gossip. Now that that’s done with, people will be curious. The fae believe they are superior in every way, but plenty travel human side to stir up trouble, fuck around, and get fucked. Now that you’re allowed to stay here, they’ll be...curious, what dynamic is going to develop.”
Lucien gives me a confused look, but Dorian outright laughs. “She means they’re going to be sniffing around to see if she’ll pimp us out for orgies.”
I shrug. No use sugar coating it. “Not a lot of fae are reckless enough for this to happen. You three are novelties now and we’re shameless about going after what we want, the more taboo and unobtainable the better.”
Atlas gives me a side eye. “And are you? Planning to treat us like sex toys or just slaves in general?”
I stop in my tracks and look him dead in the eye. The other two backtrack when they see we aren’t following and I’m glad, because I only want to say this once.
“I not now, nor will I ever, use any of you like that or force you into that position. You aren’t fae, but you’re people. Just because I’m responsible for you doesn’t mean I own you. You’re not my slaves and you’re not lesser, just different. If you want to sleep with somebody, that’s on you. My job is to make sure you keep our race a secret and in this world, you need to live with me. If you get into trouble, I have to deal with the fallout. That’s it.”
Atlas tilts his head respectfully. “It would seem pretty shitty banging some fae chick in your one room apartment after you stuck your neck out for us, though. Unless it’s like Dorian said and you’re into that sort of thing.”
I start walking again, feeling a bit better about the situation. “Thank you for not wanting to be a disrespectful asshole. And no, not particularly. I’m not a prude by any means, but I’m also not about to start screwing anyone that gives me the time of day like some of these people around here.
“I guess I should add it also means I need to make sure you aren’t getting taken advantage of. We have a very diverse set of abilities from one person to the next, and most won’t hesitate to try and manipulate you to get what they want.”
Lucien turns to look over his shoulder at me. “And what sort of abilities do you possess?”
Smirking, I wink while waiting for them to step into the ring with me before picturing where I want to go, lest we get separated. “A girl has to have a little mystery. See if you can figure it out; you look like the sort that enjoys a good challenge.”
His eyes darken, and I’d like to pretend it’s with heat instead of warning. Either way, it’s a fine line I’m dancing with this one, but if a fae is one thing, it’s a thrill seeker.
My skin tingles as we start to cross the bridge and for the first time in my life, I’m actually excited for what the day might bring.
Chapter 6
Lucien
A complication, but a manageable one; it will just take a bit of adjusting. I knew this girl had trouble written all over her when I first saw her and I was right. I just didn’t expect this by any means.