So she hadn’t failed . . . yet. She nodded. His hand slowly pulled back the veil to the night and she moved alongside him, face close enough to the window to feel the chill and form breath rings of fog on the panes.
Hundreds of huge creatures crowded the poplar tree across the street. They were larger and uglier than buzzards with lime-green claws as large as a human arm. Their eyes were the same putrid color. But the scariest thing about them was the large beaks and tongues with distended fangs that glowed like fiery daggers.
“What —?” She lifted a finger to the apparitions.
“Sluaghs. They devour the spirits of dead humans and only travel at night in packs.”
Skye hugged her arms and muttered. “I wish they could all be like the pixies.”
“You wanted unicorns and rainbows.” Kheelan’s words were tart as cherries. “Instead, I’ve shown you goblins and shadows.”
Skye studied his tight face, read the self-loathing in the drawn lips and hooded eyes. This is what he has dealt with all his life. And in spite of his smoldering resentment, he didn’t begrudge Skye her human innocence, didn’t enjoy shattering her safe world.
Kheelan jerked the curtains shut. “A mere taste of what we’re up against.” The topaz gleam in his eyes sharpened and crystallized. “I won’t lie. I need you, more than I’ve ever needed anybody. But I won’t push it. You can back out now if you want.”
He was an eddy of dark undercurrents.
The concern touched Skye to the core. He wanted her, needed her, just as she was at this very moment. If Mom were here, she would order Skye to do the right thing. Dad would bail and run. Callie would proceed with confidence. Michael and Tanner, in their continued avoidance of their witchy ancestry, would pass on the challenge. It wasn’t in their college-loving, football-playing, magic-avoiding agenda.
She must be crazy.
“Are you in?” he asked, his body still and intense, a crouching panther.
“All the way.”
Kheelan’s muscles relaxed, the brow smoothed out. “I’m not sure the Seelie Court fairies deserve you. Actually, I’m sure of it.”
“I’m not doing it for them. I’m doing it for you.”
His eyes flashed astonishment, followed by a peculiar combination of relief, guilt, and gratitude.
Skye closed her eyes and forced herself to think of the problem at hand. The buzzing noises in the shop’s basement crowded to the front of her mind. “I know where the fairies are trapped and killed. They’ve even flown around me, asking for help.” She put a hand to her mouth. “All those things on the floor, the dried-up insect-looking things with wings. They’re dead fairies aren’t they?”
His eyes darkened, the topaz flecks burning. “I’m sure of it.”
Skye groaned in disgust. “I saw those beautiful creatures flying outside when you gave me the hagstone. I even think I saw them once when I was little, thinking they were fireflies. Of course, I’ll help them. But what can I do?”
“I want to go down in the basement and have a look for myself. Could you arrange that? Sometime when Kyle’s not around. I don’t want to freak him out, and I don’t want anyone at the store to see us together and make connections or ask questions.”
She gave him a reproachful look. “You think an employee at the store is doing this.”
“Absolutely. Someone, or more likely, several people there, have figured out a way to lure pixies in.”
Skye crossed her arms. “No one at the store would do that, except maybe Glenna.” She shook her head. “Scratch that. Glenna’s not smart enough to put together a trap.”
“I know you don’t want to believe it. You imagine everyone is kind like you, but face facts, Skye. The world is a dangerous place, far more than you’ve ever realized.”
She shivered at the ominous words. “There’s only one way to find out, and I say the sooner we know the truth the better.” She walked over to her purse and pulled out a set of keys. “Let’s go right now.”
Kheelan checked his watch. “It’s 9:00. You think everyone’s gone for the night?”
Skye grabbed a coat and hunted for a flashlight. “They should be by the time we get there.”
***
The only light in The Green Fairy was in the crystal display shelves, the rocks burning liked multi-hued hot embers from alien planets. With a mixture of relief and guilt, Skye entered, using the keys Claribel gave her. Ditch the guilt. Her boss would do the same thing given a chance to save pixies. As soon as she locked the door behind Kheelan, she leaned against it with jellied knees.