“You could tel me to help you,” she said, her gaze dropping to the floor. “Could command me.”
My stomach twisted, soured. I stepped forward, lowering my voice so it didn’t carry to the tables surrounding us.
“Rianna, I don’t care what the laws of Faerie say. You are my friend. That’s it. If you aren’t comfortable sharing magic or are nervous about leaving Faerie, I’m not going to force you.” I smiled. “I might beg a little once in a while, but you’l remember that wel enough from academy—al those times I tried to get you to help fudge the results of my spel casting I tried to get you to help fudge the results of my spel casting homework, or that one time I was convinced I could get the attention of that super-crushable guy in meditation if I could cast . . . I don’t even remember what spel it was.”
Rianna’s smile was reluctant, but it slowly crept across her face. “A doppelg?nger spel , so you could skip class while stil being there. Didn’t you end up managing to make a copy of yourself that talked backward and total y failed at wearing clothing?”
“Yeah. I never sent it to class.”
She laughed, her fingers slipping from Desmond’s coat and lifting to her mouth as though she could catch the sound of her own amusement. “I’d have loved to see the teacher’s face if you had sent it.”
“No way. She was a total prude. I’d have been kicked out of academy before anyone managed to dispel the stupid double.”
She nodded, but her smile remained. The laughter had done her some good and brought color to her cheeks.
“Okay,” she said after a moment. “When and where do you want to attempt to raise this shade?”
“You don’t have to—”
She waved away my protest. “Yes, trips out of Faerie frighten me, but trips to Faerie frighten you.” She held up a hand, motioning for silence. “And don’t even try to deny it.
You glance at your boot anytime anyone around us moves, so I’m guessing that’s where you stashed the dagger.” She smiled. “You came to Faerie because I asked for your help.
I can suck it up and leave because you asked for mine. So, when and where?”
“Just so we’re clear, I’m not forcing you to do anything.”
“Just a friendly favor.”
I nodded. “I’l need to talk to John,” I said, and then realized that since she’d been out of my life for several years, she wouldn’t know John. “He’s the homicide detective on the case. I’l let you know when he can set up time at the morgue. How can I contact you?”
time at the morgue. How can I contact you?”
“I’l send Desmond or Ms. B,” she said. Then she reached out and hugged me. “I missed you so much, Al.”
She stepped back. “See you soon?”
“You know it.”
We said our good-byes. Then I made my way out of the club, and no one even tried to enslave me this time.
Chapter 10
Roy waited for me just outside the door to the VIP room.
“What time is it?” I asked as I signed out on the ledger. I didn’t ask what day, though that was what I real y wanted to know.
“No worries, lass,” the little bouncer said from his stool.
“No more ’an five minutes have passed on this side.”
I blinked at him and then glanced at Roy for confirmation.
Logical y I knew the bouncer wasn’t lying—that he couldn’t lie—but I’d had multiple conversations and taken a trek through part of Faerie. Hours had passed for me. It seemed impossible that only a few minutes had passed in the mortal realm.
Roy shoved his glasses higher up on his nose and shrugged. “That sounds about right.”
Okay, then.
I shoved open the main door. The sun stil hung in the same place as when I’d walked through the door earlier.
Five minutes. I could use extra hours once in a while—
imagine how much more I could accomplish. Of course, from what Rianna had said, if I was more mortal than fae, then time would catch up with me every sunrise and sunset.
I wouldn’t want to waste away years in Faerie and end up old before my birth certificate said I should be.
“Is something wrong with your hands?” Roy asked as we walked toward my car.
“What?” I glanced down and realized I was stil wearing the gloves Rianna had given me. “Oh, uh . . .” Would the blood stil be there? Now that I’d gone to Faerie, would I blood stil be there? Now that I’d gone to Faerie, would I always see it on my hands? I peeled off one glove, almost afraid of what I’d find. My skin was spotless underneath. No blood. “No, nothing,” I said, dropping the gloves in my purse and holding up my hands to show Roy my clean palms.
The ghost lifted both his eyebrows, but it wasn’t a look of shock and disgust, just his you’re-acting-odd look. I received it occasional y, and right now I didn’t care. I clenched my fists and then opened them again, staring at my palms. Once I got home and didn’t have to worry about driving close to dusk, I would open my senses and look at my hands with my grave-sight.