Chapter 5
FIVE
Every clang of dishware or bark of laughter in the small dark restaurant made me jump, even with Gabriel sitting to my left, and Crispin sitting to my right.
We had stopped for food on the way home, and since it was a weekend, there was a wait.
But soon—soon I would have crispy egg rolls and greasy noodles within my grasp.
The ultimate comfort food after a long day.
Anxious and hungry, I glanced at my watch. After its last battery had gotten ruined from hiding in a pond from trolls, I had put a little waterproof case around the watch head. I was skeptical whether it would actually work, but the text flashing at me was clear as could be.
Crispin bumped my shoulder, being nosy and peering down at my watch, seeing Dawn’s name listed as the sender. “Has she gone on her date yet?”
“It’s supposed to be tomorrow.” Making a point of turning so he couldn’t see my watch, I opened the text. It simply said, You got me into this, now you’d better help me.
I glared when this time Gabriel peeked at my watch over my shoulder. “I thought she wanted to go on that date.”
Sighing, I faced forward in my seat. “Anyone would be nervous on a first date with ancient elven nobility.” I felt guilty for being surprised that Rian, the elf in question, had agreed to the date with Dawn in the first place.
It wasn’t a negative comment on Dawn. It was just that most men had an issue with powerful women towering over them.
I noticed a little blue snout peeking out of my satchel, sniffing the air as one of the servers brought over our to-go bag. Crispin handed the guy a credit card before I could search my bag for cash.
I lowered my voice as the guy walked away to ring us up. “Do you really think King Francis won’t be annoyed with you buying us food all the time?”
Crispin snorted. “If you think he even looks at the statements, you underestimate the amount of wealth King Francis possesses.”
I stood, gently lifting my satchel with Ringo inside. “How? He doesn’t even leave Emerald Heights.”
“He rules a kingdom. A small kingdom, but still a kingdom. People pay taxes.”
I narrowed my eyes. “Do you pay taxes?”
“Of course not. But I also keep an eye on wily celestials for free.” He straightened, tugging both sides of his coat for emphasis.
“Keep your voice down.” Gabriel handed me the food bag as a pair of goblin-blooded humans walked in.
Instantly thinking of our watchers, I shivered. It could have been anyone.
The server returned with Crispin’s card, and we all shuffled out into the street. The two goblins hardly spared us a glance, and when they did they were just observing Gabriel.
“Well, I’m certainly looking forward to constantly feeling like strangers are watching us with ulterior motives,” Crispin muttered.
Gabriel glanced back at us, one arm lifted to hail a cab. “Mistral will figure out who it was.”
“And do what with them?” Before he could answer me, my watch buzzed again. Another text from Dawn, simply saying, EVA!
I sighed. “We might have to make one quick stop on our way to the apartment. Hopefully whatever driver we get won’t mind us eating in the car.”
Gabriel raised a brow, but didn’t question me as a cab stopped for us. I had made it past my fear of water, so what was one pep talk for a snarky half troll who used to be my boss?
Don’t answer that.
Crispin let out a whistle as our cab pulled up next to Dawn’s apartment building.
I had only been there a few times, and had managed to keep my jaw off the floor for each of them, but I had to admit, it was impressive.
The building was thirty stories high, every wall dark glass that residents could see out of but no one could see into.
I knew from my visits that electric blinds would cover all of that glass with the push of a button if the resident wanted darkness.
Gabriel held the door open for me as we got out of the cab, the takeout bag in his other hand since the driver had indeed minded us eating in the car. Although I might have snuck an egg-roll while he wasn’t looking.
Crispin came around the opposite side to join us, his blue eyes wide as he observed the building. “Does she really make that much money off the agency you used to work for?”
I shrugged. “She has a lot of runners, but I suspect she has her fingers in a lot of other stuff too. She knows way too many people for someone who usually just sits behind a desk and sends her minions out to do her bidding.” Dawn could be a bit much, but she was definitely someone you wanted for you and not against you.
I waited for some people on the street to pass, then approached the call box by the imposing glass and iron doors.
The glass showed me my reflection plus the floating ghosts of city lights, and nothing more.
The room inside could be solid stone and no one could tell.
I knew from experience that the door man would answer the callbox, then he would decide if the resident could be disturbed based on their prior instructions.
One time I had showed up in a dingy sweatshirt and he had sent me away, forcing me to call Dawn from the street to let me in.
I pushed the button. “Eva Nix to see resident number 23.”
“I was told one guest,” a cultured voice oozed from the speaker.
I sighed, lifting my watch to dictate a quick text to Dawn. A minute later, the doors unlocked with a hissing sound like an airlock.
“It’s like we’re in a science fiction movie,” Crispin whispered, bouncing on his heels.
I opened the door and stepped inside, knowing I would need to wait for the guys to come in and for the door to shut behind us before the elevator would open.
The doorman was nowhere to be seen, but several cameras watched us.
If anyone unplanned slipped in, they would get nowhere beyond the small entry room adorned only with cameras and a potted plant in one corner
Once the door behind us locked of its own volition, the shiny silver doors of the elevator opened. We all shuffled inside.
There were no buttons, but I knew the elevator would take us to Dawn’s floor.
Eyebrows raised, Crispin glanced around the elevator. “I think your guess about your ex boss being involved in extra curricular activities is probably valid.”
“Shh.” My eyes drifted toward the camera watching us, the round glass lens looking like a tiny reflective eyeball.
“Right,” Crispin said under his breath.
Gabriel moved closer and a little behind me, brushing the back of my shoulder with his chest. I caught a whiff of our food and lamented that it would probably be cold before we got to it.
Reaching the correct floor, the elevator opened with a rush of cooled air.
Gabriel stepped into the carpeted hall first, glancing around before muttering, “I don’t like this place.”
I couldn’t say that I blamed him. Maybe the residents felt safe, but I didn’t like the idea of my elevator ride being dictated by some unseen control operator. There were just two apartments on the floor, and I led the way toward the correct door, which opened as soon as we reached it.
It wasn’t magic. Dawn had a little camera that showed her anyone approaching in the hallway.
Dawn’s high cheekbones were flushed, and her sharply cut black bob was uncharacteristically messy, like she had been raking her fingers through it.
She wore a silk robe patterned with peacock feathers, cinched tight at her waist. “It’s about time.
” Her eyes lingered for only a heartbeat on Gabriel and Crispin before she turned and walked deeper into her apartment.
I patted the trembling bulge in my satchel as I stepped across the threshold. I had promised Ringo Dawn wouldn’t eat him, but it hadn’t seemed to assuage his worries.
Crispin let out a low whistle, observing the black leather couches, impressive paintings, and plush blue and purple rug that I always had the urge to lay my cheek on—it was just that soft and cushy. Dawn had disappeared into the adjoining bedroom.
“I’ll try to make this quick,” I said, bracing myself.
When Ringo trembled harder, I removed my satchel and handed it to Crispin, giving him a meaningful look.
“And don’t touch anything. If you break one of her fancy vases she will make you pay for it.
I know from experience.” Leaving him with Ringo, I walked into the bedroom.
Silk and linen of every shade was strewn across the massive bed. Shoes littered the floor, and more than a few undergarments had been flung across the polished oak dresser. Dawn stood in front of her closet with her back to me.
I cautiously stepped closer. “It looks like a tornado came through here.”
Dawn’s shoulders slumped as she hung her head, obscuring her strong features with her hair. “None of it is right. Everything looks terrible.”
“Literally every item in your closet was made specifically for you. I doubt any of it looks bad.”
She sighed, stepping away from the closet. “Do you know how long it has been since I went on a date, Eva?”
“You go on dates all the time.”
She glared at me. “I mean a date that I actually might care about. One who could quite possibly reject me.” She slumped down onto the bed.
I moved a black lace bra before sitting beside her. “He knows what you look like, so I don’t think that’s going to be an issue. If anything drives him away, it will be your personality.” I smiled sweetly at her.
She swatted my leg. “If personality alone could drive men away, you wouldn’t have so many boyfriends.” She moved her eyes toward the doorway leading to the main room, then brought them back to me.
I lifted a finger into the air. “Only one of the guys out there is my boyfriend.” No need to mention Mistral since he wasn’t here, and I certainly wasn’t going to bring up Sebastian.