Chapter Four #4
“Absolutely,” I assure him. “I’m sure Noah and Sam can show you how to access the information you need.
” They can set him up on YouTube or google “kids party ideas” and leave him to read through the millions of results.
“Just be sure to check with one of us before you begin planning an actual party,” I caution.
The last thing we need is for him to get carried away and try to recreate a live-action fairy-tale party complete with fake snow and bejeweled costumes—and hire an island to host it on.
“Of course,” he promises. “For now, just understanding how these parties work will be enough. Then I can tell the children about them next time I’m here, and they can start thinking about how they would like to celebrate their birthdays on Earth.
” He smiles at me. “How are you going to celebrate your birthday?”
“Oh, I won’t do anything special. My sister, Jane, will call, and probably my niblings as well.
I’m sure Sam will organize a cake at the office.
Alistair and Andrew will likely have some kind of gag gift—uh, joke present.
And I might spoil myself and buy a new TV,” I add impulsively.
I’m going to have some extra cash with this promotion, and my current TV isn’t even a flatscreen.
I’m hardly home with free time to watch it, and it still works, so it just never seemed necessary to get a new one—especially since I can access streaming services on my laptop, tablet, and phone.
But maybe it’s time to update to a smart TV.
I could even use it as a monitor when I bring work home. That would be a huge help.
“TV?” he asks, and the full weight of what we’re doing strikes me.
Luckily, Caolan steps in. “You’ll see in a little while,” he says.
“You’ll like it—it’s an entertainment format.
” He looks around the group, and I realize we’ve stopped outside the portal room, crowding the hallway.
Who knew thinking about the latest in smart TVs could be so absorbing?
“The room won’t hold us all, so we’re going inside in groups of five—not including me.
I’ll be operating the portals today. I’m aware that some of you are capable, but I’m the only one who knows exactly where we’re going.
Also, until our new allies have had time to acclimate their people to this ability, let’s not flaunt it. ”
There’s a general murmur of consensus as I try not to notice how attractive he is when he takes charge. He looks at me and Gideon. “Would you like to be in the first group?”
“I think that’s best,” Gideon agrees. “They’re expecting us, but familiar faces would be safer initially.” The security team at CSG is still nervy about portals after what happened with Noah.
It’s quickly decided that the first group will consist of me and Gideon, Garin, and the two team leaders.
Dustin pouts, clearly disappointed that he has to wait a few extra moments, but it makes sense to have senior people and those familiar with the environment be the first. We—they—will be able to direct the others on what to do when they arrive.
Walking through the portal is an experience that’s so mundane and yet the most profound thing I’ve ever done.
I mean… it’s a portal between dimensions.
When I took those steps this morning, the metaphorical weight of that was pressing down on me.
But at the same time, it’s just a few steps.
There’s the light tingle of Caolan’s magic, but if it weren’t for the glowing green color, the portal could almost be any other doorway.
And then I’m back at CSG, in the top-floor reception area.
Caolan has assured us many times that he can sense how many people are present at the other end before he opens a portal, and even if humans did make a habit of visiting our offices (they don’t), the guards have been told to be extra vigilant now.
So I’m confident that stepping through a glowing green gateway isn’t going to traumatize anyone who sees and expose our existence to humankind.
Sure enough, the only people there are the guard on the stairwell door, the executive receptionist, and Garin, who went ahead of me. They both manage to look bored—I guess they’ve seen portals enough times in the past few days to no longer find them exciting.
The receptionist, Candice, sees me, smiles, then picks up her phone and says, “David’s back,” just as Gideon comes out of the portal.
“Is someone looking for me?” I ask, going over to her desk, and she laughs.
“Please. Someone’s always looking for you. But in this case, Percy just asked to be told when you got back. I don’t think it was anything specific—he didn’t ask that you go see him or anything.”
“Thanks, Candice.” Her gaze goes over my shoulder as more of the elves and dragons begin to arrive. “Could you ask Sam to come out here, please?” He’s the one who made the accommodation arrangements for this advance group.
“Sure.” She picks up her phone, eyes not shifting from the newcomers, and I turn back to help Garin and Gideon direct them toward the executive conference room.
It’s not big enough to hold all of us, but the reception area is going to get crowded, and I’ve been told it’s essential to keep bodies away from the opening to the gateway.
Sam comes into reception, followed by Noah and Andrew. Noah, I can tell you one hundred percent is here because he’s curious. Andrew… well, he might be curious, or he might just be hovering over Noah, who’s still not back to top form after nearly dying.
Dodging bodies, they begin to make their way over.
“Is that one a human?” one of the elves—or maybe it’s a dragon?—whispers to another just a little too loudly. Noah just rolls his eyes and keeps going, but Andrew stops and hisses, his fangs and claws coming out.
In response, the dragon—definitely a dragon—growls, the sound raising every hair on my body.
Fuck.
Before I can step in, Noah pivots, takes two steps back, grabs Andrew’s arm, and yanks. “Stop being asses, both of you. We have more important things to worry about than interspecies pissing matches.”
“But—” Andrew begins.
“Either go help David or go back to your desk. If you cause any trouble, you’re sleeping on the terrace tonight.”
I bite my lip to hold in a laugh. On the terrace? He won’t even let him have the guest room or the couch? Noah’s a vicious thing.
Muttering, Andrew stomps toward me. Behind him, Noah turns his gaze on the dragon. “Yes, I’m a human. That doesn’t mean I won’t set you on fire if you don’t stop being a douche.”
The dragon smirks. “I like fire. I like you . Maybe we can roast meat together.” The words are weird, but the innuendo in his voice is unmistakable, and Gideon lunges forward to grab Andrew in a headlock just in the nick of time.
Fuck. My. Life.
It’s been literally minutes. The advance team is still coming through the portal. How did things already get out of hand?
Noah laughs. “Dude, no. I’m taken. Also, not sure if it’s a translation problem or not, but that pickup line won’t work here.
” And he turns his back and continues toward us.
If you weren’t watching for it, you’d never see he’s just a little shaky and slower than usual.
“Did you see the orange grass?” he asks when he reaches us.
“We walked on it. And saw the tréghel trees,” I brag.
“What are—” he begins, but Sam interrupts.
“You can talk about all that another time. Don’t give me that look, Noah; I don’t have the time or patience for it today.”
Noah clearly sees that Sam is one wrong word away from a killing spree, because he prudently closes his mouth.
“What’s up?” I ask Sam.
“I have a call list for you,” he starts, “and at some stage in the next little while, we’re going to sit down and I’m going to yell at you for babying everyone, because the calls you need to return are less than half of what you received.
All those others were for things people can do their own damn selves. ”
I try not to wince. “And you told them that, didn’t you?”
“You bet your ass,” he mutters.
“I like him too,” the dragon who flirted with Noah says, and instantly Gideon seems to swell to twice his size, growling in that bone-chilling way demons do before they attack.
“Taken!” Sam shouts, launching himself at Gideon and wrapping his arms around him. “I’m taken!”
“He’s taken,” I reiterate firmly. I thought we’d avoided battle, but clearly that was optimistic of me. “Tell you what, you all refrain from flirting with anyone for now, and I’ll organize cocktails or something with a bunch of single people.”
The dragon, whose name I should probably learn, frowns. “Single? No, we need more than one.”
Fucking translator spells. “Available. Unattached. Potentially open to your attentions.”
“Ahhh.” He nods. “Yes. Okay. Let’s do that.” There’s a murmur of agreement among the elves and dragons just as the portal winks closed.
“Let’s do what?” Caolan asks, pushing through the crowd to join us.
“David’s matchmaking,” Garin says brightly. “He’s hoping to begin relations between our people with… relations .” He wiggles his brows.
“Was there anything else?” I ask Sam somewhat desperately.