The Strays
MORGANA
A s we alight from Iggy’s car, I take note of the area.
Howl is nestled where the industrial district butts up against obvious gentrification, and I’d bet my ass the family who owns this joint is behind that as well.
State U is in one of the biggest cities in the state, and it’s equal parts old money, new money, regular folks, and industry.
Despite the love of old shit here, lots of neighborhoods are being swallowed up by developers to draw in younger, wealthy humans and supes to help keep the shine on its crown.
Capitalism at its finest, but I can hardly bitch when I arrived with a prince in some dude’s Bentley.
“Damn silver spoon assholes bringing me into their world,” I mutter as I wait for Lucas, Slade, and Liam to untangle themselves. The mocking smirk my bear gives me tells me he heard my grumbles, and I huff back at him fondly.
“Welcome to Howl, lady and gentlemen. Please present your identification to be admitted.”
Narrowing my eyes at the huge bouncer—a basilisk shifter, I believe—I pull my phone out to retrieve the duplicate ID I carry in its case.
He runs it under a glowing orb, then turns to me with a knowing look.
“Ah, Dean LeCiel. We are excited to host your first visit to our exclusive club. Please, enter, and enjoy.”
I might not be a trust fund baby, but my name precedes me everywhere I go since the trial.
Sighing, I move into the small area behind the guy to wait for the others before I go in.
I’m not risking whatever security measures they have in place without someone able to tell me what they are at my side.
Lucas goes next, and he, too, gets a somewhat awed look from the reptilian shifter.
The poor kid got it before because of his wealth, but since LaMount’s death, now he’s in my world.
Not an upgrade, but he’ll live. Lucas is resilient and Jackson will fix his problem eventually.
Iggy and Slade make it through with little fanfare, and the small holding space gets tight, but the shit really hits the fan when they scan Liam’s ID.
The shifter drops to his knees, dipping his head as he says, “Your Highness, Crown Prince of the Daybreak Court, Howl is honored by your presence. Your valet will escort your party to the Fae royalty reserved table immediately, and anything you wish will be our pleasure to provide.”
‘Wow’ I mouth at the guys and they all chuckle.
Liam is nodding, looking regally pleased as he moves beyond the rope to join us, but once the bouncer can’t see his expression, it changes.
He looks annoyed by deference, and I can feel the irritation coming off of him in waves. “Something wrong, Your Highness? ”
“Don’t be a brat, Maschula .” He tugs on his bun, then cracks his neck as he looks at the door, then finally touches the knob to open it.
“After a few centuries, that gets really old. I didn’t earn that kind of bullshit—not yet, anyway—and I don’t enjoy making people feel less than me because I hit the birth lottery.
Some of my siblings are not so egalitarian, and certainly my father is not, but I much prefer simply coasting by without people bowing and scraping. ”
If it were any other ‘royal’ saying that, I’d roll my eyes, but Li means it.
“Rich people shit has its perks, obviously,” Lucas says as he holds the door open so I can walk in after the prince.
“But it is also exhausting to never be able to do things without wondering if people are sincere or after the family fortune. I tried to hide behind my mom’s name, but…
it didn’t work. So I get what Li is saying, for sure. ”
Slade grabs my hand, squeezing it comfortingly.
“They’re both right, even if your new money fortune and name come from crime, unfortunately.
I wanted zero to do with it and had to go across the damn country to exist without being associated.
State U was far enough that people here aren’t familiar with the Finns unless they run in shady circles.
I don’t mingle in that crowd here, so it’s been a relief. ”
“Gee, guys,” I drawl. “So happy you could bring me in on the tough life of being super rich.” My words are sarcastic, but my tone is more teasing than anything.
I know all of them have had struggles, and that being wealthy hasn’t fixed the shitty stuff their families put them through.
It’s just hard to reconcile that with the image of a guy kneeling like a serf of his own volition.
Liam takes my other arm, arching his brow at me. “Odious as our excess may be, love, it will be helpful tonight.”
“You think the dragon came in under your family name?” Iggy says doubtfully. “That would raise a lot of red flags… plus, I think the groveling snake would have mentioned it.”
“Oh, no, Ignatius. I definitely do not believe he entered with real credentials. Kaspar has been doing this work long enough to have a treasure trove of fake ones that are the finest available. If he’s here to meet a source, he wouldn’t want anyone to know he’s associated with me.
” Liam chuckles and shakes his head. “Despite his inability to remain professional around Morgana, he’s a highly skilled guard in every other aspect. ”
I give him a dubious look as a gorgeous woman rushes up to us.
The chick is kitted out head-to-toe in a pastel fantasy-inspired piece of couture that makes me wonder if her pointed ears are natural or prosthetic.
Her dark hair is in perfect curls with braids and flowers woven into it and the delicate filigree crown at the top is silvery.
Everything about our ‘valet’ screams cosplaying to suit the rich dude, and while I’ll give this place points for speed, it makes me want to hurl on her bejeweled slippers.
Just because he’s a Fae prince doesn’t mean he has a romantasy fetish, people.
“Good evening, Your Highness. My name is Elora, and I will be your personal valet for the evening.” She claps her hands, the soft tinny voice full of exaggerated glee as she continues. “ Anything you wish, all you have to do is clap your?—”
“Merciful Aed, no ,” Liam interrupts with a heavy sigh.
“I don’t mean to be rude, but… This charade isn’t necessary.
” He looks pained as he gestures at her, shaking his head.
“Your bosses have instructed you to portray the wrong version of a ‘Fae fantasy’. This is what the humans would like, and completely not attractive to an actual Fae.”
I cover my mouth to keep from laughing as the girl pouts prettily, then finally gives up the ghost when Liam’s scowl doesn’t change.
She sighs in annoyance, crossing her arms over the amply displayed chest and her hip pops out.
“Look, I’m not tryin’ to be offensive or anythin’.
That trend for the balls an’ shit hit, so the designers for this place went a little nutty with transformin’ us into the idea most people have of Faerie.
Everything I just did is scripted, an’ it’s a real pisser to do night after night. ”
Slade takes pity on the hometown girl, giving her a sympathetic smile. “We get it… Elora? Or is that not your name, either?”
“Hell, no, it’s not my goddamn name. Nothin’ wrong with it, but my granny spins in her grave every time I say, I reckon.
My name is Dixie, but I’ll stomp on your toe if you say one word about that damn racist song.
” Now her chin is set stubbornly, and my admiration for her goes up about a zillion percent.
Who’d’ve thought the simpering princess is actually a Southern spitfire?
“I work here to pay my way through school,” she explains. “So while I didn’t say it because I’m obligated to do the whole ‘Hail to the Prince’ thing, I know who y’are, ma’am.” I wince at her calling me that, but I can’t help softening even more at the acknowledgment.
“Dixie, I promise we won’t be the shitty clients you probably expected when you came out,” I reply. “We’re here to meet a friend, and have a few drinks… not cause you to tear your wig off in frustration.”
Her eyes widen and she beams. “Noticed that, didja? They think it sells the fantasy heroine a bit better if I have ‘curly locks of raven hair that spills over my shoulders like ink’. I mean, can you imagine? Traipsin’ all over the world fighting things with your hair not tied back to keep it out of your damn mouth?
The indignity of women in being written for men is enough to make you look real close at dogs, isn’t it? ”
That gets a bark of laughter from Lucas this time, and he winks at me. “Or bears, I suppose.”
That makes me turn red, and I look back at the delightful student in front of me.
“How about you take us to this reserved table and tell us more about yourself while we walk? I’m sure Liam would enjoy hearing your story—hell, we all would now that you aren’t going to pretend we’re on a quest for a magic ring or something. ”
Dixie gives me a thumbs up, turning on her heel. “Follow me, folks. The fancy ass Fae box is through the crowd, up two flights, and on stage right. “
As promised, we follow her as she relays that her family has lived in the farming area surrounding the city for hundreds of years, and she’s a theater major.
She grew up in that small town Jackson keeps referencing, but she was part of the ‘snotty elites’ who apparently run the place.
Her family works the big horse farm down there, and wanted her to be part of the family business, but she bucked the trend to come here for something not related to equestrian pursuits, so she’s on her own.
Once we arrive at the promised fancy ass box, I look at the supe with a trained eye. “Dixie, what’s your last name?”
“Oh, my full name is Dixie Wynnona Abernathy. We’re kelpies from some long-lost relatives who emigrated whatever many years ago from the old country.
You know, that tried and true comin’ to America story from the post human war about slavery.
That’s why I hate the name, but it’s handed down through the women and I was first at the trough, so to speak. ”
“Well, I’m glad we met you, Dixie.”
Iggy nods, looking up from the drink menu on the table. “We’ll be easy, like she said. How about we start with a scotch, guys?”
I sigh in relief. Margaritas were fun for taco night, but I’m dying for a less fruity concoction now. “Make it Balvenie twenty-one for everyone, Dixie.”
She writes it down, then gives us a playful salute, bouncing off to grab our order. Once she’s gone, I pull my phone to send a quick text.
MorganaLeCiel: Channing, I have a task for you to put on your list.
Channing: Ready and waiting, boss!
MorganaLeCiel: First, no calling me boss. Second, you definitely do not need to do this tonight. I simply don’t want to forget tomorrow, okay?
Channing: But, I could easily…
MorganaLeCiel: Channing. Balance is important, remember?
Channing: Fine, what can I do?
MorganaLeCiel: I want everything you can find inside and out of State U on a student named Dixie Wynonna Abernathy and her family. History, scandals, rumors, government records… use Eli if he’s available, but I want everything.
Channing: Why? Is this person dangerous?
MorganaLeCiel: I don’t believe so. But I’d like to know before I decide.
Channing: Decisions like what?
MorganaLeCiel: Remains to be seen. Just get it together for me tomorrow. Good night.
Clicking the screen off, I look up to see all of my men looking at me curiously. “What?”
“Is it your normal behavior to pick up strays everywhere we go or…?” Liam says, his voice teasing as he arches a brow. “Because it feels like that might be your M.O.”
Frowning, I wave my hand at him. “I’m intrigued. Can’t a girl have a hobby?”
“Morgana, you can have anything the hell you want,” Lucas says as he leans back in the cushy booth seats. “I won’t complain a bit.”
My eyes widen and I laugh softly. “Don’t be ridiculous, Lucas.
I am overwhelmed by the amount of fucking people I have to deal with on a daily basis now.
I’m considering this girl for something completely different.
I’d like to get her out of this place so she doesn’t have to do that shit every night to pay for her tuition. ”
Liam blinks, then his eyes light up. “Let me know what Channing finds out—I assume that’s who you texted, of course. I have an idea that might be right up her alley.”
“She probably makes a lot of tips here,” Slade says tentatively. “I can’t think of a job at the university that could match it.”
The Prince smirks. “Assistant to the Prince of Daybreak would pay pretty well, I imagine. And it wouldn’t require a push-up bra and a corset.”
If I didn’t love him before, I’d fall for Liam all over again right in this damn booth—not that I’m going to say that out loud.