and wedged off a wad of what looked like commercially packaged bee pollen. “This here is a taste test.”
“Pollen? Cool,” I said, and Mark gave me a thumbs-up from across the room. Thank you, Mark, I thought gratefully, even if the idea of inviting pixies into a mostly human eatery was a bad idea. Maybe he was going to hire one to man his new drive-through or take orders.
Emotions mixed, I exhaled. “First demons and now pixies. Hey, I want your opinion on something, Trent. Dali wants an introduction to Keric’s parents so he can teach him.”
“For free?” Jenks said, words mangled from the pollen. “He’s like, what? Ten months?”
Paper crackling, Trent drew his cookie out and broke it in half. “No kidding,” he said as he offered me the larger piece, and I shook my head no.
“Mmmm.” I warmed my coffee with a tweak of magic. “You think it’s a bad idea?”
Trent tilted his head in consideration. “Not at all. Having a demon tutor will give Keric’s parents status, and maybe a night out. I imagine it’s hard to find a sitter for a baby demon.”
I smiled at that and sipped my now-hot coffee as I looked for Glenn’s tall shape. I was surprised Ivy hadn’t stuck around, but maybe she was mad at him for leaving the FIB to work with a humans-only vigilante group. I know I would have been.
“Thank you for convincing me to take the harder road with them,” Trent added so softly that my eyes flicked to his. “The children Ku’Sox stole?” he added, brow furrowed. “I don’t know if I could live with myself now if I’d let them die simply because it was easier than hiding them from the demons, hoping they never tried to steal them again. I never dreamed that a demon would be asking permission to teach them a few months later. You were right.”
“Hey, how about that, Rache?” Jenks said, the sharp point of his chopsticks working a chunk of pollen from his teeth. “You were right.”
Warming, I found Trent’s hand and gave it a squeeze. “I was lucky.”
“No, you were right,” he insisted, and Jenks snorted. “If I hadn’t listened to you, there wouldn’t be demon children growing up happy and safe, and I wouldn’t have you here beside me, keeping me the person I want to be. Which is as scary as all hell,” he muttered, almost unheard. “I wouldn’t be surprised if you get more requests. There are nearly a dozen Rosewood babies.”
“Perhaps.” I took another sip. “But have you noticed how Al and Dali are the only two demons living openly?” I asked, and Trent looked up from brushing cookie crumbs from his shirt. “Al said they aren’t in the new ever-after. They’re here. Hiding.” I hesitated, watching Mark move competently behind the counter. “I think Dali and Al are their canaries in a coal mine.”
Trent reached for his coffee, his brow furrowed. “How so?”
I shrugged as Jenks gave me a salute and hummed off. “Dali is slinging coffee, and Al consults for the FIB.” My breath caught. I couldn’t bear thinking of him locked up somewhere waiting for the baku. “I think the rest are waiting to see if anyone tries to lynch them again.”
“We didn’t make much of a first impression, did we,” Trent said, and I stifled a shudder. I’d been dragged up on the stage at Fountain Square, lined up with Al and Newt to be executed by a mob. Helpless before thousands of people screaming for my death because of whom I called kin had been the most terrifying thing I’d ever endured. If not for the mystics, they would have succeeded.
“You don’t think Dali offering to teach is a publicity ploy, do you?” Trent asked.
“I think it’s real,” I said, eyes on Jenks as he came back. The heavy gold dust he was laying down told me he was plenty warm. “I’m guessing he’s been watching Al and thinks he can do a better job.” I held out my hand, and Jenks landed on it, his sparkles making tingles. “Glenn here?”
“Yep.” Jenks nodded to the door. “And he brought a friend,” he finished sarcastically.
“Friend, eh?” Jenks took to the air when I stood, and my gut tightened at the sight of Glenn trailing along behind a barrel-chested, dark-skinned man, his thick arms swinging and biceps bulging from under his black polo. A silver medallion in the shape of an eagle hung around his neck, and I grimaced when