with her before school starts. No one has explained in detail how my life at the academy will be different now, but I do know I’ll be expected to live in Evermore accommodations and that after lunch, I’ll take regular Evermore classes.
I’m halfway up the steps to the street, the Empire State building visible, when my new Fae senses prickle.
I halt, struggling to tune out my mortal senses and focus on the tiny twinge I feel, like an itch deep inside. It’s only happened a few times, and the sensation is always so subtle that I half-suspect I’m imagining it.
The twinge becomes a flutter.
My slowed pace causes Mack to freeze, two adorable furrows etched between her dark brows. “What is it?”
She has reason to be concerned. Every time I’m around this many Fae, the chance that I’ll accidentally steal one of their powers and expose my magic increases.
“I don’t know.” I pivot just in time to catch the flash of silver darting in the shadows of the subway tunnel behind us.
Something about it—
“Eclipsa!” I leap down the steps two at a time, a very confused Mack trailing behind me.
My strappy gold sandals slip on a crushed McDonald’s cup. “Eclipsa!”
A shadow stretches out over the gum-flecked concrete, and then the Lunar Assassin appears. I’m expecting the Lululemon-obsessed-yoga Eclipsa, and I have to fight not to recoil from this version. Supple black leather hugs her lithe body, metal glinting from the various weapons that drip from her form. Her moon-white hair is pulled into a severe bun atop her head, and she can’t quite hide the wariness in her tight lips.
Recognition softens her chiseled features, but she doesn’t quite smile. “Summer, what are you doing here?”
“Back-to-school shopping.” I lift my bags into the air almost apologetically. I have yet to buy a luxury item and not feel enormous guilt afterward. “I should be asking the same of you. Since when do you take the subway?”
Most Fae use the newly approved portals that loop through the city, and the powerful ones like my mother have their own private network of portals. The city finally passed the bill allowing that when they learned they can tax each portal for an exorbitant sum.
Something dark and fleeting passes over Eclipsa’s face, sending my unease into full blown alarm.
Slipping her Cartier sunglasses over her dark eyes, she hooks her arm in mine. “Not here. We’ll chat over tea. My treat.”
I silently kiss my dreams of an iced coffee goodbye before glancing at Mack. “Is this place friendly to mortals?”
Even though I have a mortal body, the ancient Fae laws are written in such a way that technically, I am now a Fae in every literal sense. Mack on the other hand is very much mortal.
Eclipsa turns to look at Mack as if just now seeing her. She shrugs. “They will be if I’m there.”
True to her word, when we enter the bubble tea café with darkened windows and red vinyl booths, the scattered Fae patrons stare at Mack and me, shift their attention to Eclipsa, and then look away. A few even quickly pay their tab and leave.
It’s times like this that I remember Eclipsa is an assassin famous for taking out the Winter Court’s enemies.
“Pick your poison,” Eclipsa barks, sliding two flimsy menus across the linoleum table.
Not the best choice of words, but I settle back in the booth and read over my options. After we order, Eclipsa removes her sunglasses, carefully folds them into a crimson leather carrying case with her initials, and leans forward over the table. “So, the warden let you out for the day?”
“It’s in the contract. I can leave the house for anything related to the school, my health, or basic necessities.”
“Wow. So magnanimous.” Her voice conveys the hatred I feel for Hellebore.
A faun server delivers our tea. The poor guy is shaking so hard that I worry he’s going to spill the drinks. And when Eclipsa takes a furtive sip from her glass and pales, the poor guy looks seconds from passing out.
I eyeball her drink. “You were kidding about it being poison, right?”
Honestly, one never really knows when it comes to the Fae.
Her glass clinks against the table. “Of course. The last antidote is wearing off, which means my stomach hates me right now.”
“Would you like another drink?” the server bravely offers, sweat dripping down his temples.
“No.”
“Perhaps—”
“Unless you have the antidote to the Bloodstar poison—which I highly doubt, considering one drop costs more than the real estate on this