Crown of Moonlight (Court of Midnight and Deception #2) - K.M. Shea Page 0,28
they came with arrows that looked awfully pointy for being a toy.
A couple pushing a stroller passed me when we reached the end of the market and stopped.
“See anything you liked?” Indigo asked me. She was watching two mermaids sitting in dunk tanks who were performing the most incredible duets.
“I saw a fae stall with some dog biscuits—I’ll want to visit that right before we go,” I said.
“Should I go get our baked goods, then?”
“Sounds good. Here—take cash.” I dug my wallet out of my pants pocket—I was super casual today with blue jeans and a flannel shirt. I was a little hot, but if we were going to the fall market, I was going to celebrate like it was fall!
“They have the chip scanner thingie,” Indigo said. “Most of the sellers here do.”
“Yeah, but those things have a surcharge and eat into a seller’s profits,” I said.
Indigo squinted at me. “Has anyone told you that you’re cheap?”
“I’m being an informed consumer!”
Indigo took the cash and disappeared into the swirl of the crowd.
Kevin reached the end of his short leash and sniffed a rustic barrel the city had planted flowers in while Whiskers panted and peered up at the gargoyle statues settled into the sides of the city police department.
I, however, was drawn to a stand run by the only vampire in the whole market.
“Life Advice?” I read the sign.
“Yep,” the vampire said. She had a pair of reading glasses perched on the tip of her small nose and was holding a worn paperback book. Her hair was ink black, and though her eyes were red it was obvious she was Japanese due to her beautiful dusty orange kimono, which was emblazoned with a beautiful white and black crane.
Her outfit wasn’t that surprising. Given vampires near immortality, fashion wasn’t a concern for them, and they typically wore whatever garb they felt most comfortable in.
But the vampire herself was unusual because supernatural markets—or at least the ones I had been to—weren’t typically the vampire scene. Vampires didn’t like being out in the daylight since it made them weak, and most of them were way too snobby—like fae nobles—to even consider coming.
Intrigued, I drew a little closer to the stand, tugging on the leashes so Kevin and Whiskers followed. “You sell life advice? How?”
“You live as long as I do, you will see it all,” the vampire drawled. “That’s the thing about life. Humans, supernaturals, doesn’t matter. We make the same mistakes over and over. History endlessly repeats itself even if the names and players change.”
“Okay, I’ll bite.” I held out a ten dollar bill—which was the middle tier of advice according to her prices listed on her sign. “What advice do you have for me?”
“That depends, do you want romantic advice, financial advice, career advice—you name it, I’ll do it.” The vampire gracefully gestured to the pamphlets she had sitting on her table.
I scanned the list. “Advisor’s choice?” I asked.
“I give you what I think you personally most need to hear,” the vampire said.
“How does that work?” I asked. “I think an oracle would be more accurate.”
The vampire opened a cloth bag made of the same silk fabric as her kimono and pulled out a lip gloss. “Buy it and find out.”
I pressed my lips together for a moment, then set my ten dollar bill on the table. “It’s worth a try then. Hit me with your best advice.”
“Right, then. Come here.” She beckoned me closer. “You don’t want anyone else hearing this.”
I glanced at Chase, but though he was watching, even his werewolf hearing would probably have a hard time hearing the vampire if she whispered due to the hum of the crowds, the music, and all the market noise.
Rigel was hanging back even farther than he was, looking absolutely bored.
Reluctantly I leaned over the table.
She whispered directly in my ear. “That silver-haired fae warrior of yours—you constantly second guess him and push him back.”
“What?” I drew back slightly and gaped at the vampire. “How did you know I’m with Rigel?”
“You’re a smart one, so use that noggin of yours,” the vampire scoffed. “How many other people do you think strut down the street with a tame shade and gloom on leashes? Besides, the whole city knows who you are! Your picture was spattered everywhere after you swept the races and beat all the other fae. Of course I’d know who your consort is, Night Queen. Now get back over here!”
She waited until I leaned close enough that she could