to turn the tables on her.”
Fenton’s mouth twitched. “I like that. How do you suppose we’ll get eyes on this masterpiece of yours?”
She laughed, a sound that healed Augustine’s soul. “Oh, Fenton. You know what I can do.” She wiggled her fingers at him. “All you two need to do is play your parts. I’ll take care of broadcasting it to the world.”
Giselle huddled in the middle of the cell’s barred wall, as far from the salt as she could get. The howling and wailing that had answered her first calls for help had died away, but now and then something lifted its voice in an attempt to be heard. Those constant, eerie cries combined with her inability to use her magic had her cringing at the slightest noise.
Her eyes had finally adjusted to the dim, phosphorescent light, which was both a blessing and a curse. The place was as dank and dreary as she’d imagined, but at least she could make out her surroundings. Even so, she refused to focus on whatever was being held in the cell across from her after glimpsing a shape that was in no way human.
She’d done some crying herself. Those tears were gone now, replaced by the realization that while she had no idea how long she was going to be here, there had to be a way to survive this ghastly place.
Unless they were going to let her starve to death. She swallowed, suddenly thirsty, and rocked her head back against the bars. Her stomach growled as if on cue.
Something scurried across her foot. She screamed, then lunged for it, grabbing the ratlike creature with both hands. If the fae thought she was just going to wither away and die in this place like a hapless victim, they were sorely mistaken. Giselle Vincent was not a quitter. She took a deep breath and snapped the creature’s neck.
At least dinner was no longer in question.
Chapter Twenty-nine
Dr. Carlson had done what he could for Augustine, but Harlow knew by the way Augie was moving that he was still in a great deal of pain. Asking him about it wasn’t going to help, so she kept him talking about anything and everything else. She glanced at the back door they stood beside. “What’s the name of this place again?”
“Le Belle et Le Bete,” he answered. “Beauty and the Beast. It’s the oldest othernatural bar in the Quarter.” He rapped on the brick wall beside the door. “And with the built-in protection this place has to hide it from humans, Pellimento will never know Sydra, Nekai and the goblin boys are inside for backup.”
“You’re sure? Because it sounds like there’s a huge party going on inside there.”
“There is.” He smiled. “But to a human, this building not only looks abandoned; it sounds just as empty.”
“I’ll take your word on it.” They were hidden behind a dumpster, awaiting Pellimento’s arrival. She had seven minutes before she was late.
Augustine leaned against the wall. “You’re sure all your stuff is where it needs to be and all in working order?”
“Positive.” She pulled out her LMD, brought up the cam app and showed it to him. Six different screens showed six different views of the alley.
“I hope this works.” He seemed on edge.
She couldn’t blame him for that. His life was on the line here. “I promise you it will.”
Two stray cats, a dusty gray and a bulky black tom, sauntered past the dumpster. Augustine smiled at them. “Nice of you two to make it.”
The pair stopped and sat in front of them.
A second later, Harlow was looking at Dulcinea and Cy. She shook her head. “I’m never going to get over the fact that you two can do that. And Cy, I didn’t even know you could do animal forms.”
He shrugged. “Dulcinea gave me a few pointers.”
Dulcinea grinned. “Where do you want us?”
Augustine nodded at the front of the alley. “At the entrance. You see anyone who looks like one of her hired thugs and you discreetly take them out. We can’t risk an interruption until Harlow has what she needs.”
“You got it, boss,” Cy said. “Also, it’s good to have you back.”
“Thanks.” Augustine smiled. “It’s good to be back.”
Dulcinea lifted her hand in a salute, then shimmered like a heat wave and became the gray cat again. Cy joined her in his guise as the black tom and together, they trotted back to the head of the alleyway. Cy jumped onto a discarded milk crate while Dulcinea curled