“I thought I’d give Lally a quick update, too.”
He smiled. “In that case, it’s a marvelous idea. On both counts. By the time you get there and back, I’ll have everyone up to speed, Guz and Rat will be here and we’ll be ready to go.”
She started for the door, then stopped. “Hey, I can’t get back in here by myself since I don’t have the fleur-de-lis brand, right?”
“Yes, we must rectify that.” He tipped his head toward the hall. “You’ve seen me turn the sconce to open the door. Just repeat that. It won’t work, but it will set off a small alarm.” He smiled. “Close enough to a doorbell.”
“Okay, got it. See you in about fifteen minutes.”
“Harlow?” Fenton’s voice stopped her a second time.
“Yes?”
“Any reason you don’t just go by mirror?”
“Hmm. Only because I hadn’t thought about it. It’s not quite part of my thinking process yet. I mean, I know that’s how I go visit my mother, but to just go places… I’m not thinking that way yet.”
“Understandable. But the more you do it, the more comfortable with it you’ll be.”
“Totally agree.” She held out empty hands. “Except that I don’t have a mirror.”
He smiled as he stood and went to a nearby cabinet. “I can remedy that right now. Which reminds me I haven’t done my duty as the Guardian liaison and outfitted you with the things I typically give each lieutenant.”
Harlow lifted one shoulder nonchalantly. “I’m not actually a lieutenant yet, so don’t worry about it.”
“You are a lieutenant for all intents and purposes, you merely lack the official seal, as it were.” He slid out a drawer and took something from it, then offered it to her. “Standard issue for all lieutenants.”
In his hand was a small silver compact, a simple but elegant fleur-de-lis embossed on the front. Harlow took it. “It’s beautiful.”
“And functional. Keep it with you always.”
“I will.” She opened it, just to look at the mirror, then snapped it shut again.
“I’m not quite done yet.” Still smiling, he opened a second drawer and removed a slim, sheathed blade. He pulled it from its nylon covering and showed it to her. The metal was worked in an elaborate design.
“That’s beautiful.”
“And sharp enough to cut bone in the right hands. Such as our Cylo’s. When it comes to blade work, he is our most skilled lieutenant. I’m sure he’d be happy to give you a few lessons.”
She glanced at Cy, who nodded and gave her a big smile.
“Anytime,” he said.
Harlow took the blade and tucked it into the back of her waistband, beneath her tunic. “Thank you.” Then she held up the silver compact. Traveling by mirror alone was one thing. Traveling by mirror in front of an audience was something else entirely. “If you don’t mind, I’ll do this out in the hall.”
He nodded. “I understand.”
She gave them a wave, then walked out into the long hall for a little privacy. She considered traveling to the kitchen, but if Lally was in there, she didn’t want to scare her by just suddenly appearing. The foyer was a safer bet. She’d be quiet regardless, in case Lally really was sleeping, but she had a feeling that wasn’t going to be the situation. It was hard to rest when someone you loved was in danger.
Flipping open the compact, she looked into the mirror and focused on the entrance to the house, imagined herself standing before the ornate gold mirror. A half second later, the magical pull she’d come to expect tugged at her. She blinked at the slight dizziness and opened her eyes to find herself standing in front of the mirror she’d just been thinking about. She smiled. It was good to master a new skill. Even better, it was good to be fae.
Lally’s voice sounded from the kitchen, the smell of vanilla cake and rum permeating the whole house. Whatever Lally was baking smelled good enough to eat. Mouth watering, and eager to explain they’d found the warehouse where Augustine was probably being held, Harlow headed in. “Hey, guess what—”
“Well, isn’t this convenient. Just the fae we were looking for.” Giselle stood over Lally, who sat in a kitchen chair. Anger shone in Lally’s eyes, despite the butcher knife Giselle held to her throat. “And you said she wasn’t home.”
Mixing bowls sat on the counter while two buttered cake pans awaited filling on the kitchen table. “She wasn’t,” Lally snapped.
“Get away from her, witch.” Rage replaced every thought in Harlow’s mind. Her