subcultures. I never would have figured a goth fairy, but why not? There was that one satyr with a cowboy fetish that I saw once…
Focus, Steph!
With one hand, she brushes the silky black bobbed hair out of her eyes to glare at me, her dark violet-red wings rattling.
“Okay… I guess that’s a no.”
“We aren’t interested in your foul chocolate,” she hisses impatiently, her voice surprisingly high-pitched for an adult woman.
She sounds almost like a pubescent girl, but there’s really nothing childlike in the demeanor of the female standing in front of me. At least she’s talking… Communication is good. I just need to think of her like a difficult client.
“No chocolate it is,” I agree easily. “Maybe you can tell me what it is you’re looking for and I can help you out. If I don’t have it, I’m sure I can help you with it. There’s no need for any, ah… hostility.”
The male at the opposite end of the trio snorts, his eyes flashing with dark amusement.
“You’ll help us, will you?” he growls, his lips curving in a dangerous smile as his moth-gray wings fan out. “It is smart to be cooperative. Not that it will make much difference in the end, but it will at least minimalize your suffering.”
My smile falls, the charade of a happy human helper falling away. My suffering? Okay, these aren’t some fairies looking to get their kicks out of terrorizing a human. There have been a few of those who have done so in light of their treatment by humans. Usually, it’s nothing more than stealing, maybe a few bruises. For the most part, they seem to just get off on scaring the hell out of people.
Apparently, these fairies are not part of that crowd.
Damn.
Pasting a nonchalant look on my face, I turn just enough to pick up the kettle again and pour the damn water into my cup. I give the hot cocoa a few good whisks with the spoon still in my cup. Fuck it. If they are planning on making me suffer, I’m going to go ahead and tempt fate with the damn cup of cocoa. I don’t take my eyes off of them at all the entire time. Not even when I take a sip. I stare right at them over the rim of my cup. Swallowing, I lower the cup and arch an eyebrow. I should get a damn Academy Award nomination for my performance because internally I want to curl in on myself and beg them to go away and leave me alone.
“So what exactly do you want?” I ask in a cool voice.
His smile widens, showing his sharp fangs. Although Eliph has double fangs too, they don’t inspire the chill that runs through me at the sight of the needle-sharp daggers that the fairy carries around in his mouth. Those things look like they can do some serious damage with minimal effort.
“We want you. We want the unicorn’s mare,” he snarls with his deadly, crooked smile.
Oh, hell no.
“Uh-huh,” I force out. “For what exactly? I don’t get into any kinky shit if that’s what you’re looking for. Now, if you’re looking to invest in some prime real estate, then I am definitely the girl you want. I can hook you up with some bargains in the best part of the fae quarter. Hell, I’ll find you private property outside the quarter and we can just call it square.”
The female pouts for all but two seconds as if pitying the stupid human before she’s grinning again.
“The only good a mare is for is for the magic in her blood,” she purrs. “It is the sweetest elixir. You will come with us without giving us any trouble, and you will be treated well enough. The prince will clothe you and feed you, feast on you—perhaps even inviting his favorites to join him—and it will be the most erotic thing you’ve ever known until he finally drains you and consumes your flesh.”
“That… does not sound like a good time to me,” I mutter. “I don’t think Eliph would like that. Eliph is my mate. He will be very angry that, Eliph of mine,” I intone.
They exchange an indecipherable look, but it’s probably one that means “this human is batshit crazy.” Truthfully, at this moment, that might not be far from the truth because holy shit, I don’t know how I’m not hyperventilating. It would be nice if I were, because I really wish I could just conk out and