Kael grabbed a handful of pretzels from a black bowl nearby. He crunched on a few before answering. “If there is one thing Renathe cannot resist, it’s unusual women.”
“I’m not an unusual woman.”
Kael shrugged. “I didn’t say it was a bad thing.”
A tall man stepped up beside us. He looked about to bust out of the snazzy black suit he was wearing.
Kael gave him a nod. “It’s been a while, Steve.” The man did not look like a Steve. More like a Hank, or a Brutus.
“Kael.” My companion’s grumpiness was catching, apparently. The man named Steve walked away, a clear sign to follow.
We entered a glass-fronted elevator on the far side of the room. I stared out at the crowd as we ascended, trying to find anyone else who looked out of place, but it was impossible through the darkness and moving, colorful lights.
The elevator halted at the top floor, six stories up, and the doors slid open. A brightly lit hallway stretched before us, carpeted in dark purple. Annoyingly, Kael stepped quickly so he was in front of me. I burned a hole in his wide, and definitely not attractive, back as we traveled the length of the hallway.
Finally, Steve stopped in front of a door on the right. He stuck in his head to announce us and then backed out of our way. Kael nodded at him as he passed.
I smiled and said, “Thanks, Hank.”
He looked at me strangely and then shut the door behind me. Kael didn’t comment on my name switch for the man. He was peering across the room.
After the vibrancy of the rest of the club, I had expected the same here. Instead, it looked much like my study. Rich, wood floors and classy beige walls with dark trim. Comfy but angular furniture scattered the space. Near the windows facing out toward the city was a large desk, behind which stood who I assumed was Renathe.
The man rounded the desk and closed the distance. “Kael. It’s been a while.”
Kael’s shoulders were stiff, arms crossed. I had gathered Renathe was some sort of acquaintance of Kael’s. Kael didn’t, however, seem very pleased to be here.
“Renathe.” His tone was cold, hard. Whoever this Renathe guy was, it was clear Kael disliked him.
Renathe turned his attention to me. Now that he was closer, I was able to get a better look at him. He seemed to be in his upper twenties, though there was something odd about him. It was almost as if he were older than what his face told. Maybe it was his eyes. They were an unusual shade of teal shot through with silver, and somehow ageless. His dark blond hair was messy, in a purposeful sort of way. The shaggy layers fell around his ears... ears that I just realized were tapered. Were they prosthetic?
The top couple of buttons on his light blue shirt were undone, and he wasn’t wearing a jacket. His shirt wasn’t even tucked in. He looked like a playboy, a conclusion that was made all the more firm by the dazzling grin he sent my way.
“And who is this?” he asked.
Kael didn’t seem too keen to give out my name, so I elbowed past him and did so myself. “I’m Olivia. Olivia Perez.”
“Perez,” Renathe mused. “South American?”
“My grandparents moved here from Brazil.”
“A pleasure to meet you, Olivia.” He took my hand and pressed his lips lightly to my skin. Oh yeah, he was definitely turning on the charm. He straightened, a curious glint in his eyes. “I am Renathe, of the Seelie Court.”
Whatever that meant.
He smiled. “However, my friends call me Ren. Come, have a seat and we will see what your sullen friend has to say.”
I allowed myself another glance around the room as we walked toward a pair of chairs in front of the desk. Though there were a couple of framed portraits on the walls, many of the photos were of classic cars. There were even a couple on the desk, I noticed, as we settled into the chairs.
“Seelie Court?” I said. “I’ve never heard of it.”
Kael’s sigh was heavy with exasperation, as if I should have known of the place. “He’s a fae .”
He said fae like it was a dirty word.
“Fae?” I looked at Ren. “Like a fairy?”
Ren chuckled, the sound ringing like bells. “Somewhat, though I left my wings in my other jacket.” His eyes were dancing. He was kidding, right? “Not all fae have wings, Olivia. Some have horns, or fangs and claws.” His gaze ran over me, as if he were trying to see beneath my skin. “Some have magic.”
What was he implying, exactly?
“I’m not a…a fae.” The words felt strange on my tongue.
Ren waved a hand. “Of course you aren’t, darling. Not a fae .”
His tone implied he knew more than he was telling.
I took the bait. “Do you know what I am, then?”
Kael broke into the conversation. “We didn’t come here to—”
The fae held up a slim finger. Kael grew silent with an annoyed huff. Wow. Ren would have to teach me that trick.
“May I have your hand?” he asked me.
I held my hand out, and he took it, flipping it palm up. He traced a cold finger down the lines etched in my skin. “The magic writhing inside of you—have you always had it?”
I swallowed. It was disconcerting how casual his question seemed. Was it normal for him to meet women possessed with magic? “No, I haven’t. Only a few days.”
“Hmm. Now that is unusual.”
My heart thrummed faster. “Why do you say that?”
Kael shifted restlessly beside me. He was leaning forward now, too, as though waiting for an answer just as much as myself.
Ren’s finger still tickled across my palm. “Because I have never felt a power so ancient.”
I pulled my hand away, fighting down the power scratching beneath my skin to be released. An ancient power?
“It does make me curious, how did a human come to find herself possessed with such magic?”
I glanced at Kael. Should I tell Ren?
When Kael read the question on my face and nodded, I told Ren about the dig in the tangled rainforest of the Vale do Javari and what I had found there. My hands grew clammy as I spoke of the visions.
Kael twisted toward me, clearly surprised I hadn’t spoken of them to him. I barely knew him. I didn’t even know why I was speaking of the visions now except Ren seemed like someone who could help me figure out what was happening to me. I told him about burying the key, and the dark, ancient man who had taken the relic.
I finished my tale, and Kael said, “So, do you have any information you can give us?”
Ren pursed his lips, then leaned forward, propping his crossed arms on the surface of his desk. “Yes, I do have information for you. However...” A sly smile quirked at his lips. “...it’s going to cost you.”
Chapter 13
The fae pinned his vibrant teal gaze on me, and my skin crawled. What, exactly, was it going to cost?
Kael spoke before I could think to open my mouth. “No. No, absolutely not. No deal.”
Ren sent him a slight grin before raising an eyebrow at me. “Is that a no, Olivia?”
I didn’t like the amusement coating his tone. Irritated, I frowned at Kael. “You don’t speak for me.”
Twisting so he was facing me, Kael grabbed my arm. He pulled me so close to him our faces were nearly touching, stealing my breath and making my heart skip a beat; I hadn’t anticipated how being so close to him would make me feel warm all over.