We made our way across town, headed for the Mages’ coffee shop. The morning crowd was out and about, but everything still looked so different compared to the Guild City that I knew. True, the bones were there—the roads and buildings were the same, but they looked newer. The people, however, looked older, more worn down. Even supernaturals were subject to the difficulties of life in the past. Everything was louder, dirtier, busier.
Finally, we reached the square in front of the Mages’ Guild. I spotted their enormous coffee shop and whistled low. “It looks fab.”
Grey nodded, his gaze moving over the façade. It looked much nicer than the building I remembered. The plaster gleamed white between the straight, dark wooden beams. The windows glittered, even though the sun was well hidden, and the structure looked like it was standing up a bit straighter. That could be said of the whole town, in fact. Time hadn’t yet worn on the buildings, and it showed.
“It’s brand new,” Grey said. “Come.” He strode across the square, and I followed.
Noise filtered through the windows as we neared, the sound of boisterous conversation and laughter. Grey opened the door, and I entered, inspecting every inch of the coffee shop that I could see.
Like the outside, everything looked nicer and straighter than the place I’d visited in my time. The ceiling wasn’t quite as slanted, and everything gleamed with the shine of newness.
The bar was in the same location and the same size, though the massive, whirring espresso machines were nowhere to be seen. There were other coffee-making apparatuses, though—gleaming metal and glass containers that billowed steam.
It was far warmer inside, and I reached up to remove my cloak.
A host stood near the door, his clothing impeccable. He spotted Grey and approached.
“My lord.” His voice echoed with reverence, reminding me that my mate was the most powerful person in Guild City.
Grey inclined his head. “A private room, please. We have someone meeting us soon. An older woman named Mrs. Birch-Cleve.”
“But of course.” The man’s eyes gleamed with excitement. “Follow me.”
He hurried off toward the stairs, and we followed. As I crossed the coffee shop, I peeked into the various rooms that I could see. As before, there was one dedicated to music—albeit far older music than I preferred. Another room was full of people playing games, and yet another dedicated to quiet reading. Students, maybe. They all looked young. I would have loved to come back here and explore more in this time, but I had a feeling that Seraphia would say it was too dangerous. Since I risked being stuck here, I couldn’t help but agree.
The host led us to a quiet room with a large window overlooking the street. The dark floor was level and smooth, unlike the floors of this place in the present day, and the fireplace flickered with a warm light.
“Please, sit.” The host gestured to the table in front of the window. “I will show your guest up when she arrives.”
“Thank you.” Grey sat, and I joined him.
“Do we order the same way that we do in the present?” I asked.
He nodded. “They implemented the spell when they first opened, and that hasn’t changed.”
Grey waved his hand across the middle of the table, and golden light swirled over the dark wood. Images of various coffees appeared, floating in midair. They were different than the cappuccinos and lattes I’d seen the first time I visited. Instead, there were black coffees of various sizes, tea, and something that looked like hot chocolate.
I chose a black coffee, and Grey did the same.
“Now for breakfast.” He waved his hand over the table again, and a variety of tarts appeared, most of them unrecognizable.
I frowned at them. “Could you choose something savory and not weird for me?”
“No eel pie?”
“Not at this hour.” Not at any hour.
Grey chose two pastries that looked like they might contain egg and ham. “I think you’ll like this. Or tolerate it.”
I smiled. Our drinks and food appeared a moment later, and I drank quickly, ignoring the heat. As soon as our guest showed up, I’d likely be too busy to drink my coffee, and I didn't want to start this day without caffeine.
A few moments later, the woman from my vision arrived. Her beige dress was threadbare, and she looked tired. When her gaze landed on us, she stutter-stepped, her blue eyes flashing.
“You are not Councilor Rasla.” Her accent was a bit old fashioned, like Rasla’s had been, but I could understand her.
“We aren’t.” I stood. “But please, don’t leave. We need your help.”
Her gaze moved over us warily. She stared at Grey for a particularly long time. “What does the Devil of Darkvale want with the likes of me?”
“Your help,” he said, his voice soft.
Her face crumpled in a frown. “My help?”
“Please, sit.” He gestured. “Order anything you like.”
“All right.” She approached cautiously, taking the seat closer to me.
I sat next to her while she ordered. Once she had food and drink in front of her, she looked up at us. “You’d best explain. I wouldn’t have come if the letter hadn’t contained Rasla’s seal. How did you get it?”
Did I explain that I’d found it more than three hundred years into the future? No. Instead, I just said, “We stole it.”
Her eyebrows rose. “You dared?” She scoffed. “Of course you dared. You’re the Devil of Darkvale,” she muttered at Grey.
“Why did you think that Rasla was asking you to meet here?” he asked.
“Honestly, I did not know.” She shrugged. “But I feared repercussions if I did not come, so here I am.”
“Something went wrong at Councilor Rasla’s house, and you left your post, is that correct?” Grey asked, concern in his voice.
She nodded, her expression haunted. “I could stay there no longer. And yes, leaving led to hard times. Won’t be able to keep my home, come winter. The money will run out.”
Grey reached into his pocket and withdrew a pouch that jingled with coins. “Whatever forced you to leave is unfair and unfortunate.” He set the pouch on the table in front of it. “That is for you.”
She frowned and took it, looking inside. Her brows rose, and her face went white. “This would see me until the end of my days.” Suspicion flashed in her eyes. “Why? What do you want in exchange?”
“That is yours to keep no matter what happens here,” he said. “I dislike unfairness, and while I do not understand the details of your situation, I have no doubt that Councilor Rasla is to blame. A housekeeper would not leave her post without promise of a referral.”
“That is true enough.” She shrugged as if that were obvious. “But still, you must want something from me.”
“Information, if you are willing to give it,” Grey said. “If you are not, then I would use my power to compel you to tell me. It would not hurt you, but I would leave with the information I need. Either way, the money is yours.”
She scoffed again, which seemed to be her signature expression. “You’re honest, I’ll give you that.”
“As I said, I would see to it that no harm comes to you,” Grey said. “But it is a matter of life and death. Of my life and death, and that of the woman I care for.”