groups pushing for the same thing. Perhaps Al is just doing what he has to do to keep us all as safe as possible.”
“I am willing to give him the benefit of the doubt because of the kindness he has shown you over the years, petal,” the king admitted. “But the FMA has a list of all of my distribution centers, my distribution schedule, the transportation routes. They are operated secretly for good reason, but I am required to report all of my activities to the FMA in order to be in compliance with our laws. My transports have been robbed on several occasions in the last two years and I am certain it is this product that is being distributed to the Ordinaries.”
“But why would the Agency want to do that?” I asked. “What do they have to gain?”
“Fairy dust is used as therapy for the most volatile Tales,” the king reminded me. “If my business had to be shut down because I was no longer in compliance, we would have significant problems.”
I thought about the repercussions of a sudden shortage of fairy dust. Those who took it for “medicinal” reasons would be in a panic from the withdrawal symptoms and would search out any black market source they could find—and who knows what kind of deals they’d make, what they would give up, what secrets they would divulge to the Agency to get it. And I didn’t even want to think about what would happen if fairy dust was no longer available to the population in the Asylum.
“Shit,” I muttered. “What the hell are they trying to do?”
“Break us down,” Seth said, “destroy our unity. The only reason we’ve made it this long without discovery is because we’ve stuck
together—even when we were fighting among ourselves.”
Nicky nodded. “Get us fighting over the right thing, and they can swoop in and start recruiting.”
“And gathering specimens,” I breathed.
The king’s brows lifted at this. “Specimens?”
I glanced around at everyone before my gaze settled on Nicky. “They’ve been trying to get Al to hand over one of us for a long time. They want to study us, dissect us, figure out what we’re made of, how we’re different. Al has always refused. One of them—Agent Spalding—got to me a little over a year ago and . . .” I paused, wondering what I should divulge. “Well, he tricked me into trusting him so he could try to get information about my ability to read the dead. He didn’t find out what he wanted, though, and I caught a glimpse of what he was up to, so he finally gave up trying. But they almost nabbed Nicky this morning. Al took him into protective custody to keep him safe.”
“Protective custody?” Nicky repeated. “Is that what Al called it?”
I averted my gaze and looked at the king instead. “With so much at stake, with so many of us at risk of being taken and abused by the Agency, I’m sure you can understand why it’s so important to work together and not allow them to plant the seeds of distrust.”
The king narrowed his eyes at me, regarding me for a long moment. “I will reserve judgment at present,” he finally announced. “But I will be watching, madam. And if I sense any threat to my family or my business interests, I guarantee that I will deal with it swiftly.”
And without mercy, I imagined.
I gave him a terse nod. “Of course. That’s all anyone can ask.”
When we all said our good-byes to Lavender’s father, I was surprised to see that the king seemed genuinely disappointed that we were leaving. He hugged Lavender and brushed a kiss to my fingertips with a very gentlemanly bow before shaking hands with Seth and Nicky. But his final words were for Nicky.
“Be careful, Mr. Blue,” he said, his blue eyes pegging Nicky with a look of warning. “I do not generally enter into a deadly game until I am sure I know the situation well and am assured of victory. And there are many unknowns in this instance.”
Chapter Sixteen
Lavender finished tying the small braid of hair around my wrist and sighed. “There you go, sweetie. That should help protect you when you’re out and about, make you a little less vulnerable.”
I nodded and looked down at the talisman she had imbued with her magic and friendship to try to keep me safe. “Thanks, Lav.” I looked up and frowned at the gap in her purple locks. “Sorry about your hair.”
She shrugged with a grin. “It’ll grow back.” She snapped her fingers and hair quickly sprouted, growing longer until the new lock was even with the rest. “See?”
“So, will this keep away the dreams, too?” I asked Lavender.
She worked her mouth a little in thought. “No, probably not. Not much I can do about invasions of that variety. Your defenses are down when you sleep, so it’s easy for Dracula to come in, magic talisman or not. Just keep Nicky close. That’ll help.”
“What about ghosts?” I asked. “What do I do if Amanda comes back?”
Lavender’s eyes narrowed. “Ah, yes, Amanda. Freaking ghosts—they’re a pain in the ass. Do you have any sage handy?”
I glanced at Nicky, who shrugged and shook his head. “Hell if I know.”
“Okay, well, I know one spell that might keep anything from physically crossing your threshold,” Lavender said, nodding. She grabbed the edges of her shirt and pulled it over her head, then started shimmying out of her skirt before Seth rushed forward to block her from Nicky’s wide eyes.
“Whoa, whoa, whoa!” Seth cried. “What the hell are you doing?”
She looked at him like it was the most obvious thing in the world. “I’m going to put a protection spell around the house like I did at your cabin last fall.”
“And you have to be naked?” he whispered, jerking his head toward Nicky.
“Oh, Seth, for crying out loud,” she laughed. “Nicky doesn’t care what I look like naked.”
Seth turned around with a protective snarl, his face beginning to shift a little ominously, and Nicky threw up his hands.
“I’m turning around,” Nicky said, making good on his words. “Promise not to peek.”
“Sorry, Nicky,” Lavender said as she finished stripping off her clothes. “The full moon is coming in a couple of days and Seth gets a little more territorial than usual.”
A low, hungry growl began to vibrate deep in Seth’s chest as he took in Lavender’s gorgeous body. I didn’t know for sure, but I was guessing that ramping up his territoriality wasn’t the only effect the full moon had on him. In the next instant, Seth pretty much confirmed my theory when he gathered Lavender in his arms and kissed her savagely as he pressed her against the wall. He hefted her up and wrapped her legs around his waist, pressing even closer.
Holy shit.
“Um, Lav,” I stammered, “do you two, um, need to . . . you know . . .” Nicky started to turn around to see what was happening, but I pushed his head back so he was facing away. “Don’t even think about it.”
“Sorry, Trish,” Lavender gasped as Seth left her mouth to nip at her neck. “We might need a few minutes.”
I tore my gaze away, feeling like a total voyeur, and grabbed Nicky’s hand. “Come on,” I whispered. “Let’s go.”
“Where?” he asked, starting to turn his head again.
“Do you want Seth to rip your throat out?” I hissed. “Come on!” I pulled him out of the living room and shut the double doors behind us.
“What the hell was that all about?” Nicky asked, staring at the closed doors.
“I guess it’s a werewolf thing,” I said, trying not to hear the noises of passion coming from the other room. It made me want nothing more than to drag Nicky upstairs and see if he had a little inner wolf in him, too— especially considering the sexy beast I already knew him to be—but we had work to do and I had a feeling time was running out. “Maybe now would be a good time to visit the Asylum.”
He shook his head. “Damn. Guess so.”
I smothered a smile at his dazed look. “Come on, lover,” I cooed. “The sooner we get back, the sooner we
