tears in their eyes.
This mob wasn’t here to lynch me. Considering my current state of health, that was a good thing. When Jinx saw me turn the corner, she jumped into the street and yelled, “surprise!” I slid my hands away from my weapons and gave the gargoyle a quick nod.
“It’s okay Humphrey,” I said. “That’s my friend and business partner Jinx…and a few of our clients.”
The gargoyle’s stone hackles disappeared and he came to rest on a nearby building. He started licking his front paw, ignoring the people milling about below. Apparently, Humphrey was satisfied that the crowd didn’t pose a threat.
I turned a stiff smile to Jinx and limped forward.
“Um, hi,” I said. “What’s going on?”
Jinx gestured at the crowd behind her.
“These peeps heard you were recovering and wanted to say thank you,” she said. “When Kaye announced you were coming home today, we put together a little welcome home party.”
A surprise party, for me? I’d spent years avoiding parties, even going so far as to beg my parents not to celebrate my birthday. Crowds and presents usually filled me with dread. But looking at the smiling faces of the parents whose children I’d helped rescue, produced an entirely different emotion.
The faeries lifted a banner above their heads to flap in the breeze. I examined the banner through joyful tears. Someone had painted “thank you” in the center of the banner in big, red letters. Around the words were numerous drawings and paintings of happy families. The families were all different, some had wings or horns or fur, but they were all drawn with smiling faces.
The children from the cemetery had each drawn a picture of themselves at home with their family, safe and happy. The children’s artwork was one of the nicest gifts I’d ever received. Tears filled my eyes and I bit my lip as it began to tremble.
Most days, being a hero meant blood, sweat, and potential insanity, but then there were days like today. Days like this? They make it all worthwhile.
Chapter 26
I leaned back in my office chair, boots resting on my desk. I closed my eyes and sighed. I could stay here for a week.
It was getting late and Jinx and I were the only ones left in the office. The place was finally quiet. The parents of the fae children were gone, but I wasn’t ready to climb the stairs to our loft apartment.
I was tired and sore, but happy. Each parent had taken the time to sit with me and tell me about the moment they heard the phone ring, knock at the door, or splash in their fountain heralding the good news that their child was alive and safe. I’d laughed, drank copious amounts of coffee, and cried as these clients shared their stories.
I usually met face to face with a client at the end of case. I had found that it helped clients to understand my findings if I explained the details of the case in person. It also gave us closure. But I’d never had a case as satisfying to bring to an end as the case of the thirty-three missing fae children. Every child had been saved, every family reunited, and I had sat with each parent to bring the case to a close.
I hadn’t realized until today just how terrified I’d been with the lives of so many children hanging in the balance. I’d tamped down my own emotions and did what had to be done. With the case solved there was no need to keep that fear and self-doubt locked inside.
The worry I hadn’t allowed myself to feel while searching for the children came crashing back with the meeting of every parent. I’d spent the day with clenched fists and tight shoulders as I retold the most important events of the case, but now that it was over I felt completely relaxed.
Jinx clapped her hands together and I opened my eyes.
“Case closed,” Jinx said. “I just finished logging the payments from our clients. Time to get you home and in bed.”
I yawned. I had no intention of getting out of my comfy chair.
“Go on up,” I said. “I’m staying here tonight.”
“You can’t be serious,” she said. “If you sleep there, you’ll get a stiff neck.”
Before I could answer, someone tapped on our office door.
“If that’s a client, I’m not here,” I said.
“Right, and that’s so convincing with you sitting there in plain sight,” she muttered.
Jinx sauntered over to the door and peeked out the window. She smiled and opened the door for Ceff who stood illuminated by lamplight.
Ceff was in human form, though the large, not-so-human, dark green irises that encompassed his eyes were evident in my second sight. Except for the eyes, Ceff looked like a human male in his early thirties, one who just walked off the cover of GQ magazine. He stood in the doorway wearing an unbuttoned dress shirt and low- slung jeans. Lamplight played across a strong jaw pebbled with a five o’clock shadow. My eyes flicked down to where he stood on the brick sidewalk and I smiled. As usual, Ceff was barefoot.
“Is Ivy here?” Ceff asked.
“She’s inside,” Jinx said. She stepped aside and pointed to where I reclined behind my desk. “I haven’t been able to get her butt out of that chair. Maybe you can talk some sense into her.”
Ceff quirked an eyebrow at me and a grin touched his lips. Crap. I’d been caught enjoying the view.
I fumbled with my chair, trying to push myself to my feet. I got as far as planting my boots on the floor before a head-rush made me stop. I tried to blink away the wave of dizziness, but the entire room tilted and spun. I swallowed hard as bile rose in my throat.
Standing had been a mistake.
I rested my elbows on the arms of the chair and let my head drop into my hands. I’d have stuck my head between my legs to keep the room from spinning, but bending any farther forward wasn’t an option. The wound in my side was already screaming in protest.
Ceff rushed over to where I sat slumped in my chair. I sucked air through clenched teeth and tried to ignore the coffee churning in my stomach. I may not be able to stand, but I’d sure as hell try not to throw up.
“Here,” Ceff said.
His voice was rough like he’d been crying recently, but when I lifted my head his eyes were full of concern not grief. He’d pulled the sleeve of his shirt over his hand and lifted a glass from my desk. I watched the glass fill with water and the water cooler burped air from across the room, making Jinx jump. Ceff was using his kelpie magic to draw the water to him. Jinx shook her head and went back to straightening papers on her desk.
I smiled and accepted the glass of water.
“Thanks,” I said.
I sipped the water, hiding behind the glass. What do you say to the man you care about, when you’ve just killed his ex-wife?
“Looks like I missed the party,” he said. “Sorry I’m late.”
“Your loss,” I said flashing Ceff a wry smile. “There was music and dancing on tables.”
I waggled my eyebrows and Ceff barked a laugh not unlike a seal. I’d managed to bring a smile to his face. I smiled in return, wondering what to say next. I shifted in my seat, trying to find a comfortable position.
“Don’t let her fool you,” Jinx said from across the room. She paused in tidying up her desk long enough to point a fountain pen my way.
“We shall have to remedy that situation,” Ceff said.
He leaned in close, eyes flashing green. My heart raced and Ceff quirked his lips.
“T-t-there’s no way I’m making it up those stairs,” I said, breathless. “I can barely walk.”
“No need,” he said.
Ceff scooped me into his arms so fast I didn’t have time to draw a weapon. It was funny that stabbing him was my first reaction to being carried. I froze, holding my breath, every muscle locked in place.
