Alec shrugged. “Something about wanting to be sure the Fae know what their working conditions will be?”
I really didn’t like the sound of this. “When does he need me?”
“Eleven forty-five.” He glanced at the oven clock and grinned. “So, twenty minutes?”
“Fine. Go. I have to shower.”
“I could—”
“Go.”
I showered quickly and dropped into lion form. Mordecai would have clothing waiting for me. I stepped out onto the balcony, sun beaming warmth across my skin as I shifted and leapt into the air. Spreading my wings, I glided toward the mansion at the northern edge of the city.
Unsurprisingly, a shock of red hair waited inside the foyer as I prowled in. I tucked my wings in tight, but Mordecai had designed the room for himself, so my caution was unnecessary. As I maneuvered over to Squirrel Butler, my gaze turned to the manor doors. Tarik leaned against the wall, first in line. He was determined, I could give him that.
The shift back into human form took longer than usual. Exhaustion. Unfortunately, Enforcers didn’t get days off. Mordecai didn’t believe in them. Apparently he didn’t believe in rest today, either. I glanced at Tarik again and smirked as I gathered the clothing held out to me.
“Hi, Tarik,” I cooed. “Enjoying the view?”
His eyes widened comically when he caught sight of me. As if pulled by some magnetic force, his gaze wrenched downward, landing on my chest. He had done that three times now. And like the last two, he quickly looked away, blinking rapidly. A new detail caught my attention this time, though; a blush that crept up the back of his neck.
He reached a hand up and scratched at the growing red stain, as if trying to scrub the blush away. My smirk grew.
“Bravo, you remembered my name. I didn’t know you had other talents besides stalking,” he said sarcastically.
Interesting. Deflecting because he was uncomfortable. My thoughts skipped to his temper. What was that a coping method for?
I mentally shook myself, turning my attention to the clasp of my shorts before fastening the buttons on my top. This wasn’t the time for a psychological profile. Squirrel Butler passed me a tablet and I slid my finger across the screen. Flipping the device over, I showed him where his name blinked at the top of the list.
“Hail? Tarik Hail?” My lip twitched as I considered. “Seems fitting that you’re named after chunks of ice that like to bludgeon people.”
His eyes rolled to the ceiling as he muttered, “Never heard that one before.”
My fingers danced across the screen, checking his credentials. Name, age, etcetera etcetera. I looked up again, a reluctant sigh falling from my lips.
“Are you sure about this?” At his nod, I shrugged. “All right, follow me.”
I led him to the rear entrance of the manor but, instead of opening the door leading outside, I took a sharp left and followed the wall to a door farther along. Through that, a staircase spiraled downward, the only surface entrance to the mines below. Or, at least, the only one I knew of.
Round, silver-edged lights lined the rough stone walls. I hadn’t considered having to climb these stairs a couple dozen times today. My head lowered in defeat, the groan I released far louder than intended. A small snort of laughter caught my ear from behind.
“Keep laughing. I’ll make you climb these stairs with me—and I’m going to be escorting applicants all day.”
Chatter echoed up the stairs from below. I hadn’t anticipated Mordecai being alone, but I couldn’t imagine who he would enlist to help him with the interviews either. The staircase widened out into a cavern of stone that narrowed into a hallway on the far side. According to the tablet, the Fae would work in a room farther along—a room filled with green crystals. Genesis Crystal.
I hated coming down here. The mines always made my stomach uneasy and my hands shake. I couldn’t decide if the feeling was a weird side effect of the crystals, or my conscience screaming about the wrongness of the mines in general.
Mordecai hoarded the Genesis Crystal. I didn’t know what the green rocks did, or why he wanted them, but I was certain they had value I couldn’t see. Especially with the amount of money he put into the lab designed to research them. I did know that the bombs surrounding Nathra City had chips of the crystal in them, and that I wasn’t allowed to touch the stuff. Maybe they were easily detonated?
I shot a glance to where Tarik walked behind me. Even in the dim glow of the lights he looked pale. Did he feel the same way I did? Or was he nervous about the interview?
I led him farther into the cavernous room, to a grooved cutout in the wall where Mordecai had set up a makeshift office. My eyes slid to Tarik again as we approached, my stomach recoiling at what I was about to do. This certainly wouldn’t win me any brownie points.
Do I really care what he thinks?
Still, I swallowed hard when Mordecai stared at me expectantly—and I knelt. “In loyalty and service to the Great Dragon.”
My throat tightened. I couldn’t bring myself to look at the Fae beside me, even after Mordecai snapped his fingers so I could rise. The flutters in my chest sped up to a painful pace. I could almost feel Tarik’s distrust thrumming off him. Mordecai’s eyes danced over him before he motioned to the woman at his side.
“My new assistant, Jocelyn. She’ll be overseeing our new employees.”
I studied the woman, not recognizing the name. Ruby-painted lips, bronze skin, long ebony hair. She was dressed for business in a tight A-line skirt and button-up blouse. Jocelyn’s lips widened into a welcoming smile.
“Reagan, so nice to meet you. I’ve heard so much.” She glanced at Tarik. “And this must be our first applicant?”
“Yes, ma’am.” I handed her my tablet, which she scanned and passed back.
Mordecai glanced down at his own device. “Tarik Hail, am I correct?”
Tarik’s complexion
