The halfling stared at him. “Chosen what?”
“Like family, right?” He nodded toward Ember and Dr. Boseley on the other side of the glass. “It’s a good thing fae have such a strong smell. I wouldn’t have been sure about that one, otherwise. A human’s not gonna cut it, but your friend’s full-blooded fae all the way through. Just without her magic, huh?”
Blinking slowly, Cheyenne nodded and tried not to act clueless. If he was a loyalist, he’d be trying to kidnap me right now.
“Three.” The man smirked and bounced on the balls of his feet before sinking back down.
“I’m sorry?”
“Three of us in this clinic, phér móre. Just a coincidence that you brought your Nós Aní in here over anywhere else, but I’m glad you did. If you were worried about leaving her alone until she’s strong enough, you have my word we’ll keep her safe while she’s here.”
“I appreciate that. Gotta admit, though, it sounds like you’re telling me Ember’s in some kinda danger.”
He shrugged again. “You never know, right? Especially in times like these. Hey, I gotta get back to work, but send a word to the Cu’ón for House Keldryk, huh? We’re ready. Guess that’s kinda meant for you too, huh?”
“I guess.” The halfling frowned and took the risk anyway when she stuck out her hand. “What’s your name?”
“Marsil.” He took her hand and gave it a firm squeeze. When he dipped his head, it looked like a little bow. “Mark around here, but that’s just on Earthside paper, you know what I mean?”
“Yeah. Cheyenne.”
Marsil grinned, then they released each other’s hands, and he brought a fist quickly to his chest before dropping it again. “Of course, I already know who you are. Wasn’t expecting to get your name, though. Thank you.”
“Well, it’s the only one I have, so you won’t run the risk of getting them confused.”
“Funny.” The magical, who was wearing a human illusion charm as a medical professional at Ember’s PT clinic, dipped his head again and headed slowly down the hall toward the front of the building. “For as long as you need, phér móre. We’ll take care of her.”
He spun again and disappeared around another corner before she had the chance to thank him again.
Cheyenne cleared her throat and glanced down at the gently pulsing Heart of Midnight resting against her chest. Apparently, I’ve chosen Ember as my Nós Aní, whatever that means. Magicals popping out of the woodwork.
Shaking her head, she tucked the pendant beneath her loose black shirt. The pendant looked ridiculous, pushing against her shirt, but she wasn’t taking any more chances by leaving it out. Good thing Corian finally gave me his number.
With a glance up and down the hall, the halfling pushed off and headed back toward the door into the gym. It opened quietly enough, but Ember was focused on what Dr. Boseley was showing her on a chart of the human spine in full color and she didn’t hear her friend step inside. Cheyenne went to the metal chairs with black plastic seats and backs against the glass wall and sat. Then she pulled out her phone and opened the text from Corian, which was the letter C.
“Good enough,” she muttered and opened a new text.
P find what he was looking for yet?
She tried not to stare at her phone while she waited for a reply. It took him about forty-five seconds.
Not yet.
Guess that’s pretty obvious by now. The guy does go the extra mile to keep his promises. She wrinkled her nose at her phone, then shrugged and wrote the text she actually wanted to send.
What’s a Nós Aní?
The little dots at the bottom of her screen blinked on and off.
Second in command. Race-specific for you. Could be anyone. Can talk more in person but scrub these messages. Stupid to send on an open line. You know that.
“Sorry,” the halfling whispered with a little sneer at her phone. She deleted all but the first text straight from him. I’ll scrub harder when I get home.
Cheyenne leaned back in the chair and crossed one leg over the other, folding her arms. She offered Ember a smile and a thumbs-up when the fae glanced over her shoulder and saw the halfling sitting in the room. Ember shrugged and turned back when Dr. Boseley asked if she was ready to try again.
For the rest of the two-hour session, Cheyenne zoned out, turning everything from yesterday over in her mind. Ember’s gotta have a choice in taking this Nós Aní gig. I promised her I’d tell her everything, but how the hell am I gonna explain that one?
She didn’t even notice that the tingle along the back of her neck had disappeared.
Chapter Ninety-Two
“Hey. Cheyenne!” Ember leaned forward and waved the papers Dr. Boseley had given her in the halfling’s face.
Cheyenne started, her foot sliding off her knee to thump onto the floor, and she blinked quickly. “Sorry. Got caught up in a whole bunch of thoughts.”
Frowning, Ember tipped her head back and squinted. “Thoughts. You sure you’re okay?”
“Yeah, yeah. I’m good. Are you guys done?”
“Yep. I’m ready to get outta here and stuff my face with something delicious because I was an idiot and didn’t eat anything before we got here.”
Chuckling, the halfling stood. “Then let’s go get something. You could’ve had another piece of pizza.”
“I wasn’t nearly hungry enough to eat that when we left.”
“Okay. I get it.” Cheyenne headed toward the door and held it open from the hallway. “After you.”
Ember cocked her head. “How kind.”
They moved more slowly down the hall on their way out, and the halfling shot a quick glance at the fae. Ember’s arms trembled a little every time she pushed down the wheels, but she didn’t stop, and she didn’t look like she was all that bothered by it.
“You want me to take the wheel, so to speak?”
The fae girl shook her head and stared intently at the
