“That’s a perfect comparison, Em. Holiday mascots for kids and actual magic. Makes perfect sense.”
“Thank you.”
“To an eight-year-old.”
Ember rolled her eyes. “I was five, by the way. My idiot cousin spilled the beans on that one right before bed on Christmas Eve.”
“Ouch,”
“Yeah.”
“Well, my mom didn’t even entertain the idea of letting me believe in stuff like that, so I don’t have anything to compare to that letdown.”
The fae lurched forward with a surprised laugh. “Are you serious? No Santa? No Easter Bunny, leprechauns, Tooth Fairy? Nothing?”
Shaking her head, Cheyenne shrugged. “Nothing.”
“That’s one of the saddest things I’ve ever heard. Why wouldn’t your mom play along?”
“Because I have magic, Em.” The words burst out of Cheyenne a lot louder than she’d intended, and Ember leaned away from her a little. “And probably also because Bianca Summerlin’s not the kind of person to indulge in fairytales and make-believe. You know, childish games and all that.”
“But you were a child.”
The halfling shrugged. “Meh. I grew up a lot faster than anyone expected, and that wasn’t because of who my mom is. I’ve got the drow side to thank for that.”
“Unbelievable. Explains a lot, though, if you think about it.”
Cheyenne laughed and slammed her hands on the steering wheel, gripping it tightly and shaking herself back and forth. “But we’re not talking about me! We’re talking about you and the best discovery of your life!”
“Oh, God.” Ember rubbed the back of her neck again and stared at the entrance to the clinic. “I have magic.”
“The magicless fae has magic! What’s happening?” Cheyenne slammed her hand on the horn. A woman walking toward the clinic jumped and spun around with a glare.
“No, not you. Sorry!” Ember shook her head and waved the woman off as the halfling burst out laughing. “Seriously, cut that out. You’re gonna give somebody a heart attack.”
“I’m freaking out!” Cheyenne whipped her head toward her friend and grinned. “And we have no idea what’s gonna happen. It’s great.”
“Ugh. Only you would be excited by that idea. I’m screwed.”
“No way, Em. You’re just getting started.”
“Shit.”
Tilting her head, the halfling strapped on her seatbelt and shifted into reverse. “You still hungry?”
“If I say no, I’m gonna regret it later.”
“Excellent. Where do you want to go, hypothetically speaking?”
Ember shoved her friend’s shoulder and shook her head, unsuccessful in her attempt to look irritated. “Anywhere that’s not this parking lot, halfling. I need to stop looking at that building.”
With a curt nod, Cheyenne pulled out of the handicap parking spot and headed toward the street. She tapped on the horn and bobbed her head from side to side. “Fae just got her magic back. And I get to drive her around.”
“Stop with the horn. Jesus.” Ember covered her face with her hands and laughed. “Don’t turn this into something it’s not, okay? I can’t ‘get my magic back’ if I never had in the first place.”
“Or did you?”
Ember took a deep breath, clenched her fists, and closed her eyes. “Just drive.”
Chapter Ninety-Three
The Chesterfield Towne Center was only about a five-minute drive from the clinic, and when Cheyenne pulled into the parking lot, Ember laughed and covered her mouth with both hands. “Are you serious right now?”
“Hey, you didn’t give me anything to go on, so I went with the closest selection.” Shifting into park, the halfling turned and raised an eyebrow. “Or did you want me to stop at the McDonald’s back there?”
“No. That’s not what I’m saying.” The fae glanced around the parking lot. “But a shopping mall full of high school kids on a Monday afternoon wouldn’t have made the list, if there was a list.”
“You know what? I think all that magic’s short-circuiting your brain right now.”
Ember unbuckled her seatbelt and raised her hands in surrender. “You’re one of the most infuriating people I know.”
“I get that a lot. Fortunately for you, you’re kind of joking.” The half-drow flashed her friend a brilliant grin that disappeared a second later. Ember clenched her eyes shut with another disbelieving laugh, and Cheyenne opened the trunk to get the chair.
They got Ember into it in record time, then the halfling grabbed the handles and pushed her friend toward the department store entrance. People turned to look at the shiny black Panamera when Cheyenne stuck her hand in her pocket to lock it.
“You’re never gonna get tired of that, are you?” Ember looked over her shoulder. “Watching how many people wish they had your car.”
“Would you?”
“I don’t know anything right now.”
“Just roll with it, Em. Besides, it’s better for people to be staring at my car than at either of us, right?”
“I know why people would stare at you,” Ember said, smirking and readjusting her purse in her lap, “but why me?”
“Oh, you know. Just in case your magic starts leaking out all over the place.”
“Seriously?”
“Hey, I’m in the perfect position to have serious empathy for you here, okay?” Cheyenne choked down another laugh and spoke in her best impersonation of Bianca Summerlin. “I’ve had the rare opportunity to gain personal experience in these types of situations, Ms. Gaderow. I would be more than happy to provide you with some insight if you agree to my conditions.”
“All right, Bianca,” the fae muttered through clenched teeth. “Name your price.”
“Oh, very good.” They laughed. “You got that immediately, huh?”
“Your mom’s the only person I’ve heard you impersonate like that, so it wasn’t that hard.”
Cheyenne cut a straight line through the department store and out into the center walkway of the mall. Groups of teenagers either swerved out of the way at the last second or split down the middle to walk around the Goth chick and her friend. “I guess I need to diversify, huh?”
“You know, Matthew mentioned something about dabbling in trading too.”
“Why am I not surprised?” The halfling peered down the line of shops, searching for the food court she thought was right there. “New rule. I won’t keep taking cracks at the
