The Warlock Queen: Book 13 of the Grey Wolves Series

herself to maintain. She pictured fire racing across the floor, reaching the elf king's feet and moving slowly up his body. It would be a slow burn. The flames would move at her command, consuming him one inch at a time. She would allow the fire to be hot enough that his flesh would melt like candle wax before it began to burn him to ash. He wouldn’t be able to do anything to stop it, and if anyone moved to attack her or help him, she’d simply give the fire more paths, more substance to feed it. She relished the imagined screams that would be ripped from him as he burned. She smirked at the picture of shock and terror that would fill the eyes of the onlookers, wondering if they were next. Someone cleared their throat, and suddenly Myanin was no longer inside her “burn the bastard to the ground” fantasy.  Slowly, as if she needed to make sure she wouldn’t actually act out her momentary lapse in judgment, she turned to glance over her shoulder, meeting the elf king’s eyes. “You remember that I am only here because I want to be. That can change in the blink of an eye. Don’t try to control me, elf king. It won’t end well for you.” Before Ludcarab could respond, a hand grabbed Myanin’s arm. She was just about to violently remove it when she suddenly found herself standing outside the building. The fae let her go and stepped quickly away.

Myanin gathered her power, feeling it well up inside of her like a dam breaking, rushing into the dry space below. She drew back her fist, about to send the offending fae through the wall of the building and beyond.

Tenia held up her hands. “I meant no disrespect, Myanin. I just felt it was better if we got out of there before Ludcarab, and Alston for that matter, felt the need to attempt to put you in your place.”

“Attempt being the key word,” Myanin said as she lowered her arm, sucked in a deep breath, pictured the dam once again sealed up tight, then let the breath out slowly before adding, “Never feel the need to protect me, fae. And don’t expect any favors from me, either. You’ve thrown in your lot with these people. You get what you deserve.”

The female fae cleared her throat, and Myanin sensed the woman was about to somehow justify herself. Instead, the fae swallowed hard and held out a hand. “Of course,” she said. “But as we’re going to be traveling partners for the foreseeable future, perhaps we should proceed with the mutual respect of warriors.” She held out a hand. “I’m Tenia.”

I can respect that. Myanin stared at the offered hand for a second before nodding and clasping the woman’s forearm. “I’m Myanin.” Tenia wrapped her own hand around the djinn’s forearm.

“Where to first?” Tenia asked, getting straight to business. Apparently the fae wasn’t into idle chit chat. Myanin liked her even more.

“We must make a crucial supply run before our surveillance can begin,” Myanin told her as she shifted from foot to foot. This time it wasn’t the stolen magic in her feeding the internal angst. It was the addiction to her favorite human food. Myanin felt as if she might just claw the eyes out of the next person that walked too close because she just wanted a bite. She wanted that delicious taste melting in her mouth, soothing at least one of her aches. “I need cotton candy, and I need it yesterday.”

Tenia tilted her head to the side and frowned. “Cotton candy?”

“Please, don't tell me you are unaware of the confection,” Myanin said, her voice sounding ridiculously annoyed even to her own ears. “There’s no way you’ve spent time in the human realm and not at least heard of it. And if you’ve never partaken of the melt-in-your-mouth sweetness, then I must ask why the hell you stay here?” Myanin didn’t completely understand what it was about the dessert that held her under its thrall. Yes, it was delicious. Yes, she loved the way it seemed to disintegrate effortlessly in her mouth, leaving her tongue watering for more, but there was something else about it that called to her. Maybe it was the simplicity of it. It wasn’t multiple tastes that the brain had to break down and work through. It was one taste, one goodness, pure in its singularity. Maybe it was the fact that its attraction drew young and old alike. When she’d first come across it and saw those waiting in line to get their own bag, the look of the excitement in the eyes of the children matched that of the older humans as well. It was as if it represented all the things she could no longer see in herself, sweetness, goodness, and purity. Maybe if she ate more of it, she would be able to regain those qualities.

“I’ve been in the human realm quite some time,” the fae said slowly. “I am aware of the sugary substance. That just wasn’t what I was expecting you to say.”

“I’m full of surprises. Now, please transport me to Venice Beach Boardwalk.”

“I can do that,” Tenia said. “Or we could just go to a grocery store.”

“Is that the marketplace where humans purchase their cellular telephones?” Myanin asked with narrowed eyes as she recalled her first experience in a department store.

“No, it’s a place where humans purchase food,” Tenia explained.

“And this supply of food will include cotton candy?” Myanin knew she probably sounded a bit crazy. Even she could hear the desperation in her voice. But far too much time had passed since she’d last imbibed. There had been an exceedingly unnecessary amount of BS--a term she’d learned from one of the fae warriors--spouted and time wasted when they had needed to focus on more important issues. She needed cotton candy...now.

“Yes, the grocery store should have cotton candy,” Tenia said. “If they don’t, then I will take