“You djinn aren’t exactly well traveled. I imagine they don’t get your kind in here very often. Or ever.” Tenia said without taking her eyes off the room.
Myanin nodded, keeping her emotions under tight lock and key. “True.” Except for Thad, but he kept to himself. Most supernaturals would never see a djinn unless they came to the djinn realm. “Should I do a trick or bow, since I obviously have no balls to scratch.” Despite her usual coolness, even she heard the bitterness in her tone.
Tenia snorted. “I’m sure they’ll get over it in a few minutes. Let’s get a table.” The fae headed for an empty table with four chairs.
Myanin took the chair that allowed her to face the door, though it meant she had to turn her back on some of the occupants. She gave them all a measured stare before sitting, just to make sure they knew they were noted and that she wouldn’t hesitate to take them down if they tried anything. Tenia sat across from her, with a view of the room. The djinn would have to trust that the fae would let her know if someone was about to attack.
A woman stepped up to their table. A Canis lupus, Myanin realized when the woman’s eyes glowed as she looked at her. The waitress held a small pad in her hand and a pen in the other. “What can I get for you, ladies?” the wolf asked. Myanin wondered whose side this wolf was on, or if she was even aware there was a battle going on between the supernatural races. She also wondered what pack this woman was a part of.
Tenia was staring at a piece of paper. Myanin deduced it must contain a list of the food and beverages the establishment offered its patrons.
“I’ll have a bowl of beef stew,” the fae said. “A glass of water and some of your bread as well.”
The wolf scribbled down the order and then looked at Myanin. “And for you?”
Myanin stared down at the paper and read her options. There was no cotton candy listed. Nothing sounded particularly appealing, but as she read over the words she realized she was starving. Maybe it was the constant struggle going on inside of her. Keeping Lyra’s magic in check was no easy feat and seemed to be taking its toll on her, even if she didn’t want to admit it. Much to her chagrin, she supposed she couldn’t live on cotton candy alone, no matter how badly she wanted to. Maybe by eating something she’d regain some of her strength and the internal battle wouldn’t feel so taxing. Besides, she had no idea how long she would be surveilling the wolves once they left. “I’ll have the steak, a baked potato, and a glass of ale. And the soup,” she added. “Also, a piece of the apple pie and the peach pie as well.”
“Got it.” The she-wolf recorded her order and marched off.
When Myanin glanced up at Tenia, the fae’s eyes were wide. “I thought you were going to live off cotton candy.”
Myanin shrugged, keeping up the guise that all was well in the land of “the djinn who was slowly losing her mind”. “I figured we don’t know exactly how long it will be before we can stop and actually sit for a meal. Might as well take advantage.”
Tenia didn’t look fully convinced as she nodded slowly.
Myanin glanced around. She watched the woman who’d taken their order walk through a door that swung back and forth as many different waiters and waitresses, heavily laden with trays of food and drink, rushed in and out. Supernaturals, djinn included, ate a lot. Myanin would have ordered even more, but she’d stopped herself when she’d realized she had no idea what currency was required for payment. She didn’t imagine they took human money. For all she knew, they’d have to wash dishes to pay for the meal, not that she was about to do that. It reminded her of an entirely too recent experience when she’d been a slave to her former elder. That ar hadn’t worked out well for the elder, and it wouldn’t work out for anyone who tried to make her scrub a cooking pot in this gods-forsaken tavern in the middle of nowhere. She mentally shoved the memories of Lyra away, not wanting to think of her past for even a second.
“How will we pay for this meal?” Myanin asked, already envisioning how she would fight or threaten her way out of here.
“I will take care of it,” Tenia said. “This establishment is owned by a troll. Gold and jewels are the most welcome form of payment, which I have in sufficient quantity, though he would accept … other things if we couldn’t pay.”
“Or I could remove his head from his body. I don’t think he would be too concerned about payment then.” She felt the magic in her blood sting just beneath her skin, almost as in warning. Why, Myanin? Why did you kill me? Lyra’s voice in her mind stung just as much as her magic did. Was she
