Illusions

fae.

“Klea is coming for me tomorrow,” she said evenly, her voice strained, but controlled.

“When will you be back?” Tamani asked, his voice calm. It wasn’t that unusual.

“I… I—” she said, but looked down, avoiding his eyes.

She was supposed to lie, he could tell. But he wanted the truth. In another few hours it might not matter, but for once, he wanted the truth. He tilted his face close to hers and let his cheek touch her face, his lips just brushing her ear. “Tell me,” he whispered.

“I’m not supposed to come back at all,” she said, her voice catching.

He pulled back, not having to fake the horror written across his face. “Never?”

She shook her head, her eyes darting around the room as if afraid someone would catch her dropping her secret. “I don’t want to leave. Klea — she wasn’t happy that I came tonight at all, but I was not going to miss this.”

This was an act of rebellion then — and one of which Yuki was clearly proud.

He was silent for a moment and Yuki looked up at him, waiting for him to say something, do something. He gave himself another moment to think by pulling her close and listening to her shallow breathing as he again brushed her earlobe with his lips. “Can’t you stay?” he asked, digging now. “Won’t she listen to you?”

“Klea doesn’t listen to anyone,” Yuki grumbled.

He stopped now, stopped dancing entirely, letting the other couples swaying around him make room for them. He reached out a gloved hand and ran his fingers down the side of her face, her heavy lashes fluttering closed at his touch. “How far will you go?”

“I don’t know.”

“Back to Japan?”

“No, no, not that far. I’m pretty sure we’re staying in California.”

He looked over his shoulder when someone bumped him; instead of pulling Yuki in close, he led her into a graceful stretch, then held out his hand, inviting her to come near this time. She jumped at the chance, pulling herself against his chest, lifting her face up close to his as they resumed swaying. “She won’t take your cell phone, will she?” Tamani asked, his mouth only a breath away from her lips.

“I… I don’t think so.”

“Then I can call you, right? And I have a car. I could come and see you.”

“Would you?”

Tamani leaned just a little closer, his forehead brushing hers. “Oh, absolutely.”

“Then I’ll figure out a way,” Yuki promised.

“Why now?” Tamani asked, leading Yuki backward in a slow, waltz-like circle around the human dancers. Even as he pushed her for secrets and signs, she followed him easily, and he found that he enjoyed dancing with her. “Can’t you stay till Christmas? It’s only a few more days.”

Yuki shook her head. “I can’t. It’s… not a good idea.”

“Why?” Tamani asked, injecting a hint of longing into his voice, hoping he wasn’t prodding too hard.

“I—” Her gaze faltered and she looked down again. “Klea says it’s too dangerous.”

The music changed and Tamani led her a little faster now, into a series of more complicated steps. Take her mind off her mouth, Tamani thought to himself. “I don’t want you to go,” he whispered.

Yuki’s face lifted, her eyes soft. “Really?”

Tamani forced himself not to grit his teeth. “There’s something different about you.”

Her expression was momentarily guarded, but she smiled his words away. “I’m not different. I’m just a regular person.”

She was pretty good. But Tamani had been lying since before her sprout opened its petals. “No,” he said sweetly, pulling her tight against his body, feeling her erratic breathing as he did. “You’re special. I can tell. There’s something amazing about you.” He laid his cheek right on hers now, and felt her hand tremble in his. “And I can’t wait to find out more.”

Yuki smiled and opened her mouth to say something, but Tamani felt his phone buzzing in his pocket.

“Just a sec,” Tamani muttered, pulling his phone out just enough that he could see the display. Sure enough, Aaron’s number was lit up on the screen. Tamani looked up at Yuki and apologized with his eyes. “It’s my uncle. I’ll be right back.” He squeezed her hand. “Why don’t you go get something to drink?” He smiled at her for another second before walking quickly from the dance floor.

“I’m really glad I came with you,” Laurel said, looking up at David.

“Really?”

“Yeah. It was good to clear the air. I—” She paused. “You have to know that I hadn’t planned to break up with you. It just happened.”

“I do know that. But I was so riled up. You were justified.”

“I kinda was, wasn’t I?”

David rolled his eyes. “I’ll do better,” he said. “If you’ll just give me a chance.”

“David—”

“I’m going to keep hoping,” David said, raising her hand up to his lips and kissing her knuckles.

Laurel couldn’t help but smile. Over David’s shoulder, she noticed Tamani striding out of the gym, his phone held to his ear, his face unreadable. “Something’s happening,” Laurel said. “I’ll be right back.”

Trying not to draw too much attention to herself, Laurel followed Tamani out into the lobby.

“You raided without me?” Tamani whispered, his eyes darting left and right as he backed into a dark corner, locking eyes with Laurel for a brief instant as she approached. “Well, I’m glad you’re still alive. Goddess only knows what could have happened. What was in there?”

“We raided because I knew you wouldn’t be able to join us.” Shar’s voice sounded in Tamani’s ear. Through Aaron’s phone. Apparently Shar had “forgotten” his iPhone back in the forest. His human trinket. “I told you — you’ve been spreading yourself too thin.”

“You had no right—”

“I had every right. I am in command here, though you seem happy to forget that when it’s convenient to you.”

Tamani clenched his teeth; when it came to matters concerning Laurel, chain of command was not the only consideration, and Shar knew it. “What did you find?” he asked emotionlessly.

“It was empty, Tamani.”

David walked up and stood beside Laurel.

“Empty?” Tamani asked in disbelief. “What do you mean, empty?”

“Well, not completely empty. The trolls we chased down are still here.”

“A month later?”

“I didn’t say they were alive.”

“Dead?”

“One looks like it starved to death. But not before eating part of the other one. The stench was… well, let’s just say I’m not going to be able to smell properly for a long time.”

“Why didn’t they just leave?”

“They must have seen us, known they were surrounded. It was death if they left and I was more patient than they were.” He coughed. “Earth and sky, but they reek.”

Tamani sighed. He had several choice words for Shar, but now was not the time. “Well, thanks for letting me know, I suppose. If you’ll excuse me, I have a job to get back to.” Without saying good-bye he pulled the phone away from his ear and jabbed at the End Call button on his screen, once, twice. Blighted glove! Suppressing a growl, he bit down on the middle finger of his glove and yanked it off, poking hard at the phone to hang it up. He looked up at Laurel and David.

“Why did you follow me out here? I’m making some headway with Yuki and you two hanging around could ruin everything. Go! Dance!” he said, gesturing toward the door.

“Tam,” Laurel said, her eyes wide. “Your hand. Look at your hand!”