My eyebrows raise as I take in the female fluttering before my face. She's no bigger than my hand, with translucent wings that remind me of a bat. "I need to see Yardley."
The Pixie nods, her gaze sweeping over me. She places her hands on her hips, her silk gown bunching under her fingers as she studies me. "And who should I say is here?"
"An old friend," I force the words through clenched teeth.
The Pixie hovers before me. Her face is pinched as she presses a few buttons on her watch. Her brows furrow as she squeaks out, “Just a moment, sir.”
A gilded clock shows the time at the far end of the spacious entrance. "Dammit," I mutter, strolling past the Pixie into the building. It's later than I thought it was. I'm halfway across the marbled floor when the Pixie's voice catches up to me.
"Sir! Sir! Please wait in the lobby."
I ignore her.
"Excuse me, sir. This is highly irregular. If you'll just give me a moment to see if Yardley is free..."
I turn the corner into an empty hallway. The second we leave the lobby, my hand snaps out and grabs the Pixie around the middle. I pull her close to my face as she struggles. She throws dust at me, but I easily duck away.
"Listen to me, you ethereal irritant." I tighten my grip around her middle, and she gasps. "Be a good little messenger and tell Yardley that the Pirate of Death is here for her."
The Pixie's face drains of color as she stutters. "You killed someone again?"
I nod, releasing her as I elaborately bow at the waist. "At your service."
She gulps, her wings fluttering furiously as she looks me over. She raises her ashen face to mine, her eyes impossibly wide as she nods. "Yes, sir. Right away, sir."
"That's better."
* * *
"Yardley is ready for you, sir,"the Pixie says as she curtsies in the air, suddenly polite.
Nodding, I shove open the door. It bangs against the wall as I take in the space. Floor-to-ceiling windows cover two of the four walls, and an enormous desk fills up more than half the space.
Prowling over to the large mahogany desk, likely compensating for something, I grab a seat and drop into it. "Hello, Yardley," I say through clenched teeth.
For a moment, there is no response. Then the office chair creaks as it turns around.
"Erik," a strong, aged voice says from the chair. "I thought I told you never to return."
I tap my fingers on the desk, willing myself to remain calm. "I wouldn't have returned if it wasn't an emergency."
The tiny, wrinkled woman in the chair looks up at me with wide orange eyes. "You killed another prince?"
Crossing my arms, I shake my head.
"You slept with a vampire's partner?"
I growl.
"Shit, did you visit the Were—"
"It's not important."
Yardley tsks, wagging a finger. Her gray hair shakes as she moves. "Now, now. You know that's not how the Consortium works. You agree to honesty, or you get nothing."
"Fine," I grumble. "But we might be here a while."
"Good. I love a good story." Her lips open in what I think is a smile. Her gap-toothed smile is peppered with yellowed teeth, and I fight a shudder. Pressing a button on her watch, she waits as a holographic image of a different Pixie appears.