She felt it all in her bones—how alive everything was here. The hum of traffic, the pulse of magic tucked between shop doors, the messy tangle of human and paranormal life bumping elbows on the sidewalk.
It wasn’t the cage she’d seen it as at first blush. It was chaos. Freedom. The opposite of court formality.
And for the first time since she stepped on land, she didn’t feel like she was drowning.
They passed by vendors on the street corners. Some sold food—much to Monty’s delight and never-empty stomach—but others specialized in premade spells from the witches and wizards or sticky rollers for the werewolf professionals who didn’t want to show up to important meetings covered in fur from roaming around their homes in their wolf form, shedding everywhere.
“Oh!” she gasped. Up ahead, she saw a small woman with bright pink hair and a rainbow dress and a basket overflowing with flowers, shiny gemstones, and bits of stained glass. “Is that a fairy?” Her voice was full of the same wonder she heard people use when asking others if she was a mermaid as they passed.
“Let’s see. Bright hair and clothes. Bits and bobs. Big eyes. Mischievous smirk. Yes, I’d venture a guess that she is of the fair folk.”
“Wait, where did she go?”
“Subway.” At her blank look, the bird shook his head. “Remember the bus that passed us a few blocks ago?”
“Yes.”
“Under our feet, there is a giant, very fast bus that runs along the city to take people where they need to go without all the traffic.
“There are also all the tunnels down there for the vampires and wraiths to travel during the day without fear of bursting into flame or becoming completely powerless. Come on, stop gawking. Still lots to see. I’d bet my third flight feather that we could run into some celebrities up at the café on the corner—”
“Actually,” Iris said, spying a sign just a few doors downthat had her heart leaping. “Would you mind if I hung out at the bookstore instead? I won’t leave. Or cause a scandal. I promise.”
“Bookstores don’t have shirtless celebrities or reality stars crying into their salads. Priorities, Iris!”
“I’ll tag along tomorrow, I promise.”
After a lifetime of only having a few books to read, she was giddy at the prospect of a whole store full of them.
“Fine. Go sniff binding glue and ink. But just remember, no one in a bookstore has ever been invited to an impromptu yacht party with a billionaire!”
He reached into his bag that he must have packed along with the sunglasses he currently had perched on his beak.
“What’s this for?” she asked, folding the paper in her hands.
“Money, my sweet sea spawn. We had the money talk, remember?”
“Right. Of course.” Though she was reasonably sure she still didn’t quite understand the math involved.
“Keep it hidden in a pocket. The human pickpockets have nothing on some of the paranormals and their quick fingers.”
“I’ll be fine, Monty,” she promised the bird, leaning down to plant a kiss on his giant beak.
“Lucky,” a man passing murmured.
Monty shot the man a hard look. “Stay away from the men.”
“I have no plans on being near any men.” Least of all her fake fiancé.
“I will be back in a few hours to pick you up,” Monty said as they moved in front of the bookstore doors. “Feel that?”
“Feel what?”
“The wards,” he said, doing a full-body shiver. “A witch owns that bookstore. Be careful around her.”
“I’m literally just trying to buy some books,” she reminded him.
“Where did I go wrong with her?” Monty asked the universe, making Iris smile before he waddled off.