“That is what you’re going to explain right now on pain of death.”
“Nyah nyah,” Cha taunted.“You can’t hurt me because I’m a protected human pet.”Okay, she was a lot punchy.
Lenorae smiled, not at all nicely.“No, but I can hurther.”Leveling a blast of ruby-red magic, she knocked Dy across the restaurant and into a climbing wall.Several kids who’d been scaling the mini-mountain lost their handholds on the fanciful mushroom grips and fell with piercing shrieks.Fortunately they’d been secured with ropes, but instant chaos resulted, with the parents screaming and shouting louder than the kids.Trolls ran about frantically, bells jingling in merry accompaniment.
Cha made to dash for her partner, but found herself rooted to the spot.
Lenorae’s smile had gone smug.“Oopsie.I hope the sorceress isn’t too badly hurt.Human magic workers are so careless about physical attacks.”
“Let me go.”
“Tell me where he is.”
“I don’t know.”In a near gut-watering rush of relief, Cha realized this was absolutely true.Perhaps Azul had disappeared on her this way on purpose, so she could honestly say she didn’t know.More, it had finally begun to penetrate that he hadn’t gone back to wed Lenorae, because she would not be here otherwise.Bubbling happiness at odds with the dire situation welled up in her heart like spring water.There was something seriously wrong with her.
Lenorae frowned in displeasure.“Don’t lie to me, human.”
“I’m not.Absolutely no idea where he is.Guess you don’t control him so well after all.”
“I know you smuggled him out of the Citrine Palace.We have witnesses.”
Probably Gnome-Clerk.Possibly the pursuers that Dy “handled.”
“Oh, yeah, I did that.”Cha tried to assume a cocky pose, though it didn’t come off as well with her feet magically glued to the floor.At least she’d taken time to put on some badass clothes—a mix of her old stuff and Azul’s crazy expensive dress-up gift.
“Andthenwhat did you do with him?”Lenorae asked slowly, spacing out her words for the stupid human.
Cha shrugged elaborately.“Unlike you, I don’t have to be in control or leash my lover like a puppy.He comes and goes as he pleases.I’ve got my own shit to handle.”
Lenorae looked around the admittedly ridiculous restaurant.“This?”
“A girl’s gotta eat.Now, can you vaporize back to whatever hellhole you semi-materialized from and leave us alone?”
“Not until you tell me where I can find Prince Azulejah!”Lenorae was beginning to sound as frenzied and desperate as the parents.Cha really hoped someone was sparing attention for Dy.“I may not be able to hurt you directly, but I can hold you to this spot until your pitiful mortal life ends and your disgusting physical coil rots away.”
Now, there was an image.
Then Cha got an idea.She might be rooted to the spot, but she could otherwise move just fine.And she was wearing her sword belt.She’d better make this good, however, before Lenorae figured out to immobilize her completely.As a distraction, and because it would look more impressive, she drew both the Cinnabar Sword—radiant, red-gold, lethally powerful—and the Moonruby wand, which absolutely looked like a toy she’d acquired in the treasure cave behind the waterfall, cousin to any number of them being waved about by children trying to cast helpful magic spells and managing only to pollute the place with glitter.
Lenorae cackled, actually throwing back her head.“You can’t reach me with that sword, stupid human, and I’m not afraid of a child’s toy.Did you think I’d stumble close enough for you to touch me with that blade?I’m not even physically present, remember, you dingbat?”She laughed again, exasperation showing.“What he sees in you, I have no idea.But then, His Highness was never the smartest of his kind or he’d never have made that bargain with me to save his sister.”
Cha made a strenuous effort not to perk up with interest at that tidbit.Had Lenorae carelessly dropped vital information about the fix Azul was in?She really, really wanted to poke Lenorae for more information, but she didn’t dare delay any longer.She had to strike now while the fae demon thought she was helpless and the wand only a toy.
Sorry, Azul.But it wasn’t as if she could help now anyway.He’d managed to escape Lenorae’s grasp.Hopefully he’d handle the rest of the consequences.
Holding the wand exactly according to Nerd Girl’s guide, Cha remembered what Dy had said.You should speak to it in your own language.Channel your feelings and intentions.All right then.She gathered herself and held up the wand like she was giving the finger.She sang out with pride, not caring if she sounded terrible.This was for Dy.“Get the fuck out of here!”
Pink glitter condensed in a fluorescent field, fueled by Cha’s frustration and heartache.She poured all of it into wishing Lenorae gone gone gone.
The fae woman gaped.Gasped.
And vanished.
~33~
Something Ever After
Cha guided BigBetty down the Thirteen while Dy slept, her turn to be wedged between Katu and Warg.Dy hadn’t been too injured by her collision with the climbing wall.Just thoroughly banged up.Mostly she’d needed sleep and barely argued when Cha said she’d drive.The leys were quiet and empty this time of night and Cha felt like she could be the only person awake.Well, and Katu.