Page 88 of Filthy Fae

Nancy swung an arm around Morte’s shoulder. “We’re done here. You want to walk out together?”

“You’re not going to wake her?” I asked.

The bruising on Mab’s neck had already faded to a pale gray.

“Nah.” Nancy pulled out a cigar, shoved it in her mouth and fiddled on her toolbelt for a lighter. After taking a few puffs, the necromancer flicked ash onto the queen’s floor. “Let her enjoy her last few minutes of peace. You think we’ll have to fight our way out?”

“Hopefully not,” I told her. “Scarlet said the queen knew you’d be coming to release the incubus.”

Nancy nodded toward the fae in the corner. “That guy clearly lost a good quantity of his lifeforce before the queen tired of the demon.”

“He and three other fae. The queen sacrificed others so she could sleep with it.”

“That is, unfortunately, not a new trick.” Nancy sucked on her cigar while pulling a few bottles from her belt. “I’ll be one minute, and then we can all walk out together.”

When we were halfway through the palace, the screaming began. Princess Mab’s shrieks were unlike anything I’d ever heard. It was beyond terror. Even knowing the source, my wolf surged up, ready to fight off a foe.

Beside me, Nancy’s jaw tightened, but otherwise her expression didn’t change. No one looked back.

The foyer was empty as we walked down the sweeping stairways and to the entrance of the palace. I opened the door to the entry closet and let everyone go before me. We pushed several coats aside and stepped into what looked like a solid wall. Mack waited on the other side of the portal he’d created for this mission, and as soon as we stepped onto the country lane, he closed his eyes and raised his hands toward the portal.

The street was blissfully quiet. Only crickets and a few frogs interrupted the silence. The sun had set, and the dusk air felt charged, as if rain might fall tonight.

“Well,” Nancy said as she and her brother headed toward her beat up red sedan. “Looks like this is where we’ll all be parting ways.”

“Wait,” Jane called, holding up her briefcase. “I’m here for a reason.”

Nancy worked her jaw back and forth. “All right, but just for a second. How can I help you further?”

“Oh, sorry,” Jane said, sounding uncharacteristically flustered as she opened her briefcase and drew out some papers. “This is an account in your name. It has two-hundred thousand dollars in it.”

Instead of relieved, Nancy’s expression grew thunderous. “I told you I don’t take those kinds of jobs.”

I held up a hand. “For services rendered. You earned it. This is as far as it goes.”

Nancy hesitated one second more, her gaze traveling to her brother, who stood back with a hangdog look on his face. At last, Nancy took the paper from Jane. “All right. Thanks.”

“Maybe you can afford health insurance now,” I said with a smile.

Nancy quirked an eyebrow. “Do you know how much health insurance is?”

Jane surprised us all with a low chuckle.

“Maybe it can get us a good therapist, though,” Mandy said, cutting her eyes at Morte. “Isn’t Scarlet’s mother a therapist?”

“Allyson is… not that type of therapist,” Mack said. “But she’d probably know good professionals in the area. I’ll ask Scarlet if she can set up a call.”

“That’d be good. Thanks.” Nancy began to back away but then paused. “Hey, Jane.”

“Yes?” Jane fiddled with the latch of her briefcase.

“In another place, in another time, you think you might want to get a drink sometime?” Nancy asked.

“I do, but…” Jane’s cheeks darkened, and her breath caught. “I’m leaving for San Francisco tomorrow.”

Nancy smirked. “Trust me, there are tons of demons in San Francisco.”

Seeing that this conversation had taken a personal turn, I pivoted toward Mack and nodded to the car. “I actually had a favor I wanted to ask you.”