Page 8 of Twist of Fate

“I suppose I’ll forgive you, just this once.”

Luke gestured toward one of the small bistro tables, and Patrick walked quickly to it. As he sat, Luke brushed his thumb over the small flash drive attached to the cup’s bottom. Target acquired.

With a quick sleight of hand, Luke slipped the drive off the cup before taking a long drink of coffee. It’d be a shame to let such delicious ambrosia and such charming company go to waste.

Patrick babbled on for a few minutes about nothing and everything. To anyone watching, they looked like two old friends catching up over coffee. Patrick glanced at his watch then stood. “Back to work I go. It was good seeing you, Luke.”

“You too. Thanks for the coffee.”

Patrick nodded before rushing to the corner and a waiting cab. Luke waited a few minutes before leaving the bistro. After making a couple trips around the block and enjoying the rest of his coffee, Luke didn’t see or feel anything suspicious. He tossed the now-empty cup into the trash and called for a ride to the airport.

Once inside the safety of the car, Luke slid the drive into the hidden pocket sewn into the waistband of his pants. It wasn’t until he’d made it through airport security that the feeling of being watched returned.

CHAPTER THREE

Connal held zero trust for the little pixie pet who’d claimed his eldest brother as her protector. After this insult to his pride, Connal doubted he ever would. Avaneel’s instincts must be mistaken. Nothing remotely threatening appeared to be in this goddess-forsaken location. She’d dragged them here for nothing. Besides, what creature would dare attack this strange human port of air?

And more importantly, why would a human require such a thing?

It seemed like hundreds, if not thousands, of them bustled through the place, eager to explore every inch of the glass and metal monstrosity. Fires of Cnoc Si Ghabhna, Connal would rather explore the gaping maw of a riftwyrm than spend one more second in the echoing halls of the human travel center.

If the sigil on his wrist hadn’t glowed upon their arrival, giving at least some credence to the pixie’s claim, Connal would have abandoned the mission as another example of their magic not working correctly in the human realm.

Due to the immense size of the port of air, Connal and his brothers separated. Connal remained on high alert, even if he doubted Avaneel’s assurance that something of fae origin lurked in this strange place. It didn’t help that their King Consort forbade all weaponry when he learned of their new mission.

Connal hated being without his blades. Besides, he’d never seen a port that wasn’t swarming with all sorts of unsavory characters. Why would the human port of air be any different?

A loud voice, no doubt magically enhanced, boomed through the port. Attention passengers, Flight 1723 to Detroit is currently boarding at gate B23.

Humans were such odd creatures. Why would they board a gate? Then again, humans and logic weren’t exactly kinfolk, as far as Connal could tell. He still hadn’t gotten over the water demon that was not a demon at all. They had to have loud screeching vehicles to carry water? And why call it a fire truck when it spewed water? It made no sense at all.

Then again, humans didn’t have the ability to fly or use magical portals. At least they had some place to gather for their traveling needs. Perhaps they needed to congregate in the glass and metal structures to conjure enough power to transport each other?

Pitiful creatures.

Connal couldn’t imagine a life without magic at his fingertips. He'd seen what happened to fae forced to live in the human realm too long. Cut off from the fae realm, their magic slowly withered away. It was a slow, insidious death of everything that made them fae, and one of the harshest punishments the Queen could inflict.

Well, perhaps "death" wasn't entirely accurate. They lived on, stripped of the very thing that filled their veins with joy. As far as Connal knew, there were only two ways to escape that fate. A fae whose fated mate was human retained their magic. The chances were slim, but it could happen.

Luckily, the Queen, in all her gracious wisdom, granted a boon when she sealed the fae realm from the human one. She joined her power with that of their Goddess, the Lady of the Lake, to create a new Unseelie Realm hidden within the human realm. Any fae who pledged their loyalty to King Silenus could live under his protection, restoring the magic drained by life among humans. The process was slower than returning to the fae realm itself, but it was enough to survive.

Wise Queen Orfhlaith's strength and grace would be remembered for eons. Statues would be built in her honor, and poems would be sung of her boundless generosity. Many feasts would celebrate such thoughtful compassion for those under her reign. What a sacrifice she'd made, even for the fae she'd cast aside.

Connal would also honor his queen by continuing the mission she’d given him and his brothers. They would find what the thief had stolen and keep it safe in their care until such a time as she was able to reopen the realm. If that meant Connal had to spend hours in this confounded port of air, he would do so with a happy heart.

Mostly happy.

Okay, not particularly happy at all, but Connal would carry out his mission with an honorable heart.

Connal scanned the many humans streaming through the port. The glow of his sigil had dimmed many minutes before, but Connal stayed true to his mission. Something had drawn them here, and the mischievous Avaneel had confirmed the presence of magic in the area.

If this was another of her pixie pranks, he would…Connal growled under his breath…do nothing. Zer’s wrath wasn’t worth the hassle.

Damned pixies.

Damned humans.

Damned ports of air!