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Aeval frowned, her gossa in the breeze But the cold didn’t even seem to faze her She shook her head "Usually, they lead to a barrow and cross over into the realm of Fae But you were already thereso this is an oddity You find faerie s here, quite often actually, but they are not common once you cross over I’ll do some research Meanwhile, I think you are correct I don’t think the Bog Eater caught hold of your friend I truthfully believe he still lives As to how you will retrieve himI’m sorry I can help you no further"

She turned "I a to Talamh Lonrach Oll noill see you within the week" And with that, the Queen of the Dark vanished into the swirling snow

"What now?" Delilah asked, bleakly staring at Chase’s watch We were sitting in ht help us They have to be associated with the Fae Let me think"

Damn it Now, not only had we not found Chase, but we’dwith the receiver until I pulled in The End, a radio station that played cutting-edge alternative and grunge As the h every idea I could think of

Finally, I thought of soer and s with the Elder Fae "Maybe Menolly can call on Ivana Krask again She’s Elder Fae and ht be able to help us"

"Crap--the tords I did not want to hear Elder Fae Whatfootsie with Yannie Fin Diver?" Delilah shot me a look like I was halfway on the road to crazy

"You’re probably right, but that’s the best I can think of for now Coo Crescent and see how things are going, then head hos upstairs"

My bookstore--which had started out belonging to the Otherworld Intelligence Agency--had been partially destroyed in an explosion that killed one of my best customers and a dear FBH friend--Henry Jeffries

I’d dedicated a plaque in the reading alcove to hi sum of money in his will, and with it, I’d expanded to a café next door, hiring others to run it The Supes now had the Indigo Crescent Coffee Nook to hang out in I was donating thirty percent of my profits above and beyond costs to the Supe Community Council to help various Supes in need

We parked in the spot I’d reserved forlot in back, which made it much easier for patrons to visit bothin business lately, and the bookstore was selling briskly co had taken so up audiobook nooks, and Roz had thought of a cool pro We offered a coupon club When custoht the book in e-format, we’d sell theht ten books through the club, they got an eleventh in print for free

Delilah and I headed inside, she vaulting up the stairs to her new offices, which had been renovated and cleaned up after the explosion, and I into my office It had been quite a while since I’d spent more than a few minutes here, and even now, my eyes brimmed up Every time I came to my store, I couldn’t help but re for e Too much, too much

As I ran my hand over my new desk, still unused to the feel of the maple--my old desk had been oak--it hit one down, too e and toofactors and life never stood still It couldn’t, or the stagnation would destroy us, slowly but surely

"Hey boss!" Giselle peeked through the door, her voice hesitant "I don’t want to disturb you but"

Giselle had been a gift from Vanzir She was de wo wheat-colored hair and est woman I knew She was athletic--stocky and tanned Her eyes were brilliant blue, thanks to the contacts that covered her red irises FBHs were used to eyesstill wouldn’t wash right and they’d think she was a va too closely

"Cooing?"

She bit her lip "Good, as far as the store goes Deidre says that the restaurant is co nicely, too"

Deidre was a coyote shifter I’d hired to watch over the coffee shop She was a cousin of Marion Vespa’s--the shifter who ran the Supe-Urban Café--and Marion didn’t have a job for her so I’d taken her on Deidre and Giselle had beco couple

The look on Giselle’s face told syou What is it?"

Giselle sucked in a deep breath "Yeahthere is so about you About when you’re going to be here The guy says he’s Fae and fro else, but I can’t pin hih and I was suddenly cold "Who was it? What did he look like?"

"I don’t knoho he was The first time, he tried to charht I was human and easily swayed When that didn’t work, he left Today he ca eous, but I don’t need diamonds He seemed puzzled when I wouldn’t take it"

I licked my lips "Describe him?"

"He was around five nine, wiry but athered from the center of his head He lookeddifferent, but I don’t kno to describe it Dressed in leather and fur But I know this: He knoorkto be down here, which is why I’h the back today"

"Yeah" I hesitated Co anonyet ho, and I don’t need another on top of it"