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“If you want to wake the neighbourhood for no reason, keep shouting,” someone muttered.

Dranian sat on the opposite plush chair, reading a book.

“I’m not messing around this time. I actually really need to go home,” Violet tried.

Dranian shut the book, annoyance flickering across his dull expression. “I’ve realized. Something in your human body changed in the night,” he said. He sounded bored.

“I’ll die without it,” Violet promised. It might have been a bit of a stretch, but feeling like dying was almost the same as really dying. Sort of.

When he didn’t respond, Violet tried to stand. She gasped when her knees wobbled, and she teetered to the side. Someone caught her, and Violet’s gaze snapped up—her mouth open to warn that her skin would burn them… But it was the café owner, Kate.

“What’s wrong with you?” Kate shouted at Dranian. “Why are you being so mean? Just because you’re mad at Mor doesn’t mean you can let a person faint. Un-real!”

Dranian snarled a little. “Maybe if she faints, he’ll come back for her,” he mumbled, opening his book again. “Then we’ll actually get to see him.”

“Seriously, Dranian, if Mor finds out you let his secretary get hurt, he’ll flip.” Kate walked over and yanked the book out of his hand. She slapped it shut and lightly smacked him on the shoulder with it.

Dranian scowled. “You didn’t even put in a bookmark, Human! Now you’ve lost my page!” He yanked the book back. After a moment, his green eyes slid back to Violet. “Tell me where your human medicine is, and I’ll fetch it,” he stated.

Violet shook her head. “It has to be me. You’ll never find it.” And she needed to see Zorah.

Dranian huffed and lifted from the chair, cradling his book to his chest. “I wanted to read today,” he muttered. “Not accompany Mor’s human on a lacklustre stroll.” He stomped through the café, tossed his book on a table, and headed outside.

Violet dragged on her heels and headed after him in relief, using the tables for balance as she passed through them. “Thank you!” she called back to Kate.

“No problem. Don’t take his mood swings personally—he hasn’t had his morning coffee yet. He’ll be nicer after he does,” Kate said, but then she paused, seeming to think better of the statement. “Actually, he’s a bit of a fun-sucker with or without coffee to be honest,” she said. “Good luck finding your supplements.”

Violet forced a smile as she pushed outside into the warm morning sun. She’d forgotten she was wearing the knit sweater. Thankfully the day wasn’t blazing hot yet, but as soon as she could, she’d yank the sweater off. She was dizzy enough without the extra heat, and her skin was already a fairy-repellant machine—she was probably safer armoured in her own bare skin.

Maybe she’d ditch the fairy weirdo, too. Violet had a feeling Dranian would follow her into her house and drag her back to the café after she got her pills. And yes, she needed her supplements so she could think straight again, but mostly, she needed to go to the hospital and make sure Zorah was there for her shift and not passed out in the woods somewhere.

Minutes later, Dranian huffed when she couldn’t keep up. “Must I carry you?” The way he asked made it clear he really didn’t want to.

“I’m fine,” Violet lied. She took in deep breaths. Eventually, she took off her heels and walked shoeless on the Toronto street that was no doubt full of bacteria and contagious diseases.

Ditch the fairy.

Get the supplements.

Go to the hospital and find Zorah.

Violet replayed it in her mind so she wouldn’t forget as her brain fog turned into an overcast storm. She winced and rubbed her eyes, teetering a little and grabbing the side of a building as confusion rushed in and everything started spinning. No, she was not okay.

So, when she dragged her eyes up and saw a daunting redhead fairy standing in the middle of the road, she wasn’t sure if she was really seeing him or not.

17

Violet Miller and the Shadows

Violet’s sweater was grabbed. Dranian shoved her behind him where she staggered to stay balanced. She dropped one of her heels to the ground, gaping up at his body shielding hers from whoever stood in the road. Then she peeked around, trying to decide if the redhead fairy was really there.

It seemed he was.

“Let him try and take me,” Violet scoffed, blinking rapidly. “He’ll only get hurt.”

Dranian reached back to shove her behind him again. When his fingers accidentally brushed Violet’s hand, he stopped. He turned and looked back at her in question, staring at their touching fingers. Violet’s mouth parted as she tried to decide if it was real—their hands. Touching. Him not feeling any pain.

“Oh no,” she whispered.