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Beyond that, we typically stuck to our own.

Of course, the higher ups in the Midwest Regional Committee of Magic were trying to change that. It was why the Department of Supernatural Law Enforcement existed, and why they’d been careful to recruit members from a variety of backgrounds to fill the department.

Outside the Committee, most wizards and vampires aren’t chummy. Weird. Unless it’s a sign things are changing?

The thought didn’t sit right with me, then again, I’d been raised to suspect everything and everyone who wasn’t family.

I stepped out of the shade cast by the awning back into the hot sunshine to continue my run, grimacing a little at the dull ache in my lungs.

I really do hate running. Weightlifting is way more fun. Running just makes me sweaty and red faced.

My steps were heavy as I jogged up the street dodging a gaggle of humans heading into one of the office buildings.

I stepped around a werewolf who was heading towards a battered jeep parked on the street, then sneezed as I stepped within the boundaries of Tutu’s Crypta & Custodia’s shields and seals.

The dragon seal blasted me, burning in my mind like spicey food—that was how I sensed magic, through oddly weird sensations I felt in my brain like spicey food for dragons or gossamer wings for fae.

When my vision finally cleared from my sneeze I jogged on, letting myself go slower so I could again look for damage the city had already repaired.

Or maybe the Curia Cloisters repaired it without telling the humans? I wouldn’t put it past the Cloisters as shredded streets and insectoid monsters would crack the friendly and harmless persona they try so hard to curate.

My vampire senses stirred as a motorcade of black SUVs rolled down the street. The dragon insignia emblazed on the doors of the leading car was the emblem of the Drake vampire Family—the Drakes were run by the vampire Eminence Killian Drake, who led all the Midwest vampires.

It wasn’t unusual to see Drake vampires out and about in daylight. Whatwasunusual was that all but the lead SUV had their windows down and each was staffed with two to four vampires who—clothed in dark suits and wearing matching black sunglasses—were looking up and down the street as if they were searching for something—or someone.

Maybe they were sent out to look for clues about the mantasps? But they’re watching pedestrians.

I watched the cars as they rolled down the street and made a mental note to ask at work if anyone had heard what the Drakes were searching Magiford for.

My general body awareness kicked in, and I realized a fae was gliding down the city block on a direct path to collide with me.

He was a fae noble—humanoid in appearance with movie-star looks. His golden blonde hair was meticulously styled, and he was wearing a white suit that I would have gotten dirty if I just looked at it.

He wasn’t watching where he was going. Instead, he was looking to the side, swerving slightly from side to side as if following some invisible sight.

I deftly stepped out of the way and continued plodding up the block, unbothered by the fae’s self-absorption—which was pretty on par for his kind.

However, when I got free of Tutu’s seals—and the spicey sensation of dragon magic disappeared—I whipped around.

The fae was still walking, his steps wavering from side to side as he meandered down the block. He didn’t stop gawking until he reached the edge of Tutu’s seals and shields. Then he picked up his pace and strode on, his face focused on the sidewalk in front of him.

Was he feeling for Tutu’s shields and seals? But why?

Tutu’s was impossible to crack—no one could best a dragon when it came to security. Also, no one would seek vengeance like a dragon who believed their hoard had been compromised, so no one was stupid enough to try it.

Maybe he was an employee, testing the magic after the mantasp incident.

It was a possibility. House Tellier joining hands and inviting vampires over for cake and tea was also a possibility, just an infinitesimally small possibility.

This is why it’s important to know my city, I concluded as I reluctantly started jogging again.So that I don’t see danger around every corner.

Still… I’d ask Sunshine, at least, about the fae. And House Tellier. Just in case.

* * *

Two nights passed,and I still hadn’t been able to find Sunshine and ask her for intel—she must have been off.

I was out on patrol with Tetiana and Binx and had spent the first couple hours of our shift attempting to screw up my courage to ask them for their opinion on what I’d seen.