Page 12 of Lana Pecherczyk

“Plastic is outlawed?” What kind of twisted hell dimension had she stumbled into? “But what about Spanx?”

“Huh?”

“Or acrylic nails. Me sunnies. Or—” She gaped. “Or me personal joy sparker?”

The woman held a monocle to her eye and inspected the iPhone, her floppy ears twitching. “Are these diamonds?”

“They’re against the law, too?”

“Tell you what,” the woman said, setting the phone down. “You seem like a lovely lass, so I’ll find you something appropriate to wear. You give me all your bits, and I’ll dispose of them before a Guardian catches wind.”

“What happens if they do?”

The woman sliced her thumb across her throat. “Considering our king is one, you definitely don’t want to delay. Ain’t that right, Shanks?”

A hidden male grumbled behind the stacked crates.

“Shanks says he saw a Guardian only two streets away at dawn, taxing the merchants. Said he’d just slain a taint-sprung monster, and we owe him. Fucking floaters. Believe me, you want to stay away from them. Not only do the Guardians hold more mana than sense, but they can crush your throat without breaking a sweat. Ain’t that right, Shanks?”

Another inaudible, gravelly reply. The woman erupted into laughter, jerked her thumb toward the crates, and said to Blake, “He knows because a Guardian’s hand wrapped around his throat. All the big vampire bastard did was sneeze, and he accidentally broke Shank’s larynx. It didn’t heal right.”

Blood drained from Blake’s face, leaving her lightheaded. She stared at her dead phone on the table. If plastic and metal were outlawed here, finding a charger wasn’t just unlikely—it was impossible.Old world. Old world.Why did that phrase keep haunting her?

Blake shook her head, trying to dislodge the nonsensical words.

Maybe she should press on. If this woman recognized her as human, others like her might exist, ones more inclined to help.

The cawing intensified, growing sharper, more insistent. She refused to turn and count how many crows had gathered, but the sound suggested a mob. The last thing she needed was to have her eyes pecked out like she was in a Hitchcock movie.

“You’d better hurry, lady.” The floppy-eared vendor raised her brows. “Any minute now, a Guardian could come strolling down that street. Best be agreeing to my terms, or you’ll be sorry.”

Or you’ll be sorry?

Blake’s eyes narrowed. Years of wheeling and dealing for hidden gems in markets and antique stores had honed herbullshit radar and haggling instincts. This vendor had practically salivated over the diamonds.

Bleating from the back of the stall preceded a flash of light as if someone had parted the canvas wall. How many people lurked back there?

Warning bells clanged in her mind. This had all the hallmarks of a scam. A con. Slowly, she retrieved her phone and clutched it against her chest.

“I might just take a moment to think about it.” She forced a shaky smile and turned to leave, but collided face-first with a wall of muscle.

“Well, well, well.” A deep male voice rumbled above her. Meaty fingers pinched sequins on her hip. “What have we got here?”

“Oh, you’ve done it now,” the vendor crowed. “I warned you, didn’t I? Told you they were everywhere.”

Heart hammering against her ribs, Blake lifted her gaze to the face of a Guardian.

Chapter

Four

River stepped through a portal into the designated area outside the glass gates of Helianthus City. Once through, he tossed his spent mana stone. It clattered among the others littering the ground, all sacrifices to the city’s hungry maw.

Briny, warm air filled his lungs as he surveyed the bustling, colorful markets. The Summer Palace loomed in the distance, calling to him like a beacon. Ada waited there—a powerful healer from the old world, now Jasper’s mate, the ex-Guardian turned Summer Court King. Ada held the promise of updates on River’s feather regeneration.

Beyond that, the final pilgrimage to his murder’s roosting ground awaited. The sooner he dispensed with these formalities, the sooner he could begin hunting Cloud.

His stomach twisted at the thought of arriving without functional wings. River’s Guardian status saved his family from being completely shunned for their “weak, lovey-dovey ways.” If his weakness was exposed, he could no longer protect them. They’d likely be ostracized.