“Those aren’t the words I’d use to describe it, no. But it is certainly more subdued. Not as wild, despite being more natural.”

“Natural, like…nature?”

“Yes. The trees you noticed.”

“Oh right, yeah.” I nodded in thought. “Kind of boring, though. But then, I haven’t met any of the magical people yet. I might still be surprised.”

“By surprised, you mean someone might try to kill you, or run from you, within the hour?”

“Exactly, yes. One can only hope.”

We walked past a few businesses before stopping in front of a blue establishment. Despite the fact that it was after nine o’clock at night, I opened the red door to a packed house. What was more, a bunch of people were eating breakfast.

“Oh, I like this place,” I said as Darius directed me toward a sign high over a counter that said Please wait to be seated.

A woman with rosy cheeks and frizzy hair stopped behind the counter, peering at us over her half-moon spectacles. Her eyes stuck to Darius for a moment before swinging to me. I felt the weight of her assessment, which meant she was magical in some way. She knew I was with a vampire, I could tell, and wondered if I was merely food.

I really hoped I didn’t end up as food.

“Table for two, please,” Darius said in a bored voice.

“Of course.” I got another eyeball before she came around the counter and grabbed two menus out of a holder. “Follow me. I’ll seat you in the back. It’s quieter there.”

“No, no,” I said, stopping her. “If you have something with more hubbub, that’d be great. We can wait.”

She glanced at Darius before turning to survey the restaurant. Sheets of paper crowded the walls, all sporting handmade drawings. A small counter ran down the right and booths were stationed on the left, all occupied. Someone emerged from around a bend in the counter, indicating there was more seating back there, not visible from where we were standing. That was probably where she’d hoped to stash us. Out of sight.

“You’re pretty popular, then,” I said as she checked things out.

“When people wake up, they like to come in here for breakfast. Sometimes that’s in the morning, sometimes halfway through the day, sometimes in the evening, like your friend there, assuming he ate food, and sometimes in the middle of the night.”

“Oh, he’s not my friend. He’s my possessive stalker who won’t take a hint.”

She turned back to me in surprise. A smile flirted with her lips. “Give me two seconds. Let me clear a space.”

“She doesn’t like vampires,” I said when she bustled away. “Did you catch that? She was not excited about a nice girl such as myself being mixed up with riffraff like you.”

“You are wearing a leather outfit with a sword, gun, and fanny pack strapped to your person. What about that look says nice girl?”

I ignored the dig on my pouch. “Yes, fine. But I fit in. And you are still not liked. I win.”

He minutely shook his head and half turned toward the door, glancing at it longingly. A moment later, he pulled his phone from his back pocket and messed with the screen.

“I’ve never seen you fidget. What’s up?” I asked.

“I’m ready for you,” the hostess said before Darius could answer. I caught Darius’s apprehensive look before it cleared. His hand found the small of my back, directing me behind the hostess until we arrived at a booth some ways down. The previous occupants were headed around the bend, holding half-filled plates and not-quite-finished beers.

“You didn’t need to chase anyone out,” I said.

“They’re regulars. They don’t mind. Besides, not giving an elder what he wants can work out badly for shop owners.” She pursed her lips at Darius before setting the menus down with a slap. She grimace-smiled at me. “Janette will be right with you to take your order. And a word of advice—walk away.” Her eyes flicked toward Darius. “The benefits aren’t worth the rewards.”

Darius received another scowl before the woman moved away.

“What on earth did you do to that woman?” I took a menu.

“Her gripe is not with me. Clearly she’s had an issue with one of my kind.”

“What gave you that idea?” I asked sarcastically, perusing the items. I glanced up at his untouched menu. “Are you going to try and fit in?”

“No. No one here is under any illusions as to what I am.”

“Super.” I tapped a gigantic-looking breakfast and put the menu down.

“I can make an exception, of course, but that will ensure I need blood sooner.”

“Did I say boo? No, I did not. Your not eating is just fine by me.”

A waitress with a shock of blue hair strolled up. Her body was slight but curvy, and she had a very specific scent to her, like seaweed and salt-soaked sand baking in the sun.

Mermaid.

My eyes immediately veered to the vee of her upper thighs. The burning curiosity of how they procreated, which they could only do at sea during certain times of year, constantly tugged at me. None of them would fill me in.

She glanced at the two of us, sizing us up. To me she said, “You don’t fit in with his company. You look like a man.”

“Is it the boobs?” I asked, running my hand in front of my chest.

“Men do not have boobs,” she said in a dry tone.

“That’s my point, yes. Get it? I can’t look like a man with boobs.”

The waitress paused for a second. “Fine. Then you look like a man with boobs.”

“Touché,” I mumbled. This woman made me want to wear makeup and let down my hair.

“What do you want?” She braced her pen to her green tablet, narrowing her eyes at me. “And what is your magical scent? It’s odd.”

“Odd, awesome—tomayto, tomahto,” I said. She frowned at me. “The Sunday special, please, with a side of fries.”

She pulled her pen away. “Did you read how much food comes in that breakfast?”

“Yes. Which is why I’m ordering it with a side of fries. Oh, and a chocolate milkshake. Breakfast isn’t breakfast without a milkshake.”

She rolled her eyes and turned to Darius. “Are you going to feign normalcy?”

He stared at her with a blank face for a moment before answering. “Nothing for me, thank you.”

“Say, listen,” I said in a low voice, leaning her way. I glanced around us in the busy restaurant, making sure no one was paying attention to what was said. “You get a lot of people through here. Anything unusual going on lately? Anyone with out-of-control magic?”

Her brow settled low over her eyes and her lips tightened. “What are you, a narc?”

“Not at all. Just a very violent girl who wants to pick a fight with the most powerful members of the magical community. I’d even battle a mage—I don’t care. Just maybe not the shifters. They’re hard to shake off your leg once they latch on, hear what I’m sayin’?”

As soon she heard the word “mage,” her expression closed down even more. A spark of fear lit in her eyes. That was noteworthy. But if I pushed, I’d get no help at all. Back off, and maybe she’d warm up throughout the meal.

I shrugged. “How about a really rough bar? I could go for a good fight.”

Her expression turned quizzical, but the fear didn’t melt away. “Is something wrong with you?” she asked.

I pointed at Darius. “I’m traveling with a vampire. That should’ve been your first clue.”

Her huff turned into a laugh and she shook her head. “You won’t be fighting anyone after you eat that breakfast.” She walked away without another word.

I blew out a breath. “She knows something and it’s got her nervous. Do you think that mage is skinning magical people?”

“You would’ve heard if the victims were magical,” Darius said. “I agree, though. She seems frightened of something. The question is whether it is the same reason we were called here.”

“I was called here. You just gave me a lift and paid for my room.”