Chapter 30
Kali
Margot boarded the jet first, followed by Ren. Kali watched as Jack ran from the large, silver airplane Claire had entered and made his way up the short steps onto Margot’s jet.
When the door stayed open behind him, Kali knew it was for her. But she had approximately three minutes and one more conversation she needed to have.
“You can come out now,” she said, looking off to her right.
A petite redhead stepped out of the shadows, hair spiked like the last time Kali had seen it, but the dress was gone. The woman had a much more punk vibe going on with her new look.
The jacket, in particular, caught Kali’s attention. It was identical to hers in every way but color and texture.
“You work quick,” Kali said, nodding at the jacket before taking note of her boots. Kali had nothing against the ones she got from Dr. Yalin, but if she needed some backups this girl was the one to call.
The redhead smiled. “You should see how quickly we can whip up a ball gown.”
“I’m sure it’s impressive.”
The woman shook her head. “Impressive is you being able to see me when I’m hiding. Jack’s going to want you to tell him how to do that. Remember, this is a meritocracy. He has to figure it out.”
“Fair enough,” Kali said, looking out over all the jets and all the people climbing aboard them.
She still didn’t know what to think of these Royals, but she was certain the woman next to her had an opinion. She’d been far too giddy when Kali hadn’t kneeled before them. There was a story there. Kali just needed to get her talking.
“Quite an interesting group we’re dealing with here, wouldn’t you say?”
The redhead shrugged. “Meh. The only interesting ones are the twins. That’s where the drama is.”
Somehow Kali did not doubt that. “How so?”
“Figure that out, and we’ll name a firework show after you,” the fae said with a frustrated groan. “Wildcards, the both of them. They’re both up to something, but it’s not the same thing. Like two runners trying to reach separate finish lines first.”
“So not enemies?” Kali asked.
The fae bit her lip in thought. “Osment loves exactly one person on this planet. Malachi. And Malachi loves Osment. But either brother will lie in any given moment for any given reason, and I do think they’re both willing to kill each other as an endgame move. That’s what makes them so interesting.”
That’s what passed for interesting in a fae’s world? Good to know.
It was tempting to ask more about the twins, but the queue in front of Margot’s jet was officially gone. Time was up.
“What’s your name?” Kali asked.
“They call me Tiki. And I have to say it’s an honor to meet you,” she gushed. “That speech you gave was totally worth enduring that snore of a party.”
There it was: the one thing Kali wanted to clear up before she left.
“I know you think I’m a faenyx—”
“You pronounced it correctly.”
“I just said it how you say it,” Kali pointed out.
“Which is the correct way,” Tiki said firmly.
Sure. Okay. Kali didn’t see a need to argue about it. “I just want to let you know that I’m not a faenyx. I’m going to stick with Jack until I repay my life-debt, and if I succeed—”
“You will.”
Kali shook her head. “You can’t know that.”
“I can,” Tiki said with confidence.
“How?”
“Because we’ll help you,” she said with a broad smile. “Me. The fae. All of us. You can’t be free until you clear your life-debt, so we’ll help you.”
Kali shook her head. “That’s what I’m telling you. Even if I clear my debt with Jack, I’m going to have my own plans for what to do next. Those don’t include being a faenyx. I’m sorry.”
“It’s okay,” Tiki said with an easy shrug.
Kali paused, surprised at the quick concession. It felt too easy. “Yeah? We’re good?”
“Of course,” Tiki said. “You don’t know you’re a faenyx yet, but any fae who meets you will know. We know. And we’ll help you. For free. You’re one of us.”
Kali shook her head. “No. I don’t think you understand—”
“I understand,” she said with a smile. “You don’t. It’s okay. There’s time. All you need to do is get on that plane and go save Jack so you can be free. That’s when the real fun starts.”
Fun. The word sounded dangerous coming from Tiki’s lips, and this conversation definitely wasn’t going how she’d planned.
Across the way, Ren poked his head out of the jet and made melodramatic motions for Kali to either get on or stay behind.
Time was up.
“Just don’t tell anyone I’m a faenyx, okay?” Kali said in a last-ditch effort to be honest. “I’m trying to lay low. The fewer people talking about me, the better”
“I won’t have to,” Tiki replied. “Like I said, we know our own.”
Then the fae was gone. Really gone. Not hidden in the shadows somewhere, lurking and listening.
Gone.
“That’s a nice trick,” Kali said, pulling her hood up as she started toward the jet. Can you teach me how to do that, Ace?
It’s as hard as it looks, but yes. That can be arranged.
Looking forward to it, Kali thought, turning her steps into a run so Ren would stop frowning at her.
For some reason, the frown warmed her heart. It had been so long since she’d seen an unhappy face that was friendly underneath it all.
She had friends again ... allies, even. She had a purpose bigger than stealing food and running for her life. It felt good. And Kali had a sense that of all the scenarios she could be locked into, she was going to like being in this one just fine.