Page 34 of Taken By the Fae

Skylar stops and whirls around to face me, forcing me back a couple of steps. “You think I’m going to make this easy for you? That you got off easy when Tristan stuck you with me?” She barks out a laugh, shaking her head. “Piss me off, and you will regret it. Is that clear?”

My stomach drops, and I nod as a shiver races through me. “Do you hate all humans?” I ask in a low voice.

She actually smiles. “Yes.”

“Okay.” I’m not surprised, but her response makes the dread in my chest weigh heavier.

She pushes open a door Tristan and I passed on our way in, and I follow her inside, letting the door close behind us. “I have back-to-back meetings until this afternoon. You can either do photocopying or you can join me.”

I try to hide my shock that she’s giving me the option. “I’d like to sit in on the meetings.” I pull out a notebook and pen from my bag.

“Fine.” She gives me a once-over. “Let’s go.”

* * *

I spend the morning and most of the afternoon in meetings, scribbling notes as fast as I can with a half hour break for lunch, which I used to step outside and get some air—and an iced coffee from the café down the block.

Skylar leads a lot of the meetings, standing at the head of the long boardroom table. I keep my head down, my hair curtaining most of my face while I try to keep up from my spot at the far end of the table.

I estimate at least half of the staff in this meeting are fae. That, or some of the most ethereal humans I’ve ever seen. A few look less than pleased I’m sitting with them, which makes me think they’re aware of who I am: the human who knows they aren’t, who could pose a risk to them living in secrecy. No one says anything to me; I’m not the only human in the room, and I distract myself from their disapproval by taking more notes.

I’m writing a few things about a marketing campaign they’re working on as the room empties.

“I’m surprised your hand still works.”

My pen stops moving, and I look over at Skylar. “You gave a lot of valuable information,” I offer.

She blinks at me, then opens the folder in her hand and drops some papers in front of me. “Don’t waste your time writing everything. Listen to what everyone is saying. Next time, I want you to offer an idea. Got it?”

“Okay.” I flick a glance at the paper. She gave me her meeting notes.

“See you next week,” Skylar says.

“Yeah. Thanks for—”

“Don’t,” she cuts in on her way out the door.

“Right,” I mumble to the empty room.

Leaning back in the chair, I sigh, tossing my notebook and pen onto the table. My eyes close, and I rest my head against the chair back for a minute.

When I open my eyes, I find Tristan leaning in the doorway with a faint grin, and my cheeks flare with heat.

“Long day?” he asks, pushing away from the doorframe to walk into the room.

“I expected nothing less.”

He perches on the edge of the table a few feet away from me. “Did you learn anything?”

“Yes.”

“Excellent, then my job is done.”

I arch a brow. “Yourjob? You did nothing.”

“Are you disappointed you didn’t get to spend the day with me, Aurora?”

“Was it that obvious?” I shoot back sarcastically.

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