Page 58 of Shadow & Stars
“Come quietly and you won’t get hurt,” the woman added.
“Too late,” I answered, letting Eric try cuffing me.
“What the hell?” he said. “He’s a ghost.”
The woman cocked an eyebrow. “You’re dead?”
“I’m potential hope,” I countered.
“Meaning what?”
“Meaning I’m done here.”
The two agents looked at each other, unsure of how to proceed.
“Don’t worry about me,” I said. “Stay alive. Keep fighting, and?—”
“We are here, Shadow.”
I yelped, spinning to see Margarite and Lizard Guy standing there. Rainwater sluiced down their faces, the glitter gone from their bodies, too.
“The queen!” Eric yelled, drawing his gun. “Demon!”
Oh, God.
“The Shadow,” the woman agent said. “I knew I recognized you.”
“Hello,” Margarite answered pleasantly.
Lizard Guy bowed at the agents.
What the fuck?
“Shit,” the woman bit out. “What the shitting hell is this?”
Okay. Time to cool things off. “Listen, I know this looks crazy, but I need you to look the other way. We’re not theproblem here, including the demon. He’s already dead, and so is the queen.”
No answer, just guns in our faces.
“I killed them. They work for me.” Uh-huh. That would really put out potential fires.
“They’re dead?” Eric asked.
I drew attention to their wounds. “As doornails.” Hmmm. “Listen, things have gone seriously bonkers, but I can make things better. You just have to trust me.” I flinched at the t-word. “Which is asking a lot.”
“You’re right,” the woman said. “It is a lot.”
“You killed the queen?” Eric questioned. “What the hell?”
“The queen is my daughter,” Margarite chirped.
The two agents looked at each other.
“Queen Piper,” I said unhelpfully.
“We know!” the woman snapped.
“Sorry.” I held up my hands, sensing a possible route to Piper here—if I played it smart. “I know you know. She’s my friend. I really need to speak to her.”
