Page 35 of Reap the Night
“No!” Merry grabbed my wrist. “Fae food.” She glared at the others, who had also gravitated toward the display. “Human food tables are marked with a blue banner.” She pointed to our right where some humans were nibbling on what looked like chicken wings at a buffet that wasn’t nearly as impressive as the fae one with all its colors and aromas and strange food stuff that seemed to pulse and move and…was that a worm?
I took a hasty step back.
“Fae food is never what it seems,” Merry warned us. “Best not to eat anything. Just to be safe.”
We continued to the bar and joined the people and fae waiting to be served. It was easy to distinguish the fae drinks from human beverages because they were served in the glasses shaped like rose heads or slender test tubes filled with vibrant frothing concoctions.
The tempo of the music sped up, and the melody developed more bass. Several fae abandoned the bar and hurried toward the dance floor—an area of grass below an array of colorful floating orbs that flashed to create a strobe light effect.
We made it to the counter quickly after.
An elfin woman with pink wings flew down the bar with a smile that showcased tiny pointy teeth. “What can I get you?”
“Human beer and wine,” Merry said.
“Oh? How boring. Why not sample some dandelion brew or will-o’-the-wisp breath? Both perfectly safe for human consumption.” She gave us what she probably thought was a winning smile, but all the pointy teeth and the dead gleam in her eyes made it seem more like a threat.
“Just the beer and wine please,” Merry said firmly.
The smile turned into a frown. “Now look here. I’m simply trying to enhance your experience. Trust me. You’ll have the best time with a little fae brew in your veins.”
“Maybe we should try it,” Edwin said.
“Stop being such a pleaser.” Padma flicked her dark curls over her shoulder, and the woman’s gaze fell to the VIP bracelet.
“Ah, on second thoughts, wine and beer it is.” She hurried off to fetch our drinks.
“She gave up quick.” Edwin sounded disappointed.
“She saw Padma’s VIP bracelet.” I held mine up. “I think these will keep us safe here.”
“Good,” Holly said. “I’ve heard of places like this where humans are led into addiction and become fae pets.”
“Really?” Edwin looked scandalized.
“Not all fae are out to enslave humans,” Merry snapped. “That’s just what you find in accounts written by human men who’ve been jilted by their fae lovers.”
Holly blinked sharply. “Calm down. I was only saying?—”
“Well, you shouldn’t speak on issues you have no knowledge of.”
This was the first time I’d seen Merry riled up, and it was both impressive and kinda scary. “Shedidtry to push fae drink on us, Merry. Puts her motives into question.”
The pink-winged fae returned before Merry could respond to my comment and practically slammed a tray carrying our order onto the counter.
“How much?” Merry asked with a smile that said she was trying to connect.
The fae barely looked at her, her attention already on the next customer. “You’re silvered, so enjoy yourfreedrinks.” There was afuck offin her tone too.
She flew off down the bar, a fresh smile on her face, ready to take the next paid order, and we grabbed our drinks and set off in search of somewhere to sit. There were picnic blankets, benches, and even a gazebo, but all were taken.
“Where’s the VIP?” Merry craned her neck looking this way and that. “Might as well use our passes.”
“I see an arch that way!” Edwin pointed.
This arch didn’t haveexitwritten on it, and it didn’t say VIP either, but there was a fae dressed in a crisp suit standing beside it.
Tall, thin, with orange eyes, he looked exactly like the one outside.
