Page 29 of Suspicions on the Stage
closing time
MORGANA
“Look what the hellcat dragged in,” the dragon murmurs, and I have to count backwards in French for a few moments, so I don’t growl at him in front of a stranger.
He really can’t stop himself and it’s going to get him punched one day.
“Hello,” I say calmly as I paste on my formal smile. “I’m sorry I haven’t had time before now to visit your shop, but I’m bogged down in so much red tape. May I inquire about your name?”
“Phaedra,” the woman replies in a musical tone. “And do not worry about those niceties, Dean LeCiel. We have been on this rock long enough to realize that the human take on time is quite limited in opposition to that of supernaturals. Your presence here has been but a blink in comparison.”
I think I like this chick, but I’m not quite sure what she is beyond a hybrid of an avian shifter. Something old—older than I’m used to—and quite powerful. It’s obvious in the way she presents herself without guile and is less inclined to be flashy about herstatus, rather than bluntly state that she’s not a newbie to the realm. “Nice to meet you, Phaedra. I hope Kaspar isn’t bothering you as much as he does me, though, if I’m honest, I don’t know if that’s possible.”
The shifter laughs, shaking her head. “Oh, what a tangled web we weave when first we practice to deceive. My kin have quite the mischievous sense of humor with the tapestry, and your story is no exception.”
“Scott could not have imagined himself as someone who would influence the Bard or be relevant to this day,” I reply as I try to suss out what she’s applying the aphorism to. “My mother is very fond of Shakespeare and it was a staple in our household growing up.”
“How wonderful!” Now Phaedra looks positively delighted, and I congratulate myself on recognizing her bond with the written word. Obviously, she runs a bookshop, but having a job doesn’t always equal a love of your employment as it once did. Plenty of people—like me and Sisyphus—have been allotted jobs we didn’t want in lieu of even harsher punishment.
Yes, I equate running State U with pushing that fucking rock, and it’s accurate.
“Well, she would definitely be upset that I didn’t come here when I visited the coffeehouse several times. My caffeine habit isn’t her favorite topic, nor is my hyper-focus when I’m trying to get things under control. That comes from my dad, I fear.” I smile again, knowing my friendly demeanor, though sincere, is bound to piss off the dragon. “But I’m here now, and I think your business is lovely. I hope to spend lots of time browsing all of your inventory at some point.”
“How do you even know?—”
I sigh, rolling my eyes at Kaspar. Of course, he’d bring up my lack of magical ability because he knows that I’m sensitive about it. Phaedra frowns, her head tilted as she looks at both of us. “Kaspar knows that though my adoptive mother is magical, I am not. It’s a sore spot, and he thinks that because of it, I can’t tell when a place has magic practically leaking from its seams.”
My new friend snickers, her eyes dancing as she clicks her tongue. “That is notallhe thinks, Dean LeCiel, but since I, too, am bound by the laws of my more mysterious kinfolk, I can only say so much. I will say that I am going to enjoy finding out how the package unwraps eventually.”
Wrinkling my nose at her, I swallow my retort about vaguebooking, being even more annoying in real life than on the internet. I’ve never enjoyed those who dangle their knowledge like bait, only to make certain you know that they are definitelynotgoing to tell you unless you know a secret handshake. I don’t think Phaedra is doing it because she desperately craves attention like most of the people online are, but that doesn’t make it less annoying. It just makes me less likely to slice into her with a cutting rejoinder.
“Yes, well, I’m not fond of being manipulated by anyone, much less every freaking prophetic species out there simply because three women with a propensity for fuckery get their rocks off on playing millennia-long chess games with the universe.”
Phaedra turns to Kaspar, her face even more amused now. “You, dry-witted dragon, have your hands quite full with your royal and this hybrid. However, it’s probably time for you to move on in your pursuit of knowledge, don’t you?”
I think she just kicked him out in the most polite way she possibly could have—but why?
It takesa few moments before she’s able to shoo the prince’s bodyguard out of the quaint bookstore. He’s not happy with being made to fuck off when I’m here, but that’s because the damn dragon isstillsuspicious of me, even though I’ve mated with Liam. I don’t know when I’ll measure up to his scrutiny, but it’s tiresome as hell. There’s really not a lot I can do to prove myself besides putting up with his shit, while time goes by and not lose my temper if it drags out.
Patience has never been one of my virtues with men.
“I’m sorry that I interrupted,” I say as I settle into the chair Phaedra offered me. “I only wanted to spend some time visiting this area of campus before I meet someone for lunch.”
The hybrid shifter’s lips curve up as she studies me knowingly. “Your musical companion, no doubt. He’s a good egg, you know. I’ve known Slade since he started undergrad here, and if anyone can rise above the shadows of their family’s infamy, it’s him.”
“I had the distinct displeasure of meeting them this past weekend, and I agree with you,” I reply. I’m ignoring her little jibe about my ‘companion’ because I don’t want to give her more hot gossip to salivate over. While I don’t believe she’s going to spread rumors, I get the sense she’s related to some very nosy ass beings. Her allegiance to them will always come first if I’m right, and they can definitely force her to speak when she doesn’t want to. “But yes, I’m going to take my lunch there so I can visit with Slade.”
Phaedra bustles back to the small counter area as I respond, then returns with two beautiful tea cups with a fragrant scent coming from them. She sets mine down, then hers, before hustling back to fetch a carrier with tea accoutrements. Once she’s done, she finally joins me in the nook. “This isn’t caffeine, but it is full of herbal tinctures that both of your sides will enjoy. My relatives are vast and there’s a tea creator in there somewhere as it has passed down to me and my sisters.”
I arch a brow, curious about that. “How many siblings do you have?”
She looks amused at my attempt to verify my suspicions about her heritage. “Technically? Twenty-five, though more specifically, nine. You were an only child for your adoptive parents, yes?”
Her answer is truthful, but it’s designed to make me insane with curiosity because it doesn’t reveal as much as you’d think.
“When did the dreams start?”
Frowning, I pick up my tea, delighted when the first sip dances over my tongue like magic flowing into my veins. “What the hell is in this?”
