Page 7 of Lessons with the Mothman

"This meeting is to introduce the two of you, and also to discuss terms for where the Agency might be able to help, if you decide you need us." She paused outside of a closed door for a moment and then turned to me, lowering her voice. "The Agency will make those terms sound like a requirement, but they aren't."

I opened my mouth to question her, but she swung the door open before I had a chance to speak. Huge dark eyes were the first thing I saw, staring out of a sea of gold and amber, a monstrous face taking up an entire wall. And then the figure turned, and the eyes stretched and shifted, and I shook my head. Not eyes, but the pattern of beautiful, glimmering, and enormous moth-like wings.

My mouth dried at the sight of him, ethereal and eerie, tall and entirely inhuman, with large onyx eyes and shimmering antennae. A thin layer of skin closed from side to side as he blinked, and his head tipped, cheek brushing into the thick and so wonderfully soft looking mane of deep, brassy fur that circled his neck and shoulders.

"Victoria, this is Elias, who I mentioned in my reply to you," Astraeya offered. "And Juno will be discussing various options to you about how the Agency might be able to assist your research."

I spared a glance at Juno, who appeared to be middle management, dressed in a full pantsuit with a curiously writhing and hissing turban atop their head and intensely black glasses that blocked their stare. They sat at the head of the table, with an intimidating stack of paperwork and an open laptop. But I couldn't keep my gaze off the mothman figure across from me, the late afternoon sunlight illuminating his partially open wings and making him almost holy in appearance.

"A pleasure to meet you," he said, bending at the hips,bowingslightly to me, a smooth and refined edge in his voice that my body responded to with uncharacteristic eagerness.

Intrigue and caution flared in equal measure, and I stepped into the meeting room as he straightened. Black eyes crinkled at the corners, and a hint of canine fang flashed in his smile.

CHAPTER 3

Elias

A fiery lockfreed itself from the tuck behind a small ear, grazing down a pale cheek marked with a streak of freckles. Sunset was blazing into Victoria Dempsey's brilliant hair, and my gaze was riveted to the sight, a hint of amusement striking me at the cliché. She was a perfect flame to lure me in. Short, with generous hips and what I suspected were small breasts beneath the loose flare of her blouse, and her petite frame was entirely overwhelmed by a mass of scorching red and orange hair, barely restrained in a thick braid. She was modestly dressed, especially for one of the hottest days of the year, and had played the role of observer through most of the meeting, asking occasional questions and offering her own pieces of information in well organized thoughts.

Aside from her initial stunned response upon seeing me, she'd been calm and nonplussed, even reserved.

"You'll pay the Agency this referral fee for any personal demonstrations you receive from our employees, and then a separate fee to the individual, based on your demands. We'll leave that to personal negotiation between you and the party," Juno explained.

"I've already started collecting a list of those who'd volunteer their time for an interview or demonstration," I interjected.

Victoria's face lifted, her soft blue eyes searching my face, a daze of discovery passing over her features before clearing with a slight furrow between her brows. How old was she? She looked young, but she carried herself with authority, and she'd mentioned earlier that this would be her second master's degree.

"You have?" she asked.

It'd been two long weeks waiting for this meeting to manifest, but I hadn't waited idly. I might not have been able to learn anything about this woman, but I'd started the work of preparing as much as I could for her.

"I have. I've made my own study of this subject, just out of personal curiosity. I'm eager to help you in any way I can," I said, watching a blush rise, her lips parting to reveal they were fuller than I'd initially measured. "I know quite a few willing parties outside of the Agency's circle as well."

"Competitors? Former employees?" Juno asked. They were a canny gorgon, and already deciding if they had a financial angle they might work on this news as well.

"Personal acquaintances," I said.

"Thank you," Victoria murmured, before turning back to look at the paperwork.

Astraeya hadn't told me how much the Agency would charge for their involvement, but it seemed to give Victoria some pause. I wondered if it would be disconcerting if I offered to assist with the fee, but before I settled on a decision, she was signing the document. The scratch of the pen over paper created a racing thrill that ran up my spine and down into my wings, shivering at my back and drawing Victoria's absent glance.

Juno's snake strands hissed in restless agitation under their covering. They no doubt felt as though they'd accepted the bare minimum on behalf of the Agency. "Please keep us abreast ofyour work and any further involvement you might require from us."

We want to know if we can wheedle any more money out of you.

"I should be more than up to the task of offering Miss Dempsey what she needs," I said smoothly, pleased with the color that bloomed briefly on her cheeks. She didn't give much away with her expression, but the blush at least offered me some indication of response.

Was I experiencing attraction, or had I manufactured too much anticipation for this meeting? Were the pink stains rinsing over Victoria's features arousal or embarrassment?Would she enjoy the two in combination? Shame could be potent.

"I believe that settles the Agency's end of this," Astraeya said, pushing her seat back and giving a meaningful look to Juno.

"I appreciate your assistance, and I'll be sure to reach out to you as well as share the final paper and cite the company in my findings," Victoria said.

Astraeya's lips twitched at the offer. Academia wasn'tgenerallyMSA's first audience as a company, but Juno's shoulders relaxed and they seemed satisfied by the gesture, nodding and shutting their laptop. "Then we look forward to hearing from you. It was nice to meet you, Miss Dempsey."

"Victoria."

Noted,I thought, not bothering to disguise that my stare hadn't left her in longer than was considered polite. She hadn't looked at me in minutes, and I was growing impatient. I rose from the chair, and her eyes skittered briefly toward me and then away again.

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