Page 58 of Angel Lost

I start to protest.

“No, Lorelei, I’m serious—it’ll only cause Chano more trouble. I want to help, but I’m too recognizable. That fae idiot already put a target on us by announcing our allegiance. If I just showed up? They’d have switchblades at our throats in seconds.”

Kai rolls his eyes, moving slowly, deliberately toward Farrell, stopping only when he’s leaning over him. “How about if I disguise you, chickenshit?”

Farrell stands chest to chest with Kai.

Kai inspects his nails. “I’m not ascended, so it won’t last long…Be gone after you sleep.”

“Too dangerous,” Zephyr says.

I tap my lip with my finger. “Everyone’s going to be distracted. They’d just see Chano’s friends. No one will be looking closely.”

Zephyr forces himself between the other two. Turning his back to Kai, he places his hands on Farrell’s shoulders. “If they see through it, you are dead. They’re gangsters. They won’t fuck around—they will kill you. No soldier’s honor, no second chances.”

Farrell brushes Zephyr’s hands away and steps around him, eyes gleaming. “My illusions work from a distance, but up close for any length of time, they don’t hold. If you can do better, Kai, go for it.”

Zephyr’s shoulders slump, and I give his arm a quick squeeze.

“I can only hold it on a couple of people at once,” Kai says, not as confident now. “And I need to tattoo you.”

Farrell doesn’t look happy, but he exposes his abs. Kai sets up his kit quickly, with a smoothness that only comes from practice, and makes Farrell lie on the table.

“Ready to have a new identity?” Kai flashes a smile with far too many teeth. I narrow my eyes, glancing between his tattoo machine and Farrell’s taut abs. Suddenly I’m less sure about this. The machine buzzes and Kai’s hand starts to move in swift, sure strokes.

“Well?” Farrell demands, standing. “Will I pass scrutiny?”

His smart shirt droops from his shoulders, pants puddling around his ankles. I fist my hand, biting down on it, choking back the giggles. Even Zephyr laughs before turning away quickly.

Farrell’s head whips between us. “Kai, what have you done?” He storms toward the giant gilt mirror. Except the storming is slightly spoiled by his short, tripping strides.

In the mirror is a short, chubby cheeked, freckle-faced girl. Farrell growls, pulling at the long red hair cascading over his shoulders.

“You sneaky fae bastard,” he squeaks.

Stooping slightly, Zephyr slings an arm around Farrell’s shoulders. “You can wear Lorelei’s uniform. Although, it might be a little long.” He snorts.

Farrell turns on Kai, advancing with short, mincing steps.

“Undo it, asshole.”

I catch him by the arm. “Wait, so you’d walk into Maverik territory, but the idea of being a girl freaks you out?”

Zephyr pats Farrell’s butt. “You’re anattractivegirl.”

“Fuck off.” Farrell growls.

Zephyr sniffs.

“It’s good, Farrell,” I say. “Clever. No one would ever imagine it was you.”

It takes another ten minutes to round the boys up, persuade Farrell into one of my skirts, and head for the portal. Ten minutes I didn’t want to waste. Hell.

We storm up the cobbled path toward the giant stone arch, stopping every so often to let Farrell catch up. Any other time I’d be cracking up, but right now he’s just slowing us down.

“Oh, lookie here.” Camille steps in front of us, arms folded, a couple of students at her back. “If it isn’t a traitor.”

My fists bunch at my side. “Get out of the way.”

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