Page 39 of Fairies Don't Fall

“Does that matter? I can’t ask him. He’s a werewolf.”

“Ooh, a werewolf in a hat? That’s something I’d like to see. How fascinating.”

“And weird,” the driver said, adding, “Mostly weird.”

“Anyway,” Rynne said, scooting closer to me. “I guess werewolves are practically immortal, so the question of age is a moot point. This guy in a fedora. He has the money to do it?”

“I think so. He has a nice house, and a big warehouse. But I can’t ask him to pay for a hat shop.”

“Sure you can, if it’s important to you. Cabbie, stop at Stripe’s on Vineyard.” Then to me, “I’ll pay for your makeover. A rich werewolf who wears a fedora in the woods will have style, and you, in that outfit, are the opposite of style. No offense. Also, werewolves like sex appeal.”

I stared at her. “I’m not a sex appeal person.”

“But to get your funding, if you really want it, maybe you should be.”

And that was the kind of logic I was helpless to fight against.

Chapter

Twelve

Stripes had pink and yellow striped hair that matched her pants perfectly, except instead of stripes, it was a floral print.

She took one look at me and then at Rynne skeptically. “You paying?”

Rynne looked from me to her. “Yeah, so stay cheap, and it’s for her, not me. Can you make her alluring to a werewolf who wears a fedora in the woods?”

Stripes gave me a long look that took me in from head to toe. “Yes,” she finally said and then headed towards the racks like she was on a heroic mission.

Ten minutes later, I was dressed in a purple sequin dress that was barely more fabric than the towel. Also, it clung to me in the weirdest way, like there were curves to cling to. After that, Rynne took me to the Sing police station where she argued with a gray-haired man until she was able to get me in to see the dangerous criminal with fairy blood.

Happily, I was able to read his thoughts. Unhappily, well, I was in the head of a psychopath. It was not fun. But the fact that he’d hidden children and was doing terrible things to them, experimenting, things like that, made it worth it. After I toldRynne everything, she gave me a big hug and a handful of bills before sending me off in a cab to the nearest werewolf bar, to find Max’s beast, and convince him to fund Shotglass’s hat shop through their mutual love for the accessory.

The bar was loud, with a lot of people on a stage in bright blingy clothing, singing and playing instruments. Pianos, saxophones, clarinet…lots of noise. People were coming in, crowding around the stage and cheering for the woman in front who was singing some song about a paper moon. I didn’t feel entirely out of place in my small, sparkly dress. I guess Rynne knew what she was talking about.

I looked around, but in spite of how popular it was, I didn’t see Max. I went to the counter and looked around, then pulled out my phone, pushed the button, and stared at the picture of his face that I was supposed to touch if I wanted him. How could I admit that I wanted him?

“Can I get you something to drink?” the bartender asked. She had dark skin and intense eyes that stared into me while drying a glass without leaving any streaks.

“What do you have?” I asked, looking up at the board to see if I could puzzle out any more words.

“King Crown light drinks, the whole collection, as well as your generic whiskey, brandy, cognac, beer, organic, big brand, everything in between, champagne, schnapps, peach, mint, cinnamon…”

I raised my hand. “Peach? I’ll take peach, thank you.” I still had some bills left over from the taxi ride to buy something.

She stared at me. “Okay. This isn’t a place fairies usually frequent. What brings you to the Dog’s Breath?”

Was that its name? How hilarious. “I’m looking for the alpha. I thought he’d be here. This is the most popular werewolf club that all the wolves go to.”

“Max? You’re looking for Max in a bar? He doesn’t go to bars.”

My heart fell. And I’d thought that I was being so clever, hunting him down when I had no idea where he went when he wasn’t with me. “Oh. All right. I’ll walk over to the warehouse after my drink.”

She still looked skeptical, but she unscrewed a bottle and poured me a glass that smelled delightfully of peaches.

It tasted more like fire and acid, but in an exciting way that also made my vision blurry. I was staring at the picture of Max on my phone while my aching heart throbbed in my chest when a female sat down on my left. She bumped my elbow, making my drink slosh onto the phone.

I frowned at her. “Be careful.” I flinched when I realized that the towel werewolf from earlier was smiling at me, wearing a dress that made mine look positively tame. It was also painfully hot pink.

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