Page 11 of Fairies Don't Fall

We started back down the stairs that had taken so much effort to climb. Maybe I should accidentally trip so that Max would catch me and have to carry me while I rested. He knew how to read so many languages. Was that why he was so soft, because he read instead of training in the art of war?

He tugged my shoulder as I started heading towards the elevator. “Not that way, Princess. We’re taking a cab back. We’ll have to walk a few blocks to get out of the no-driving sector, but then we’ll ride the rest of the way. Librarian, thank you foryour help.” He bowed at her while she waved his thanks away and started drifting towards the stairs, like she heard someone calling her name.

“Cab?” I asked Max while my mind raced, trying to think what a cab was. Oh, one of those loud iron horses people climbed inside so they could ride in their belly. “I’d rather be eaten by a vampire.”

He gave me a sharp smile. “Vampires don’t eat fairies. They just drain them of their blood. You’ll have to get used to technology if you’re going to stay in the city.”

Was I? “Only as long as it takes to terraform your caves.” I’d actually given my word to do that. I was so stupid.

We left the library through the large front doors, past a human guard who nodded at us, then down the long marble steps and towards the street. It was a noble building that faced a tall, sparkly high-rise that seemed to sing in the afternoon light.

How could I talk about the likelihood of his people being poisoned without making him suspicious? “Lord Max,” I said as politely as possible while we walked down the sidewalk past all the other respectable looking pedestrians. They gave me several looks of horrified awe. My outfit was apparently quite notable.

“Yes, Princess Sparkles,” he replied gravely.

“Have you ever worried that your people might be poisoned?” And there the words just fell out of my mouth like drops of agony. Yes, my skills of subtly manipulating the conversation were legendary. Legendarily bad.

He blinked at me. “By modern technology? All the time.”

“Modern technology?”

“I’m speaking of more metaphysical poisoning, the destruction of mind and soul.”

I cleared my throat. “I’m referring to the more physical, immediate danger.”

“You mentioned me trying to poison you earlier. Are you always paranoid, or have you been poisoned recently?” He studied me thoughtfully, peering into my eyes like he could read my thoughts.

I brushed him away. “What are you doing to make certain no one poisons your people’s water?” Apparently, subtlety was lost on me. Or lost to me. Yes, that was more likely.

“I don’t do anything. We get our water from the same place everyone in the city gets their water. If the werewolves were poisoned, we would all die together.”

“Unless there was something in the water that only targeted werewolves, like silver.”

He raised a brow as we walked. “How would you poison the city’s water with silver?”

I frowned in thought. How would you do that? It sounded distinctly impossible to put enough silver in water, which would naturally dilute it. “Perhaps a slow build-up over time? But you’d have to keep adding silver to the water, and who would have access to and be willing to do it? I suppose someone could be bribed, but it’s a very long-term plan that has a lot of problems. I think you should be more worried about the food supply.”

He blinked at me. “Thank you. I wondered what I should be more worried about, the food or the water.” He patted my head. “You’re so cute, worrying about werewolves like we aren’t the hardest things to poison.” He pulled me towards the curb on the street where the cars were driving by, exhaling smoke and growling like dragons. He waved at a yellow car, and it pulled over. He opened the door and climbed in, pulling me after him. I’d been leaning away from the car, so when I finally went in, I sprawled over the werewolf, who reached past me to close the door, trapping me inside the beast, with a beast. “Song, Lupin District,” he said to the driver while I struggled to get untangled.The seat was slippery, and the fact that I was inside an iron beast had me shivering.

He frowned at me. “Are you okay?”

I looked from him to the back of the driver’s head. “I’m in the belly of the iron dragon, and you’re asking me if I’m okay?” I whispered.

He smiled and relaxed. “You’ll get used to it. It’s not iron, just various alloys that shouldn’t hurt you.”

“My cab’s chassis is one hundred percent steel,” the driver said, looking back to give me a sparkling smile. What was he? Elven? Goblin? I was too panicked and exhausted to tell.

“Easy, Sparkles,” Max murmured, a low rumble that had me looking into those mesmerizing golden eyes. Maybe he was a werewolf sorcerer who could control the minds of those around him. No, his people were way too undisciplined for that. “Why don’t you close your eyes and relax?” His voice was more persuasive than anything. Close my eyes so I wouldn’t see the dragon or the passing street, or the werewolf I was with? What a wonderful idea. I closed my eyes.

“Good. Now relax. Take a deep breath. This dragon won’t keep you. It has other passengers to pick up. Just relax and enjoy the ride. It must beat holding onto the roof of a train. Everything’s going to be okay. I’ve got you.” His voice got lower and lower, until I slumped down, boneless, leaning over on his chest like he wasn’t my enemy. I was like that, in a stupor, when the taxi stopped and I lurched upright. We were back in the undercity, closer to the caverns, but next to a large, squat building made out of gray blocks.

“That is the ugliest building I’ve ever seen,” I said. I flinched and looked up at Max, because you just didn’t say things like that to a werewolf about their house.

His eyes glimmered. “I was wondering what activities I could give to the juvenile delinquents who are stuck inside untilthey’ve paid for their crimes. Painting the building is a great idea.”

“You’re taking me here with juvenile delinquents? I’m a fairy, not juvenile.”

“Fairies are always juvenile and delinquent. You’re in lockdown with the rest of them until you get the pixie dust out of your system. It’s my duty.” He winked at me while I sighed heavily. Did I warn him enough? He didn’t seem to take my warning seriously. And he had bound me to terraforming his caverns. I didn’t have time for that. Although what else was I doing with my life? ‘What life?’ was the obvious answer.

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