Page 28 of Shelf-Made Man
“How could you not know you are atroll?” Alfie spat.
“Because I didn’t even know trolls fucking existed!” Tobias roared back. “As far as I knew, they only existed in fairy tales and Tolkien’s Middle-earth.”
Alfie didn’t respond, but perhaps his expression softened a tiny bit.
Tobias lowered his voice to a more reasonable, less troll-like volume. “I told you that I’m adopted. I never knew anything about my birth family, and I certainly wouldn’t have suspected that they weren’t human. I’ve spent my whole life here, remember? Among boring, ordinary people.” He spread his arms to indicate the world as a whole—although maybe San Francisco wasn’t the best place to make this point. On the other side of the street, a person in light-up bunny ears and a tutu was descending the hill, arm in arm with a person wearing assless chaps, a fluorescent-green G-string, and a crop top. In late December.
After a few more moments of silence, Alfieslumped. “All right. But now that you do know, are you taking me to Snjokarl?”
“No!” This time Tobias was even louder. “I may be a troll but I’m not a monster. I care about you. I want to help you, and my identity has nothing to do with that.”
“But trolls don’t—” Alfie stopped himself. “I’m sorry. I don’t know what to do with this information.”
“I get it. Imagine how I feel.” Tobias crossed his arms. He understood why Alfie felt so negative about trolls. Tobias had very few good thoughts about them himself. But there wasn’t anything he could do to change who he was, and Alfie needed to understand that this wasn’t exactly easy on Tobias either.
And, speaking of trolls, standing out here arguing wasn’t the best idea. They might be attacked at any moment.
Tobias took a calming breath. “Look. We came here to get answers from Aunt Virginia. Let’s go do that, okay? Maybe she can find a safe place for you, and then you won’t have to deal with me anymore.”
The corners of Alfie’s mouth tightened, but he turned and continued up the hill, his gaze trained on his feet.
Tobias felt like shit. This was hardly the first time he’d been shunned or rejected, but those things didn’t usually happen at the hands of someone he cared about. He didn’t blame Alfie, but itstill hurt.
A different conciergewas on duty this time: a young person with a pixie haircut and an ugly Christmas sweater that coordinated nicely with the ugly Christmas decorations in the lobby. After hearing Tobias’s request, the concierge narrowed their eyes at him and Alfie. “The Countess of Contovello does not entertain visitors.”
Tobias heaved a sigh. “I know. But I’m her family and this is an emergency. Please tell her that Tobias is here, and?—”
“Your name’s not on the guest list. When residents are expecting guests, they let me know so the guests are on my list.”
“Right. But I like I said, this is an emergency. If you could just call her?—”
“That is not our policy.”
Before Tobias could tell them exactly what they could do with their policy, Alfie stepped forward and turned on his most engaging smile. “You’ll have to excuse Tobias. You know how trolls are. But it’s quite urgent that we speak with the countess. It’s a life-and-death matter.”
Nobody could have resisted that charm, and the concierge looked as if they might be starting to bend. “But we have a policy. It protects our residents’ privacy.”
“Of course, and that’s an admirable goal. Your employers must be very pleased with your diligence. It’s nearly Christmas, however. The countess is alone.I’m sure you wouldn’t want to ruin her only opportunity to see family this season.”
“No, of course not. But I?—”
“Just call her, please. I am certain she’ll be thankful that you did.” There was just a hint of imperative in Alfie’s manner that allowed Tobias to clearly see that he was indeed a prince.
Maybe the concierge saw that too, because they visibly conceded. “All right, I’ll call. But I can’t guarantee she’ll want to see you.”
Honestly, Tobias wasn’t too positive about that either, but this was the best he could do. He watched nervously while the concierge picked up the phone, murmured into it, and after a pause, looked surprised at the response. “You can go up. Apartment 14C.”
Alfie bowed to the concierge.
As they waited for the elevator, Tobias spoke quietly. “You were good at convincing them.”
“Diplomacy has always been one of my few true skills. Even though it failed me with Kol.”
The elevator arrived, but when they got in, Alfie seemed confused. “What is this? An anteroom?”
Tobias pushed the button. “An elevator. It?—”
“Elevator! So they’re real? I’ve always wished I could ride in one.”
