Page 41 of The Deer and the Dragon
“Lifting the veil without a bond? A true sight sigil still won’t let you jump realms, but when it comes to seeing things humans shouldn’t, there’s only one way to know. Shall we test it out?”
I barely had time to grab my purse from the counter.
“Where are we going?”
“Where’s your sense of adventure?” She grabbed my hand, and I followed in her wake as she tugged me from the building. The receptionist was an attendant from the original rotation and knew better than to interrupt my mayhem, so she said nothing as I was dragged through the lobby. Fauna led me to the parking garage and gestured impatiently for me to open the door. I obliged but frowned as I tapped the card to the garage.
“Can’t you bring me with you? When you go places, I mean?”
She looked at me uncertainly. “I can go, but you’d have to stay behind. And as long as you’re a person of interest for heaven, I don’t know how wise it is to leave you alone. I assume you got the tattoo to circumvent the bond so you can see shit? You’ll need an escort, but it’s smart work, ace. Still,unless you connect yourself to one of the fae, you can’t leave your kingdom on your own.”
“And oh, what a mighty kingdom it is,” I grumbled as I procured my keys. I unlocked the car and immediately regretted driving.
Fauna hadn’t lost an ounce of her enthusiasm for the radio, the windows, the hazard lights. She also seemed to get a kick out of reaching around me to yank on the wipers.
“You’re like a toddler! Stop touching things!” I smacked her hand as I eased out of the garage.
She gasped. “Excuse me! I’m a deity! You do not hit me; you worship me. Now, quick—make penance and I may yet be benevolent. I’ll accept your sacrifice in the form of sweets. Can we stop by a candy shop? You know chocolate-dipped strawberries? Where can we find one?”
My irritation dissolved into a stifled giggle. “You’re ridiculous.”
With a dainty shake of her head, she said, “You think I’m kidding. Just you wait until I bring pestilence and suffering on the land.”
I shot an unamused look over my shoulder as I took the on-ramp and changed lanes to head downtown.
“So, deity, where are we going?” I stopped her in the middle of her raised finger. “Other than strawberries. We can get those after you explain why you dragged me from the apartment. I assume we’re on our way to test out the sigil?”
“Oh, right. Give me your phone.”
“Absolutely not.”
“Give it to me!”
With no regard for either of our lives or safety, Fauna nearly caused a four-car pileup as she lurched into my pocket, causing me to jerk the wheel into the neighboring lane. I overcorrected with a white-knuckle grip on the wheel. An angry Escalade driver lay on their horn until Fauna flicked her fingers with annoyance. To my surprise, the noise stopped.
“Did you do that?” I asked.
“Get on your knees later, peasant,” she responded. “Now, what’s your password?”
“I’m not going to—”
“Oh! I don’t need it. You have a video call coming in.”
“Don’t!” But I didn’t have time to stop her. She’d already accepted the call.
“Holy sh—oh my god. Hi, hi!” sputtered the startled voice on the other line.
“Hi, Kirby,” I said dryly while I drove, not needing to see the screen to know exactly how poorly the interaction was going. “Meet Fauna.”
“Um”—Kirby coughed on the word—“I guess I caught you at a bad time. Nia said you had afriendand I thought we were being left out, but I see you’re busy, and, um.” They continued their flustered rambles. I could practically hear their shade of crimson through the pixels.
“Kirby!” Fauna beamed. “What a quirky name. It’s not one I’ve heard before, and I do love names. Thank you for giving me a new word on my tongue to play with.” Fauna winked.
“It’s not their real name.” I rolled my eyes. “It’s—”
“Tut, tut,” Fauna cut me off. “Chosen names are the only ones I’ll accept. Don’t be handing out things that aren’t yours to give.” I glared at the cars ahead while she prattled on. “But Kirby, be a darling and tell me, where can we find a confectionary? Will you search for an address and text it to me? Marlow is uncooperative.”
Kirby stammered. “You…you want me to find a candy shop?”
