Page 69 of A Fae in Finance
“Yes,” I muttered. “I don’t need a vocabulary lesson. My lord,” I added.
He laughed, a surprised sound that echoed against the hills that seemed to follow us, rolling along to our right. “I have always found your tongue sharp,” he said. “I have been keen to feel its bite.”
I blushed. I knew his eyes caught it, could feel them on my cheeks. I wondered what he saw, with his keen eyes. My pores, my blackheads?
Did faeries have better eyesight than humans? I’d just assumed…
“Why do you really want to open this factory?” I asked. “Seems like it isn’t popular among your people. And even if you manage it, I’m not sure how it’s going to help in your… culture war with the Queen.”
He laughed again. “Very true, lady.” He looked forward at the Blue and Red Knights and the Crone. Then back, where the Gray Knight had given us a respectful bit of room.
“My people are divided,” he said. “Some long for the human world, where our ancestors roamed, and for the sun, which many have never seen.”
I felt a brief unwelcome wash of understanding for this man, who was only doing what he thought would help his people.
He glanced down at my ring again. “And for the magics that we have almost lost,” he added, though he sounded reluctant.
“I thought Faerie was your home?”
“Faerie is where we live.” He ran a finger along his lip, thoughtful. “In some ways, we are trapped here, like you.”
Probably not like me.
“Why? You can leave Faerie whenever you want, right?” I asked. I leaned forward to pat Sparkles on the neck, because she was doing a good job and because I wanted to touch something warm and solid.
He sighed. “Faeries have weaknesses, which make us more susceptible to human cruelty than the other supernatural creatures you know of.”
I frowned. “Faeries have been cruel to humans,” I started.
“Yes, yes.” He cut me off, waving his hand in a vague gesture. “We cannot tally each individual hurt, or go back seventeen centuries to see who struck the first blow. Suffice it to say, we have made ourselves a prison that is a home, but some of my people want to dance under the sun and moon. And so, as their Princeling, I must help them do it safely.”
He looked into my eyes, as if trying to gauge my understanding. I stared back, lost in the dappled greens of his.
“So, to do it safely, you need to start a company?” I asked. He’d lost me.
He laughed again, though I wasn’t sure what was funny. “To do it safely, I need to integrate us in a cautious, specific way. In a way that protects my people and our secrets. In a way that makes us more valuable to humans alive than dead.”
We looked at each other.
“No, Lady of the True Dreams,” he said. “I am not afraid that you will betray me.”
“Can you read my mind?” I asked.
Another laugh. Was he always this easily amused? “No, but I can read your face.”
“You’re spying on me a lot, for a guy who thinks I won’t betray him,” I retorted, indignant, and straightened my shoulders.
“Why did you take this job?” he asked, still staring at me. I felt very grateful that Sparkles had a good sense of direction.
Moneywas the correct answer, the answer Jeff expected me to give.
“To make a difference,” I blurted.
The Princeling raised an eyebrow.
“Um, whenever there’s someone different, people can be afraid,” I said. “I used to work in the human government, trying to make sure there weren’t any discriminatory regulations passed against supernatural people. But regulation is cautious, and slow. And I thought that maybe the fastest way to get past the prejudice would be to integrate you into our economy. So that’s why.”
“And that is why I do not think you will betray us,” he said, inclining his head.
