Page 27 of A Hint of Delirium

I was dressed in a pair of black slacks and a white button-up shirt. I looked like I was about to go work for a catering service, but my professional wardrobe was limited. “I’m trying to find a new job sincesomeonegot me fired,” I grumbled as I followed him.

He smirked. “You really should have taken my money. It’s valuable just about anywhere.”

I gritted my teeth. “It’s fraud.”

He sighed. “That’s merely a human notion. Whatismoney, really? Just printed paper that you humans place value upon.”

I side-eyed him. Were all fae like him? I thought about the ones I’d encountered over the past couple days and couldn’t decide. They all seemed crazy to me, and that was rich coming from someone who not that long ago was considered loony.

“Do you want your old job back?” he asked suddenly, peering down at me curiously. “The one at the piano bar.”

I furrowed my brows. “I wish I could get it back, but there’s no way he would rehire me. Not afterthatfiasco.”

Ansel grinned, then grabbed my hand and dragged me down the street. “Come on, let’s work some magic.”

* * *

I stood there,stunned when my ex-manager agreed to rehire me, scribbling me onto the schedule beginning tomorrow night. I guess that meant he wasn’t myex-manager anymore.

We stepped out of the piano bar and into a dazzling afternoon in Hell’s Kitchen. I walked out slowly, dumbfounded by what Ansel was capable of with that tongue … and I didn’t mean that in a sexual way, either.

“How?” I choked out finally.

He chuckled, full of boyish charm that didn’t work on me, but instead gave me butterflies in my stomach. Hmph. So I guess itsort ofworked.

Damnit.

“The seelie can be pretty … persuasive,” he teased with a wink. “If you’re ever in a jam with a human, just give me a call. Well, now that you’re back to work, just know I’m right down the street if you ever need me—”

I held up a hand to stop him. I knew he lived just a couple of blocks away, but I didn’t plan on making it a habit of running to him to solve my problems or hanging around him, no matter how deliciously appealing he was. My mother made it very clear that it was in my best interest to stay far away from him and his kind.

“I don’t think we’ll be hanging out anymore. I appreciate what you did back there, but I think this is where we part ways. Thanks for everything.” I started walking away, taking a deep breath and congratulating myself for saying it all in one shot without stumbling. I didn’t make it three steps before Ansel latched onto my arm, halting me in my tracks.

“Whoa, hold on a second.” He whirled me around to face him. “You’re just going to cut all ties like that?”

I nodded, not trusting my voice not to wobble and give away my true feelings.

“I’m not okay with that,” he said, his face determined, his eyes steely.

I attempted a nonchalant shrug. “Well, that’s too bad. We can’t always get what we want. I want Crème Brulé lattes all year round from Starbucks, but I won’t be getting that anytime soon.”

He laughed. “That’s just a cup of steamed milk; this is far more important than satisfying a sweet tooth. Besides, I always get what I want,” he smirked. “Always.” His emerald eyes sparkled with mischief that I knew would eventually land me in a whole heap of trouble. He leaned in closer and heat flushed all over my body as he stared intently at me. His eyes said he wanted me and would win me over one way or another.

“You’re nothing but trouble,” I mumbled. “I’ll have you know that I enjoy living a boring life. I’m owed that much after everything I’ve had to endure.”

Ansel considered my words for a moment, but I could tell he didn’t truly understand. He finally nodded. “I won’t be a bother,” he promised. “But you should really keep me around. You need to be tied to this side of your … heritage. You’ve been denied your whole life, and now—”

I ripped my arm out of his grasp, catching him off guard. “I don’t care!” I exclaimed. The crowds who walked around where we stood in the middle of the sidewalk didn’t pay us any attention, except to grumble that we were in their way. “I don’t care about learning more about the fae, or seelie, or whatever you’re called. That’s notmyworld. I’m human. End of discussion.”

I turned to walk away when his voice stopped me. “You can lie to yourself, but you can’t lie to me. And eventually you won’t be able to lie to yourself, either. The truth always comes out, and the truth of the matter is that you’re a halfling. You’re not fully human, Vi.”

I gritted my teeth and peered over my shoulder. “You don’t know what I am.” With that declaration ringing in the air between us, I walked away without another word.

* * *

Annoyance,frustration, and sadness fought for dominance as I held onto the rail on my way back home to Queens. The train was packed and there was nowhere to sit, so I stood by the doors, looking through the windows as the underground passed by in a blur, making my eyes hurt when I tried to focus too long.

“Penny for your thoughts?” a deep, husky voice rumbled near my ear, sending a shiver skittering down my spine. A penny was tossed over my shoulder to land at my shoes.

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