Tune in Tomorrow by Randee Dawn

Author:Randee Dawn
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fantasy
Publisher: Rebellion Publishing Ltd

Chapter 23

Diamond Starr Halo

Eight Seelie—un- and original Recipe—ringed the SCN conference room, relaxing on body-conforming clouds surrounding a frosted glass table shaped in undulating waves. A constantly looping waterfall made a gentle shushing on one of the otherwise blank, off-white walls. It was the largest gathering of Seelie Court Network Executive Vice-Vice-Vices—known colloquially as The Powers That Be—that Jason had ever faced.

This meeting is Seeliously serious, he decided.

Slowly, he removed his sunglasses and squinted. Protection was usually a necessity in the presence of the Fae creatures, who glowed like LEDs: a harsh, cold light that was as blinding as it was attractive. In a few moments, his vision adjusted, and he could make out an array of skin and hair colors around the room, all of which were, as ever, sheer perfection. Not a strand of hair blew out of position, no one had an asymmetrical feature or body part.

Gods, were they boring.

Not that Jason would even hint at such heresy. He knew spending time among beautifully imperfect humans would warp his perception over time, and he had learned to prefer the random dings and imbalances that decorated mortals. Seelie uniformity was tiresome, and they were all fruit from the same fairy family tree.

A single Seelie rolled forward in an elevated chair. “Céad míle fáilte,” she wished him graciously, clasping her hands with his. A folder of charts and numbers Jason was clutching tumbled to the floor, and as he stooped to pick it back up, he caught a glimpse of shapely, iridescent scaled legs. Perhaps this Seelie was more accustomed to water than land.

“I am”—here she offered her own True Name, a combination of bubble sounds and vibrating gill slits—“and I am the Supra-Executive-Vice-Vice-Vice President of Mortal-Based Entertainments, Programming Division of Reality Series, Modern.” Most creatures would need to take a deep breath after such a pronouncement; this one could inhale through those gills and speak simultaneously. “Pleased to make your acquaintance.”

“Likewise.” Jason glanced around the room; as usual, he recognized no one. SCN heads changed positions nearly as frequently as they changed the weather. Fae liked being in charge and collected titles as a hobby but had little patience for work.

“I hear there was a bit of an… incident in the lobby on your way in,” said the SEVVVP.

Jason stretched his smile a little wider. He’d erred by not confirming the latest fashion trend before arrival; it had turned out that last year’s au naturel trend had given way to head-to-toe diamonds that made everyone look like giant prismatic disco balls. They’d made him change into a fluffy white bathrobe embedded with thousands of gems, the weight of which made Jason sag. He shrugged with effort. “All’s well that ends.”

“Well,” the SEVVVP said.

“Well, what?” Jason wasn’t sure what she meant.

“Well. Ends well.”

“Are we playing a game?”

Rolling her eyes, the Seelie spun around in her chair and wheeled to the far end of the extended conference table, around which no fewer than twenty other SCN execs floated. A cloud emerged to cradle Jason’s backside, and he braced himself.

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