False Security by Lindsay Buroker

Author:Lindsay Buroker [Buroker, Lindsay]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fiction, Urban Fantasy
Published: 2020-06-25T23:00:00+00:00

18

I checked my phone as soon as I popped out of Zav’s portal and back into my apartment. Night had fallen, and I was surprised to realize it was still the same day. I’d only lost twelve hours. It looked like my mother had called three times shortly after I left, but she hadn’t left any messages. I hoped she was all right.

There was a voicemail from Willard, but there weren’t any messages from Weber. That was a relief because it meant he didn’t know I’d been AWOL on his assignment. Surprisingly, there weren’t any updates from Dimitri. Maybe he’d slept all day after being up the previous night searching for Zoltan. Though that seemed unlikely. Other than the part-time coffee barista, he was the only one working at the shop right now.

As the magic of the portal faded and Zav wandered around the living room as if he hadn’t been there before, I called Dimitri. He didn’t answer. I left a voicemail, asking for an update on Zoltan and on him. If he didn’t call back tonight, I would see if Nin knew anything.

“What are you doing?” I asked Zav as I dialed Willard.

“Determining if your domicile is sufficient to house an elven princess.”

“It’s housing me. If my dad is a king, doesn’t that make me a princess?”

“According to elven law, a mongrel cannot be a princess. Your human blood disqualifies you.” Zav prodded one of the couch cushions dubiously.

“Darn, I was hoping for a killer inheritance. Maybe some of those twig headbands. I bet they go for ones of dollars on Etsy.”

“Humans are overly preoccupied with money.”

“Because it’s hard to live here without some of it.”

Willard answered. “What do you want, Thorvald? It’s late, and if you’re not working on my vampire problem, I’m not that interested in talking to you.”

“I’m wounded. As it so happens, my gig for Weber may be linked to your problem. He was attacked last night by a vampire controlling a bunch of hounds.”

“Yes, you sent me that very terse report at midnight with promises that you’d give me more details today. They didn’t come. I was filled in by a reporter who was there.”

“Sorry, I was distracted by Zav kidnapping me today.”

Now Zav was poking into my desk drawers. He pulled out the slightly damaged poster of himself, and I rolled my eyes. I should have thrown that away after the dark elves mutilated it.

“This has been perforated,” he informed me. “I will get you a new one.”

“Good. I’m sure elven princesses can’t sleep at night without pictures of dragons on the walls.”

“What are you talking about, Thorvald?”

I didn’t know if Willard referred to the kidnapping or the princess comment or both. “It’s been an eventful day. Are you expecting Freysha in the office tomorrow?”

“Yes. Why?”

Zav wandered into the kitchen and opened the fridge.

“I need you to give her my address and tell her she’s living here for now.”

“Care to unpack that?” Willard’s cat yowled in the background, probably wondering why her owner was on the phone instead of attending her every need.

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