Elves Invasion

10

No. Stay close to our witch, Erye said. His hot, dark eyes came up to meet Mia’s cold, light ones. She’s in more danger around Zuro than she thinks. She has no idea how far an orphaned mechanic would go for her.

Mia wore her new scent to dinner that night. She realized when she put it on that one of the compounds in it was designed to soak into the skin, pleasantly altering the wearer’s mood. She could see it tracing around her veins, lighting her up inside. She wondered whether this agent—whatever it was—occurred naturally in the scent components, or if it had been added for her benefit. She liked it. Maybe too much. When she stepped out of her bath and joined everyone else in the ladies’ sitting room, she felt a bit reckless.

Mia crossed to a pitcher of chilled water that was resting on a silver tray by the open balcony doors. The night jasmine on the veranda had bloomed and several Workers were combing through the velvety petals. She took a drink, feeling the coolness of the water wash down her throat while she watched the Workers shiver through the flowers, seemingly oblivious to anything but the task of gathering nectar.

When she turned, everyone was staring at her. Her gaze sought out Erye and stuck there. He was meant to wear black, she thought to Lillian, and wondered whether, in some part of the back of her busy mind, her other self was listening. He’s like a dark flame burning out a slender slice of nothing between all the others.

Erye’s eyes narrowed at Mia as she stared, a bemused smile threatening to break through his glower. The smoke willstone at his throat swirled with shadow and light and for a moment Mia couldn’t imagine why they were fighting.

Then she remembered the cage. He would have let me die, she said to Lillian, although she could tell that Lillian was deeply occupied with something else. Another thought occurred to Mia, one that bit deep. Does he still want me dead?

“Mia,” Erye said, his forehead pinched with confusion. “Who are you mindspeaking with?”

Mia looked away. Why does he always know what I’m up to? she complained to Lillian. “Are we waiting on anyone?” she asked aloud, ignoring Erye’s question.

“Just you,” Zuro answered. He paused to sniff the air. “You’re wearing it.”

They shared conspirators’ grins. “I wonder if Avawill notice.”

“Oh, she’ll notice,” he replied, stepping forward to take Mia’s arm. “Even if she doesn’t say anything.”

“Did you tell her I got it?”

Zuro gave her an offended look. “I don’t tell Avaeverything.” Mia curled her hand over his bicep as she studied him, wondering whether that was true.

He led them downstairs and into yet another wing of Grace’s impressive residence. Mia wondered if the Governor’s Villa was like the White House, with a new tenant every four or eight years.

“How often do you have elections here?” Mia asked Zuro.

“Five years for parliamentary positions, ten years for service positions,” Zuro answered.

Mia nodded at that. “What about the governor’s position, or Ivan’s place as head mechanic?”

“Head mechanic is different,” Zuro said. “It’s based on talent, and Ivan is the most talented mechanic in the city.”

Mia eyes shot down to Zuro’s deep rose stone and wondered whether he was being loyal to his mentor, or whether he truly believed Ivan was the best.

“What about Grace?” Breakfast asked. “Does the governor need to be a witch for some reason?”

“Avawas chosen by the Hive to mediate between them and the humans long ago. She’s the only one they’ll communicate with,” Zuro said, turning his head to include the rest of the coven in the conversation. “She brings proposed laws to the Hive, and then comes back to Parliament with what they will and will not accept.”

Mia could feel Windyard bristle. Asking the Woven what they’d accept . . . , he fumed in mindspeak.

“The job is for life then?” Mia guessed. “The governor’s position?”

“Yes,” Zuro answered. “So is head mechanic.”

“Cushy,” Breakfast said, just loud enough to hear.

Mia chuckled to herself and began to take in her surroundings. The Governor’s Villa sprawled out much farther than its street profile would suggest. Mia found herself counting hallways and trying to peek down stairwells as Zuro led them through the maze. They changed levels without taking stairs enough times to make Mia suspect that the villa had more floors than it seemed when looking at the edifice, but before Mia could ask, they arrived at the formal dining room that was already alive with guests. Mala greeted them outside the large double doors with a tight smile that wanted to grow up to be a snarl.

“Mia,” she said through bared teeth. “Fashionably late again, I see.”

“Is that a problem?” Mia asked, but Mala had already whirled around and left. Mia turned to Zuro. “Is there any particular reason she hates me, or is she like this with everyone?”

“She’s threatened by you,” he answered. “She’s poised to take over someday, but all of a sudden, Avaseems very interested in you.”

Mia thought about it and shrugged. There was a time in her life when petty jealousy and competition from other women had dominated her life.

Being madly in love with Joel didn’t help, she thought to Lillian. Every other girl was a threat to me because he seemed determined to sleep with every other girl in the world but me. It’s so strange how far away that all seems now.

“I said—Mala isn’t a joke.”

Mia looked up at Zuro and realized that he was considering her strangely. He’d had to repeat himself.

“I know,” Mia said quickly. She could feel Erye watching her carefully and she wondered how long she’d absented herself from the conversation. “But I’m not a threat, and I’m sure she’ll realize that soon.”