Page 77 of Filthy Fae

My sense of déjà vu continued as we crossed the lobby. I recognized this place. It had been nearly a decade, and not everything was familiar, but I recognized the great blue vase that stood in the center of the room, overflowing with flowers. I recognized the artistic and colorful chandeliers that hung throughout the entrance hall. Like all buildings, there were deep fissures where daily earthquakes ripped apart the foundation, but I remembered the clear blue material that the hotel used to fill in the cracks.

Jane stopped before the long concierge desk, looking up from her smartphone at the uniformed man standing behind the desk. “We have the conference room booked for ten-fifteen.” Her words were so dispassionate, she almost convinced me. “We’re here with Mage of the Ages.”

The human man’s face brightened. “Are you cast—” He winced and covered his mouth. “Sorry, I know I’m not supposed to say anything.”

The word ‘cast’ hit me like a blow, deepening the surrealness of the moment. There was only one person I knew who used the word ‘cast’ like being in showbiz was a normal part of life everyone could relate to.

“No, not cast,” Jane said, leveling a look at the man. She tapped her fingers on the desk. “Has someone been discussing Mage of the Ages with hotel staff?”

The man’s head shot up. His cheeks reddened to the color of the plentiful freckles speckled across his nose, and his eyelids widened so far that I could see the whites all around his blue irises. He scratched his short red hair, sending flakes raining down to his uniform.

“No one. I’m sorry. I just see you all passing through here. I know these guys all signed non-disclosure agreements.”

“You say that no one has been talking to you, but you know about the NDAs,” Jane mused as she set her arm on the man’s desk.

NDAs was another term only one person in my life threw around in casual conversation.

“It’s probably Morte,” Aaron said in a whisper that carried.

The guy behind the desk blushed so hard that his ears turned crimson. “You guys—you wouldn’t kick him off the show, would you?”

My heart thumped at the word “show,” especially when adding the information that Darrel had told us about Mage of the Ages. When he’d described what the ghost had said through the medium, I’d immediately thought that Mage of the Ages sounded like a magic competition. My mind hadn’t jumped to a reality TV show. Maybe deep in my subconscious, I hadn’t wanted to consider this possibility because I knew only one person who had the resources and motive to pull this off.

Part of me must have been actively trying not to consider my sister because when I truly examined what had happened, her fingerprints were all over it.

Oxonos had told me that my mother made the request to sleep with werewolves at a sex party to scandalize Mab, meaning my mother would have made sure Mab knew about the party and werewolves in advance.

Mab had insisted on going to the police station to learn what happened at the party.

Mab had told Scarlet and Aaron that her film crew would create a distraction at the feast, but the crew had actually let the incubus in.

The incubus had licked the faces of several fae, gaining access to my mother, who my sister wanted to overthrow so she could take the throne.

Paparazzi followed my sister wherever she went. Those photographers weren’t working for the person responsible for summoning the demon. They were lying in wait for my sister. They’d probably recognized me, seen that I was standing with a woman surrounded by huge men, and thought they’d spotted my sister in one of her disguises.

I fisted my hand to keep from grabbing the concierge and shaking him. I wanted to demand that he spill every single word he’d heard about the show.

Jane sighed, sounding truly exasperated. “It’s a little too late for that. We’ll just have a talk with Morte at the meeting. Are the other investors here?”

“Um...” The man’s hands clattered over the keyboard. “You know, I...” his fingers sped their pace even more as the smell of his sweat grew nearly overwhelming. “The most recent meeting I see scheduled was for a week ago. The crew also seems to have left. One of the producers is still at the hotel, though.” His hands moved faster. “As is one of the cast members. Are you sure you have the right date? The room is booked.”

“It should be booked by us.” Jane tapped the desk. “This is an investor meeting. We’re only supposed to meet with the top producer and Morte—that is who’s still at the hotel, is it not?”

The man’s blue eyes darted between us, and for the first time, a hint of wariness entered his expression, as if it just occurred to him that perhaps he shouldn’t be giving out information about his guests. Clearing his throat, he asked, “Could I get your names, please?”

I knew what I had to do, but part of me didn’t want to know the truth. I didn’t want to believe that I could have prevented all the pain that Scarlet had gone through, that my family could be responsible for this nightmare.

Stepping forward, I grabbed the concierge’s attention. “I’m not about to announce my identity right here, but I’ll show you ID.” I reached into my pocket and set my wallet down on the counter. Time slowed around me. I wanted to be wrong. I wanted to be anyone other than the son of Titania and the brother of Princess Mab.

But I wasn’t. Opening my wallet, I slipped out the official card of Spring Court royalty. It was made of pure gold and had my mother’s symbol of a stylized leaf inlaid in the center.

The recognition in the man’s eyes sent a stab of confirmation through my heart. It was my sister. She was the one behind the hoax TV show. She had framed the werewolves, the love of my life, in her assassination attempt. Just to make absolutely sure, I said, “I’m helping my sister produce Mage of the Ages. But that’s strictly confidential.”

“That’s wonderful,” the boy said, brightening. “She’s been so dedicated to this show. I’m sure it will be amazing, Your Highness.”

Oblivious to the pain he’d caused, he chattered on, unaware that my heart was imploding in my chest.

“But I’m sorry to tell you, your sister left this morning,” he said. “We always notice when she comes through. It’s so exciting to have a real celebrity here.”