Read Online Fallen Ever After by A. C. James - Free Book Online Page A

someone would say to avoid dealing with how they really felt. I’d only just met Julian, but it seemed like he was full of it and his happy-go-lucky grin was a bunch of bullshit. I still liked him, but it seemed like he was holding something back.
    “Love is the only thing that matters,” I said, putting a hand on Arie’s arm.
    Arie put his hand on top of mine.
    “Holly, in my world, love can get you killed. It’s better to find someone that you’re sexually compatible with and not let matters of the heart get in the way,” Julian said with a sigh.
    Arie coughed. “I haven’t seen your cousin, but then again we’ve had our own issues to deal with.” He gave my hand a quick squeeze and I knew I shouldn’t argue with Julian, even if I didn’t understand or agree with their customs. He was Arie’s friend. And I was glad that Arie didn’t bring up what we’d been dealing with, especially since his friend was acquainted with Katarina.
    “Who’s the half-fae? And what’s the other half?” Arie asked.
    “A half-fae, half-demon named Daeveena, and she’s going to get him killed if I don’t find him and drag him back to New York before someone figures out what he’s done.”
    A dark look crossed Arie’s features. “Well, if I find out anything you’ll be the first to know. Do you still have the same cell number?”
    Something in Arie’s expression and curt response made me think he wasn’t telling his friend the whole story, but I didn’t know what he was keeping from him or why. So at the moment I didn’t ask.
    “Yeah, same number. I appreciate that.”
    A waitress approached our table and turned toward Arie. She flipped her long silver-blue hair over her shoulder. “Sorry it took me so long. We’re a little short-staffed tonight. What can I get for you?”
    The way that she greeted Arie wasn’t disrespectful, but there was something in her tone that seemed off. Her look of disdain toward him was unsupported by anything that Arie had done. I found it strange. Her lips were a thin unsmiling line. Then again, maybe she was just stressed because they were short-staffed without Luna tonight.
    She must be new.
    I’d never seen her at the club. Blue-gray light swirled around her legs and behind her like the train of a dress that rippled as she moved. I figured she had to be some sort of faerie. Most women tripped all over themselves when confronted with Arie’s good looks, but she seemed rather cool and didn’t register the customary warmth that went with waiting tables. I knew the routine from working at the Coffee Grind. You plastered a smile on your face even if was the last thing you felt like doing.
    Arie released my hand. “Two pints of Puncture, -B blend.”
    “And what about you?” The waitress turned toward Julian, practically purring as she threw him a come-hither look.
    Julian didn’t seem to notice and gave her a friendly smile. “I’ll take a Vodka Red Bull.”
    She dropped the pen she was holding and it fell next to my stool. When she bent over to get it, she placed one hand on the table, brushing against my arm. When the Sight took over I saw her in sneaking into Tessa’s office upstairs. The waitress was pulling a small object from the pottery depicted with homoerotic artwork that always sat on Tessa’s desk.
    It was a small silver key.
    She took the key and unlocked a drawer in Tessa’s desk. Then she removed a black canvas bag. When she unzipped the bag it revealed a large stack of money. I couldn’t be sure how much but it looked like a lot of cash. Hurrying out of her office she met with a burly man sitting at the bar. A red ball of light trailed behind his leather trench coat. My jaw tightened.
    Just like Luna’s father. He’s a fire faerie!
    Images swirled and blurred together. I couldn’t make out any sound to go with the pictures in my vision. He discreetly tucked the canvas bag into his coat when she handed it over and pulled a small bottle out of an inner coat