175 Fairy Favors (1/2)

Raven blew out a long breath. ”Oh wow... Well, that was a bit more than I expected, but hell I can't blame you either way. The man's fine as hell, he's sweet to a fault and the complete opposite of Russ in every way.”

”Yeah, every single way. As I've told him, with Russ, I never have to question anything. I know what he feels, what he says is genuine.” She shook her head as she stared down into her untouched drink. ”I can't shake the feeling there's still a huge secret Arei is hiding from me.”

Raven studied her for a few long minutes. ”Do you have any proof of his dishonesty since he's been back in your life?” She finally asked.

Jos thought over everything he'd said and the splotchy tid-bits of her memory. ”There was one thing... The night of the Gala he said he'd followed Ry to my island... which isn't a lie in itself but it wasn't after Ry had already found me and implied, he only spent the last few days with me. Then after I kept asking, he finally admitted to it being the full six months plus a few weeks before that. And the way he kept trying to explain his way around our first night together...” She narrowed her eyes at her glass. ”I know there's more to it...”

Raven tilted her head. ”Why does it matter so much if you've already told him how you feel?”

Jos let out a frustrated sigh. ”Because I need to convince myself that it's over.” She rubbed her temple with one hand. ”If I don't continue to remind myself of what kind of person he really is, then I'm afraid I'll just repeat the same mistakes of my past and fall for his bullshit all over again.” She met Raven's tense gaze. ”I'm a big enough person to admit... to you at least... He still gets to me, and I mean how could he not. I carried the pain of our separation for well over 500 years. It's the biggest thing that stands in the way of Russ and I's relationship... that and the fact his people and the council is going to shit enough bricks to build a wall between my side of the island and his.” She couldn't help a dark laugh as she thought of the wolf clan doing that very thing. ”He is perfection personified, absolutely everything you'd ever want in a partner... on the surface... but there's always some higher cause that keeps him from being genuine when it matters most.” She held Raven's gaze. ”I have to have the truth, Raven... no matter what.”

Raven got out her cell phone and began to text, before Jos could even ask who it was, Isha appeared in the booth beside Raven.

Isha straightened her outfit before clearing her throat and turning to Jos. She leaned over the table and whispered. ”I may be able to help, but we'll have to do it in private. The council can't know I'm helping you with this, especially since it may be one of them who ordered him to secrecy. Ry and Arei have been working hand in hand with the council for years now doing all the dirty work no one else would dare touch.”

Isha rubbed her chin thoughtfully as she looked Jos over. ”I mean we could try a simple spell for now.” She pressed her palm against Jos's forehead. A tiny spark of light flickered before Isha lowered her hand and set back against the tall seat of the booth. She crossed her arms and legs as she twitched her nose in irritation. ”Well, the good news: There's definitely a block there and it was done magically so it can be undone by magic... the down side however...” She narrowed her eyes as she continued to study Jos. ”Who could you have come into contact with that could have used such a powerful spell? I'm not sure if fae magic will be enough to break this one.”

Raven furrowed her brows. ”Even with both of us?”

Isha twitched her nose thoughtfully, ”Let me see.” She took Raven's hand and leaned forward again, placing her palm against Jos's forehead. The spark of light was brighter this time, but still nothing. Isha shook her head. ”I don't understand... Did you feel anything? Any sudden rush of memories?”

Jos shook her head. ”No more than the jumbled mess that's already there.”

Isha cocked her head to the side, ”When you say jumbled up mess what exactly is it like?”

Jos thought it over for a few minutes as a waiter came over and took Isha's order. Her eyes trailed him back to the bar as he left. ”It's all hazy, really... but I assumed that was because of how long it had been, and the fact that I'd spent so long trying to bury any memory of feelings involving either of them... but the longer I spend with Arei the more that comes back...” She shook her head. ”But it's like a huge chunk of that time is missing. I know we spent the last six months together, but I can only recall the last few days leading up to... to... our separation... even parts of it is a bit hazy...” She focused her attention intently on the glass before her as if by staring into it her lost memories would just bubble up to the surface. ”I remember most of the first two years with Ry...” She shook her head again, ”I don't know... Every time I try to think about it too hard, I just end up with a massive migraine and more irritation and questions than answers.” She looked back and forth between Raven and Isha with conviction. ”All I know is, somethings missing and Arei is the only one who can fill in that information.”

”But?” Isha asked.

Raven answered, ”Jos already tried to talk to him about it. He said he sworn to secrecy.” She shrugged, ”Who knows. If he is really doing the councils dirty work, then it's hard to tell which of the higher-ups have dirt on him.”

Isha nodded, ”I'll try to find out as much as I can, as discretely as possible.”

Raven leaned over and kissed Isha, ”Just be careful, alright. If you get caught, the punishments will be insane.”

Isha nodded, ”I know... Don't worry. I'll be as careful as I can.” She let out a heavy sigh. ”With that being said... Once you enter the Embassy, I won't be able to be as familiar with you. I'll have to forge indifference and treat you as I would any other person who is brought there. I'll try to relay as much as I can through Raven, but I'm going to warn you now, she will be watched as well as me. If things go poorly, we will not be able to converse with you outside of guarded presence.”

Jos nodded in understanding. They spent the rest of the short time they had left chatting about changes to the city and the Embassy itself. Isha relayed all the details of Russ's hearing along with the outcome of the cage match. ”And they should be back sometime either this week or next to work out the details of Ry's new position.” She giggled, ”I believe that big giant has grown rather attached to the kid.”

***

Arei ran his hand through his hair for what must have been the hundredth time in the past hour. He paced around the expansive room of the Embassy he, Jos, and Shelly would share. He had already brought his and Jos's bags into their rooms and sent down a list of items he thought they would need including groceries. A disapproving head shake brought his attention to the hallway of the suite. ”What? Don't give me that look. You're probably just as worried as me.”

The wolf arched her brow as she walked into the shared living room. She struggled to get on the sofa for a few seconds, before turning and pinning Arei with a questioning gaze.