Starkeeper of the Fractured Crown

I laughed lightly, my cheeks burning. “Maybe.”

She chuckled, picked up my veil and carefully tied it on. “People don’t like hearing truths, Astraea, because they’re afraid. Yes, what you said was true, but in a world like this, people need someone to hate, and a man likeTrick Michael? It’s easy to hate him.”

My brows pulled together at her words, thoughts turning. Easy to hate him?

Easy to hate him.

I looked over. “Because everyone believes he’s a monster?”

She straightened my veil, making sure no hairs were pulling. “Because he doesn’t make sense, and things that don’t make sense cause fear in people most don’t understand. I remember the last time people feared something that didn’t make sense. That thing wandered onto this street 15 years ago in the form of a beautiful little girl with big eyes and an adventurous heart.”

She leaned back, admiring her work and I took in her wrinkles, her calming presence. “Are you scared?” I dared.

Her smile became weighted. “You’re old enough to understand that all adults get scared. We’re not as emotionless as we want the kids to believe, hmm? Yes, I am. No, I wasn’t around during the last two great wars, but that doesn’t mean I don’t see the effects. I had hoped I would be able to live in peace during my time in this world, but alas, sometimes the Goddess’s ears are too full of death to hear our pleas.”

Yeah, it seemed to be a trend among the gods.

“Witches turning humans into creatures?” Madam Levine shook her head. “Humans may have caused a lot of damage in the past, but not every human is as evil as the High King, you’re proof of that. No one deserves to have something like that happen to them. No one. Now, enough. I don’t care about politics, I’m just an oldwolf running a business. Don’t go getting anymore bruises unless your handsome counterpart decides he wants to gift an old woman some more Mersine Berries.”

I smiled. “He’s just a friend.”

Her eyes lit up. “Oh, well I may not look like it, but I am much younger than him. A little pep in my step. I wouldn’t mind a night with him if you wouldn’t mind asking.”

I laughed because despite the stories of the Fallen, here Madam Levine was still trying to get laid by the hot Fallen lingering in her shop. “I’ll put in a good word for you, I promise.”

She chuckled, turning to the two men for a moment before turning back to me. “Is he good?”

I turned to Cole, seeing the tension in his shoulders, his own veil still on, despite the company. “He’s not like the stories,” I decided, finding her eyes again.

But I couldn’t lie to myself and say that I wasn’t easily swayed. It was a blessing and a curse. Mostly a curse these past several weeks.

She nodded. “Yes, well, the thing about stories is that more often than not, they hold more fiction than truth. I know you, did you ask him about his High King?”

I thought about her question before shaking my head, the weight of the collar around my neck clear. “I don’t much like politics either.”

Her eyes flicked to that collar as if she were reading my mind. “Do you trust him?” she asked, her eyes lifting back to mine.

I inhaled deeply. “Um…I don’t know, trust is a big word.”

“And a sneaky snake,” she smiled. “If you are out on the streets of a place you grew up, defending a man the world hates, that says something. I trust you,” she stated, touching my shoulder. “So, if you’re doing all of this to protect him, then he is someone worth protecting. And that collar, is it as terrifying as it once was?”

I thought about it. “I…I haven’t decided yet.” The answer should have been yes, but the word caught in my throat, and I hated it.

“Hmm, well, I suppose if someone like Cole works for someone like that man, maybe his stories aren’t so truthful either.”

Before I could respond, Cole appeared at my side, sliding his hand over my back and leaning in. “Talaroe wants to speak with you,” he mumbled in my ear.

I shivered and leaned back, finding his navy blues. I looked around him towards the old warlock. There was a seriousness in the warlock’s eyes, but a soft light too. I wasn’t sure what to feel as I stood and set the cup down, my hand instantly getting too hot.

Before I left them, I stood up on my tiptoes and whispered back into his ear. “Madam Levine wants to sleep with you.” I fell back on my feet, shooting him a smile as his own smile became sly, arrogant.

“Really?” he asked, straightening his shirt.

“I believe in you,” I whispered back, earning a playful wink.

“He looks like he just won some gold.”

I glanced back to the duo as I joined Talaroe, finding Madam Levine giving Cole bedroom eyes while he leaned against the counter, flexing his arms. I laughed as Iturned back to Talaroe. “Madam Levine is interested.” I took in his relaxed demeanor and felt my own shoulders relax. “You came back?”