The Egg (Return of the Ancients Book 4) (27 page)

Apparently, they’d been discussing the pancake flip.

“I would have, but he didn’t hear what that girl said,” Grace answered in her defense as she dumped her gear into the truck and pulled her black hair into a tight ponytail. “Sometimes, you just have to stand up for what’s right, Mom. You’ve said that yourself. And I didn’t hurt her. I just surprised her a bit.”

Ellison just grinned and hissed in my ear, “Let’s get to work early before they make us take sides!”

I could only agree. With hurried goodbyes, we left Betty and Grace there still discussing the matter, and hopping into Ellison’s yellow Volkswagen, we zoomed away. We didn’t really talk much, we just listened to music as we zipped through Mercer Island’s streets to Samantha’s coffee shop.

She was in fine form when we arrived.

With reading glasses perched on the end of her nose, Samantha sat at her corner coffee table with her perpetual stack of pastry books. But she wasn’t alone this time. Joining her across the table was a perky, sharp-eyed girl around my age with short brown hair, a slight upturned nose and a laughing pair of wide brown eyes.

The sticker on her red t-shirt read ‘Hello, my name is Megan’.

“She’s been interviewing candidates all day,” one of the baristas whispered as we passed. “And she’s been unhappy. She hasn’t liked a single one of them.”

Megan said something then. I couldn’t hear it.

But we all heard Samantha’s gasp.

“
Never use frozen ingredients, Megan!
” Samantha nearly choked in shock. “Only the finest quality, freshest ingredients are used here.
Everything
must be done from the heart. Everything!”

The expression on Samantha’s face was one to strike fear into the hearts of any, but Megan apparently didn’t notice.

Twisting her lips to one side, she met Samantha’s gaze squarely and asked in a curious tone, “But isn’t it cheaper to use frozen raspberries? I bet your customers wouldn’t taste the difference.”

Samantha drew in a long, long breath.

We all just stared at Megan, impressed that she’d actually challenged Samantha.

Apparently, Samantha was impressed, too. Because she looked at Megan as if seeing her for the first time. She nodded crisply and granted, “Cheaper? Maybe. But do you think that money should be the primary concern?
No.
It is heart first. Money follows. Everything must be done from the heart, from picking up the trash to frothing milk.” She made a grand sweeping gesture with her hand and closing her eyes, took in another deep, inspiring breath.

I just stared at Samantha and smiled.

Heart first. Everything must be done from the heart.
I knew firsthand the real power of that. It was no small wonder that Samantha was the most powerful being that Jareth knew.

The coffee shop doors jingled and a pair of familiar voices called from the entrance.

“Innkeeper, a word with you. At once!”

Startled, I whirled to see the Queen of the Light and the Queen of the Dark standing there with their eyes locked on Samantha.

Chapter Fifteen – A Pot of Gold

Samantha arched a brow at the Queens who were dressed in glittering black-and-white evening gowns, priceless jewels, and avant-garde makeup. They’d apparently gone all out for the occasion. I just wasn’t sure what occasion it was.

I cleared my throat and glanced around for Rafael and Jareth, but they were nowhere to be seen.

Gracing the Queens with a professional smile, Samantha dipped her chin at Megan and said, “When I return, I’ll be interviewing you on the techniques you would use to handle difficult customers. We tend to have quite a few of them here, of late.”

Megan nodded, her brown eyes sparkling in anticipation.

Samantha sent me a brisk smile. “Sydney is an expert in customer relations,” she said.

Samantha's approval felt wonderful. And even though I was apprehensive about the Queens’ sudden appearance, I couldn’t keep from grinning ear-to-ear.

“Please see the ladies seated, Sydney,” Samantha directed, drawing her lips into a thin line.

All eyes watched as I led the Queens to the back—as far away from the other customers as I could possibly get—and drew three chairs up to a table.

Samantha followed as Megan politely maneuvered around the pastry case to watch.

The Queens proudly took their places, straightening their sparkling velvet gowns as a small army of Fae Protectors filed into the coffee shop, among them Raven and Zelphie.

Raven pointedly ignored me as she moved to the gift section and pretended to inspect the coffee cups and various shrink-wrapped items. She clearly didn’t like me. I guess I was ok with that. It wasn’t like we had much in common. But at least we weren’t outright enemies anymore.

I watched apprehensively as Zelphie moved to the pastry case. I wanted Rafael’s mom to like me. Or at least tolerate me. She met my eyes then, and to my surprise, made a point to send me a very warm smile.

I smiled back.

As Samantha arrived at the Queens’ table, both Queens spoke in unison. “We must converse with Sydney. We require only a few minutes of her time. But first, we wish to reward you for all that you’ve done in these times of trouble.”

It was hard to tell what Samantha really thought. She was an expert at masking her emotions. She just nodded her head and graciously replied, “My shop is its own reward, ladies. As for Sydney, I’ll leave you to your privacy then. Her shift doesn’t start for a good half hour or so.”

She moved as if to go, but the Queens held up their hands. “Halt!” they cried.

Samantha’s shoulders stiffened. Slowly, she tilted her head. “And what else might I do for you?”

“We insist that you name your reward,” they replied, giving her an appraising look. “You provided a haven to those we sought to destroy in our arrogance. Had we succeeded, the Earth would have been lost. Your role in saving humanity will not go unnoticed nor unrewarded.”

Slowly, Samantha removed her reading glasses and closed them with a snap, but her voice was as patient as ever. “Jareth has paid me very well for the use of this shop in his video,” she assured with a brief smile.

“We would give you our thanks as well,” the Queens persisted.

“Don’t mention it,” Samantha replied tartly.

They were a little puzzled by that reply and looked at each other in confusion.

I stepped forward, searching for a way to help when the Queen of the Light said, “What do you dream of? What wish could we fulfill?”

Samantha looked me straight in the eye. I could tell her patience was being tried as she turned back to the Queens with the sharp reply, “I’m a practical woman, ladies, not the kind that believes in fairy tales, dreaming of butterflies, and a pot of gold.”

I guess now that I knew that Earth was safe—at least for the moment—I found it easier to relax this time, because I was suddenly struggling with keeping a straight face.

For a brief moment, I could tell the Queens wondered if they should be insulted, but thankfully they decided that their question had been answered instead. “Then as you wish, Innkeeper. Butterflies and a pot of gold.”

I quickly glanced around, half-expecting the butterflies and gold to pop into existence as Samantha marched past me, pretending not to hear their last comments.

But then the Queens turned on me, and I immediately sat down in the empty chair.

They didn’t open their lips. They just spoke in my mind.

“The Power of Love is an amazing thing to witness,” they whispered. “We are humbled by humanity and we are grateful. You have accomplished what we dared not even hope, Sydney.”

I just nodded. I didn’t know what to say. I knew I hadn’t done it alone.

“True,” they silently agreed, following my thoughts.

And then Rafael was there. I hadn’t seen him come in. I wondered if he’d shifted. He’d changed clothing again, looking ridiculously perfect in his designer jeans and white sweater. Moving to stand behind my chair, he leaned down and stole a brief kiss.

I knew it was a statement. He was letting the Fae know that he’d chosen a human. My heart skipped a beat. And I found myself looking at his mother first.

She responded with a reserved, polite smile in his direction that basically said
if that is what you want, dear.
But the eyes that met mine were laughing a little and her smile widened into an even more welcoming one.

It struck me then that Rafael was more like her than he realized. He’d told me once that he didn’t have a real family, that his mother saw him as a duty to the bloodline and nothing more. I knew then that he was wrong.

Relaxing a little, I turned back to the Queens, but their icy expressions caught me off guard. I guess after everything that had happened, I hadn’t really expected their resistance or displeasure. But this time,
I
was wrong.

Keeping his hands on my shoulders, Rafael dipped his head in a respectful bow and murmured in a neutral tone, “It is an unexpected pleasure to see you here, Your Majesties.”

They hesitated a moment before replying just as quietly, “You have walked the path of your destiny, Rafael, and you have dared to dance the most treacherous dance of fate. You have proven yourself worthy, Cor’s heir. Forgive us for having doubted you.”

He locked gazes with the Queen of the Light.

They were silent for quite some time. I knew they were talking in their heads.

Suddenly, Rafael’s expressive brows arched in surprise and every Fae in the shop looked at the Queens, clearly surprised.

I wanted to ask them what the big secret was.

But then Rafael said, “I thank you for the thought, but I’m not going back with you. I’m home. My fate is woven with humanity.”

The Queens were clearly peeved with that response.

I really don’t know what would have happened next if Jareth hadn’t chosen that moment to swagger into the shop, still wearing his bright red-leather jacket and sunglasses.

“Good evening, Jareth,” Samantha greeted from her table.

He paused a moment to blow her a kiss. “I love you, dragon.”

Samantha bristled, but she couldn’t hide the tell-tale crinkle around her eyes. She had a soft spot for Jareth. And after all was said and done, I couldn’t blame her. Who didn’t?

“I’ll not have my shop turned upside down for your amusement,” she warned primly. “Don’t think you can sweet-talk me into it.”

“I’m not even trying,” he laughed outright, bowing with a flourish.

“Difficult customers come in all kinds,” Samantha said in a firm, decisive tone as she turned back to Megan still sitting across from her.

“Difficult?” Jareth repeated in mock outrage. Detouring to their table instead, he looked at Megan and slowly took off his sunglasses to ask in a heart-melting voice, “Do you know who I am?”

Megan didn’t look particularly impressed as she replied, “Yes.”

He waited. When she didn’t respond, he encouraged, “And?”

Megan just blinked. “And what?” she asked in almost the same prim tone that Samantha commonly used.

Jareth looked a little taken aback, but he recovered quickly. “Do you think I’m difficult?” he asked in a voice as smooth as butter.

“You seem harmless but a bit self-absorbed,” she replied without missing a beat. “No offense.”

Samantha gave Megan a look that I knew meant that she was immediately hired.

Jareth’s dark eyes widened in shock. He wasn’t used to girls challenging him. And as he looked deeper at Megan, I found myself doing the same. There was something unusual about her.

But then the Queens rose to their feet and beckoned for Rafael to follow them. “A word, in private, if you will?”

With a gracious incline of his head, Rafael promised me that he would soon return and followed them out of the shop, along with the Fae Protectors, and Raven and Zelphie as well.

I still had some time before I had to work, but I was about to get up all the same when Jareth strolled over to join me.

“Who is
she?”
he asked as he sat down, taking the seat opposite of me. He cast several irritated looks in Megan’s direction.

“I’m pretty sure she’s going to work here,” I said with a smile. “I bet she’ll take good care of you.”

He drew his dark brows into a scowl. “I’m not so sure,” he said, a little absently. “I find her quite irritating.”

“Are you sure it isn’t love at first sight?” I teased.

He glared at me outright, but then something above my head caught his attention and he checked himself, looking a little startled.

“What is it?” I asked uneasily.

Was my Blue Thread back? Or … did I have
another
one?

Jareth rolled his eyes and slapped his palm flat on the table. “Don’t be ridiculous, Sydney.”

He glanced out of the large plate glass window, and I followed his gaze to where Rafael stood on the sidewalk, still speaking to the Queens. I couldn’t help but notice how handsome he looked.

Jareth snorted. “The Queens are far from pleased,” he offered.

I’d figured that much out myself. “Why?” I pressed. “What’s this all about?”

I didn’t think he was going to answer me. He took his sweet time. But then, it was Jareth and he liked playing with people just for his own twisted amusement.

“The Queens have chosen their successor,” he offered in a lazy drawl. He nodded his chin in Rafael’s direction. “It appears their successor isn’t too pleased with their choice.”

My heart leapt into my throat. “Rafael? King?”

I gripped the edge of the table.

“Oh, it’s not his fate to be king, Sydney,” Jareth inserted, adopting a snide air of superiority.

I expelled a breath of relief, but it only lasted about two seconds.

“His daughter is fated to rule Avalon,” Jareth continued blithely, pulling out his coin to flip it through his fingers.

I gulped as a wave of depression rose to engulf me. Rafael’s daughter? The Queen of Avalon? Was he going to marry Raven after all?

“Oh, what are you weeping over?” Jareth snapped impatiently.

I rapidly blinked my tears away. I didn’t want to answer him. Not when I really didn’t have to. I knew very well he could still read my mind.