Free Agent by J. C. Nelson Page A

delay the prince’s send off?”
    A chill shot through me, making the hairs on my neck stand up. I’d managed to forget for a bit about that. “Won’t be a problem.” My arm throbbed, sending waves of pain through me, but I knew it wouldn’t be the only thing hurting by the end of the night.

Six

    THE LAST BIT of the prince setup is simple and easy, so long as you haven’t deluded yourself about your chances with a prince. He’s shared a kiss with you, and called you (and called, and called) and can’t wait to see you again. All you have to do is seal the deal. You take him out in public and shred him like last year’s credit cards.
    Then Grimm knows where he’s going to be sulking, and arranges it so the prince bumps into a princess. She’s coy but charming, gentle, and quiet. She is a friend to talk to, and a hand to hold. Finally, it’s her lips he kisses, and by that time my name isn’t spoken between them. It’s cold, manipulative, easy, and damn near magic. Unless you’ve made the mistake of getting involved.
    I put on my sleek black dress, the one I always wore for this. Evangeline brought it to me the night I played this out the first time. I looked forward to our long-standing tradition of meeting for drinks when I’d done it. We’d spend the night commiserating, celebrating, and starting the process of forgetting by killing brain cells.
    I met Liam at Skeins, a German place I’d used for all my third dates. The remarkable thing about Skeins was the head chef. He was an absolute asshole. I’d never seen the same waiter there twice, which meant they never saw me coming. There’s a bar on the top floor of the building where I’d tried to kill my liver more nights than I wanted to remember. Also, Skeins had a wide balcony perfect for making men want to jump.
    I walked past the host, and caught myself at the edge of the dining room. Liam sat at a table alone, dressed in a suit that was obviously a hand-me-down from an age when people considered polyester fine cloth.
    Minutes passed, and still I stood, hidden in the doorway, watching. When the cell phone in my purse went off I nearly threw it out the window. I didn’t carry a cell phone except when I was working princes, and tonight would be the last time I’d use that one. No one else had the number.
    I flipped it open and answered. “Hello?”
    â€œM.” I recognized Evangeline’s voice.
    I wondered how on earth she got the number. Then again, I worked for a being who valued knowledge above even magic. “What do you want? I’m kind of busy.”
    â€œGrimm says you aren’t. Said you’re having problems with this one. You need help?”
    The way she said “help” reeked of “You want me to come bail you out again?” I spent the first two years learning from Evangeline. Now I worked every day to prove to her and everyone else that I could hold my own.
    â€œI don’t need you or anyone else. I’ll get this done. Tell Grimm he’ll be ready for the princess tomorrow.” A lump formed in my throat as I spoke those words, a cold knot like I’d swallowed an iceberg.
    â€œYou have to do this, M, and do it right.”
    I knew that. We had a deal, Grimm and I. Grimm and my parents, Grimm and my sister. I thought of her. Last time I’d seen her she was two years old, pulling a wagon around and eating a Popsicle she said tasted “purple.” I’d never asked Grimm what would happen to Hope if I didn’t keep my end of the deal. I paid my debts.
    I hung up the phone and walked into the dining room, careful to fix my face into the right expression of disgust.
    â€œEvening,” Liam stood up as I walked in, and he took my jacket.
    I stepped away from the offered hug and gave him my most dismissive look as I sat down.
    Liam reached across the table to take my hand. “I ordered the scallions