Read Imperative: A Quinn Larson Quest for Free Online Page A

permanent bird on shoulder look. As we cut through a few alleys to get closer to my place, I thought through some possible healing spells. It was probably not a good idea to mess with what The Morrigan had done, but I felt sorry for him.
    I turned down the last alley and heard voices. Olan pecked my ear just as I came to a stop. I stepped back into the shadows. Ahead a fairy girl was walking with a human man. I could make out the glamour she’d spun to hide her true identity. In reality she was a nightshade fairy, about three feet tall and thin, dark purple hair and white skin; the glamour showed a busty blond almost six foot. The human was almost salivating with desire. I could smell his musk from here.
    Olan rocked on my shoulder, as though trying to tell me something. I hadn’t a clue whether he meant we should run away or jump in to stop what was probably about to happen.
    I stayed in the shadows.
    In my pocket I felt for the sight charm I carried for emergencies. If I was right, there would be a Sidhe lurking nearby. The spell would let me see into shadows.
    I found the charm and squeezed it to release the power, keeping it in my pocket minimized the chance the fairy would notice, but did diminish the power. I could only see dimly into the shadows, but I could see. There was a Sidhe woman wrapped in a dark cloak standing in the deepest gloom of a doorway beyond the fairy and human.
    I didn’t recognize her but she had the look of a court member. Her hair was golden; at least the few strands of curl that fell out of the hooded cloak glinted like gold. I caught a glimpse of milky skin splattered with freckles as she leaned forward slightly. Her movement brought my attention back to the fairy who was talking to the human in a warm voice.
    “Drink this.” She held a glass in her hand. “It will help you later, when we are alone.”
    “I don’t need help.” The man laughed and reached for her. “Let’s get to your place.”
    Good, he was going to survive. I searched my pockets for something to interrupt them. I didn’t have time for a spell, and the Sidhe would probably intercept it if I tried to cast something. If I could find a stone or something to throw, I could break the trance she was building.
    “No.” I wondered if he heard the desperate note in her voice as I scanned the ground. “You don’t know. I’m different.”
    “Okay, sweetie, don’t get upset.” He kissed her before taking the glass. “If you really want me to, I’ll take it, but I’ve never needed help.”
    I looked up, a chunk of brick in my hand. She smiled and leaned into him as he swirled the glass. I stepped forward to throw the brick.
    Too late, he tipped the liquid into his mouth. I saw him swallow and then drop the glass which shattered on the cobbles. The fairy stepped back as the man reached for her, his body contorting. The man twitched and spun on his heels, it looked like he was searching for something. Then he started swinging as though he was fighting more than one opponent.
    Suddenly he stumbled, one leg giving out. His hand grabbed at his stomach. He groaned. The groan changed to a gasp, and then a wheeze as his body buckled to the ground.
    The fairy beckoned to the Sidhe and held her other hand over the man as he bucked on the ground. His movements getting smaller until he almost lay still. The Sidhe bent as though to kiss the man. I saw his spirit leave his mouth to be sucked into hers. It brought back memories of vampire feasts: bad memories. Taking too many victims is where the vamps made their mistake. If the Sidhe weren’t careful they would disappear, too.
    “Well,” the fairy snapped. “You have your feast, give me my payment.”
    The Sidhe wiped the corners of her mouth before speaking. “Why should I pay you, fairy? I have what I wanted. You should have taken payment first.”
    “Do you think to cheat me? How many of us do you think would be interested in playing your game if we didn’t get to