Read Steel Victory (Steel Empire Book 1) for Free Online Page B

leaned against the lamppost. Fair enough. He could come to the rescue if this ended in tears.
    The bell above the door rang when she entered, and as Kane had reported, a shimmer of blue light washed over her. She reached out with her own magic to search for a taste of the caster. But a waitress pounced on her right away, breaking her concentration.
    “Hi, I’m Paige, and I’ll be your server today. How many in your party?” She grabbed a handful of menus from a small rack before Toria could answer.
    “Um, just me, thanks. Is Ms. Fabbri available?” Toria attempted to match the girl’s vapid smile and disarming look, wishing for Kane’s better acting skills. She noted the eclectic artwork on the walls. “I’m a local artist and wanted to talk to her about displaying some of my work.”
    “That’s so neat! She’s in her office,” Paige said, replacing the menus. “I’m sure she would love to talk with you! Wait a sec.” The waitress swept back through the restaurant, weaving between tables.
    Toria peered out the front window. Kane now lounged on a bench in front of the music shop Mikelos frequented. He slouched, but she knew her partner in and out. One eye was on the restaurant and he was ready to move at the first sign of danger.
    “Can I help you?” The frosty voice prompted Toria to turn back to the dining room. A blonde in her mid-thirties glared at her.
    “Ms. Fabbri?” Toria held out her hand. “My name is—”
    “I know what your name is.” She ignored Toria’s attempt at politeness. “And I know who your mother is. I trust you noticed the sign on your way in?”
    Straight evidence of this woman’s bigotry shook her. She meant every bit of her discrimination. Well, Toria could match that chilliness. “Your sign is what I’d like to speak with you about today, ma’am.” Her parents raised a polite girl, even if this woman didn’t deserve it.
    “Good. Then you’ll realize that not only do I have nothing to talk to you about,” Ms. Fabbri said, “but that you’re also not welcome here, mage .” The title sounded nasty spilling from her lips.
    Any thoughts of civility fled Toria’s mind. “What the hell is your problem, lady?” Her voice rose, and nearby diners were staring.
    “People like you.” Fabbri’s eyes shone with fury. “Freaks who have too much power for their own good, and who lord it over normal humans!”
    Now that was too much. “Lord over what?” Toria said. “When has a nonhuman ever affected your life in any drastic way?”
    “I joined the council so that I could prevent them from abusing their power. But instead I found it was already too late.” Her neglect to answer the question did not escape Toria’s notice.
    “Too late for what?” The woman made less and less sense. “How did you even get elected to the council when you obviously have no idea how it’s run?”
    “I know exactly how it’s run—by representatives of a minority of the population who hold a majority of the power.”
    The bell above the door jangled when a new patron entered the restaurant, but Toria paid the new arrival no heed. She didn’t have the patience to remind Fabbri that those minority representatives cast votes worth half those of the human district representatives. Every high school civics student knew that. “If you’re this nuts, the council’s going to kick you out ’cause of your own stupidity.” She started when a heavy hand landed on her right shoulder. She twisted her head, startled to see one of Limani’s finest frowning down at her.
    “What seems to be the problem here?” For once, the phrase didn’t seem quite so cliché. The police officer looked stern.
    Fabbri beamed at him. “Thank goodness you arrived in time, officer,” she said. “As you heard, this young woman entered my establishment to threaten me.”
    Toria’s temper itched to spill out, but she bit her tongue. She’d been set up. The charm had alerted Fabbri, who must have called the