I can’t believe I was just inside the shifters’ tower.

I shuddered and turned away, heading toward town.

As I stepped into neutral turf, I reached up to tug on the collar. The damned thing wouldn’t budge. Worse, I could feel the magic buzzing around it.

Lachlan could find me anytime.

I shivered.

Had he really not recognized me?

I’d felt his gaze on me frequently, especially on my pointed ears. It had felt both curious and almost…angry. But he hadn’t seemed to recognize me. Thank fates I looked entirely different, but it had to be the species change that convinced him. As far as most supernaturals knew, it was impossible to change species. Sure, a glamour could make me look fae, but I shouldn’t be able to fake the magic. I could, though. Not only did I have a magical signature that was vaguely fae, I could throw lightning, grow plants, and even fly. I’d need to find a reason to use my wings around him, just to throw him off the scent.

“Hey! Watch where you’re going!” A man dodged out of my way, glowering at me.

“Sorry!” I’d totally lost track of my surroundings, and the city streets were busier than I’d realized.

Not good.

I was still reeling from seeing Lachlan. He was so different—so powerful, yet so contained. Like a massive stone island in the middle of a sea storm.

And the connection between us…what the hell was that?

I dragged my thoughts from Lachlan so that I could avoid knocking into anyone. Guild City didn’t have room for cars on the ancient, narrow streets, but there were hundreds of motorbikes. They buzzed by as I hurried along the pavement, passing in front of the ancient façades of the Tudor buildings. The exteriors of the buildings hadn’t changed much since the city was built five hundred years ago. They were still the same dark wood and white plaster, with many of the original diamond-pane windows—all except for the shops, which had large glass fronts to display their wares.

I passed in front of them, the windows glittering invitingly. Clothing, electronics, weapons, spells, housewares, stationery—everything was for sale on this street, and most of it danced inside the windows, propelled by magic to invite the customer to take a closer look.

Before, I’d been perpetually skint due to Danny. Maybe now, if I could solve this and get my money back, I’d have some breathing room.

I’m free.

Almost.

Guilt stabbed me. Danny had been an utter bastard, but he hadn’t deserved to die like that.

My thoughts trailed back to Lachlan. He hadn’t recognized me yet, and maybe he never would. If he didn’t, then my secret died with Danny.

It didn’t take long to cut across town and make my way to the Shadow Guild tower, where I lived and worked. As I walked, I rolled through what I knew of Danny:

1. He had been scared to leave shifter turf.

2. Before he’d died, he said something about a bastard finally…doing something.

3. He was a blackmailer.

Had one of his other victims killed him? Surely not the person whose business card he’d been holding…

I couldn’t rule it out, but that would be too easy. Nothing in my life was that easy.

The sun was fully overhead when I arrived, shining on the tall, slender stone tower that acted as the Shadow Guild’s headquarters. It wasn’t nearly as big as the shifters’ tower, but then there weren’t nearly as many of us, only half a dozen of Guild City’s misfits.

Though it wasn’t big, our tower was far more beautiful. The stone gleamed a pale gray that almost sparkled under the sunlight. The glass windows definitely sparkled, so brightly that the diamond-shaped panes looked like precious gems themselves. Roses climbed up the side walls, courtesy of my fake fae earth magic.

Guilt pierced me again. My friends knew that I was an accomplished potion maker. They didn’t know that I was so good I could fake my species.

I shook away the guilt and hurried toward the tower. I loved living in such an ancient-looking place with all the conveniences of modern living. Guild City was perfect for that, and our fairytale tower was the crown jewel.

I let myself in the front door and calling out, “Hello? Anyone in?”

Fortunately, no one answered me. I wasn’t ready to face questions yet.

I’d only just moved into the Shadow Guild tower, while the others still lived in their flats. They hung out here often, though, as we used it for meetings and parties.

Until recently, I’d had two workshops out in Guild City: my main business, which I’d moved here in order to save money so I could pay off Danny, and a secret workshop hidden across town. The hidden one was just a hidey hole where I made the potion that changed my species. I had to regularly create the potion that I dipped my necklace in, and I didn’t want to store the extremely rare ingredients in a place that could be robbed.

I took the stairs two at a time to my workshop and private flat. As I let myself into my new home, I gave a sigh of relief and leaned against the door. The little living room was filled with plush, colorful furniture and old art that I’d scavenged years ago from car boot sales out in London. Everything looked just as I’d left it.

“Thank fates.” Though I’d only moved into the flat recently, it felt like home.

I set the bundle of towels and glass on the table by the door. Before I could deal with that, I needed a chocolate bar and a damned shower. I was so tense that a million chocolate bars wouldn’t fix me, but I could sure as hell try. I went to the tiny kitchen and opened one of the drawers where I kept my stash.

It was empty.

I scowled down at it. It had been full just yesterday…

I looked up toward the window. A furry face stared at me through the glass, its black eyes glinting with fiendish delight. They were surrounded by a black mask and gray fur.

Goddamned raccoon. I should have known.

Raccoons weren’t even supposed to live in London, and yet, one had found its way to me and seemed to have dedicated its life to stealing my damned chocolate bars. Our friend and guild leader, Carrow Burton, had a raccoon named Cordelia as a familiar. But this one was different. Cordelia was a sneak, but this one was an outright thief.

Guild City was positively infested.

I’d even taken to leaving out healthy snacks for the little wanker, feeling a bit bad for the creature and hoping to keep him off my stash. He’d completely ignored the offering and had been waging a campaign of terror against me ever since, sneaking into every hiding spot.

“I will get you,” I said to the furry little bandit. “Just you wait.”

He grinned and ducked down, disappearing.

On my way to the shower, I grabbed a Lion bar that I’d taped under a lampshade and shoved half of it into my mouth. This was what he’d reduced me to—hiding chocolate everywhere like a lunatic.

I made quick work of my shower, then returned to the bedroom.

My closet was a mess, but it didn’t take long to discard the idea of putting on one of the flowy dresses I liked. Things were looking dangerous, and that called for jeans and leather. I changed as quickly as I could, then returned to the living room and gathered up the little bundle of broken glass.

My workshop was just across the hall, and stepping inside felt like walking into a therapist’s office. Here was where I made sense of things, where I gained clarity and control.