The short red skirt, barely covered the knife I had hidden in the top of my fish net stockings. The short black jacket hid the gun at my back. As I moved through the crowd, I watched for Mason. He was not at a table. I knew he wouldn’t be dancing so I looked towards the bar.

Sandy was working behind the bar. “Hi Sandy, have you seen Mason tonight?” She poured me a shot of Brandy. “No, but Darcey has been here for most of the night.” She nodded towards a table. “She very much on the way to getting really plastered.

What was the Lady Darcey of the Seelie Court doing here and why was she drinking like a fish?

I walked over but didn’t sit down. You don’t sit in front of one of the Seelie Court without getting permission first.

She looked up at me out of emerald green eyes, her glamour hit me full force. She waved towards a chair.

I sat down and waited to see if she wanted to tell me what was bothering her. She stared into her drink for a few minutes.

“Cassandria, grows tired of the Seelie Crown” she said.

“Are you next in line my Lady”

“Yes and no,” she said. Melia’s son has made a claim.”

“What do you do when there’s more than one claim to the throne.?”

“There’s a duel, it can be with weapons, or magic. You can even have someone stand in for you.”

“Is this why your drinking so much tonight, this duel?” I ask.

She laughed, “You don’t understand, I don’t want to be queen.”

I still didn’t get it. “Why don’t you just decline then?”

She stood up, her legs were kind of wobbly. “You don’t turn down the Seelie Queen.” she said than staggered through the dancers towards the door.

I started to go after her, but just then Mason arrived. Instead of following Darcey, I jointed him at the bar.

“What’s up?” I ask as I slid onto a stool.

He glanced at the over crowded club. “Maybe we should do this somewhere else.”

I reached across the bar and snagged a key. “Mitch has a room in back. We can talk there.”

The furniture consisted of four chairs and a table, it was where the guys sometime played poker.

We sat down facing each other, I waited for Mason to speak.

“I got a runner for you.” he said. I wasn’t surprised, Mason was one of the best bondsman in the city.

I felt my guts twist. “Just a normal runner?” I ask.

“Sure,” he grinned. “It will be a piece of cake.”

Sure it would. I’d never run down a runner for Mason that didn’t involve me in all kinds of trouble.

“Yeah,” I said. “What is it this time? Werewolf, vampire, Seelie, troll or elf?”

“You got me all wrong.” Mason said trying to sound like I’d hurt his feelings. “It just a case of a missing human. He got caught trying to lift a watch at Pia’s.“

“Yeah, and why would a human be at Pia’s?” I ask.

He wouldn’t look me in the eye as he said. “He said he didn’t know what kind of store Pia’s was.”

“And I guess you just took him at his word?”

“Well, I did until he skipped on me.”

“Tell me about the watch he pinched. Did the police get it back?”

“The watch disappeared.”

“So what did the watch do?” I ask.

Mason smiled at me, “I was hoping you’d ask Pia, you know she won’t talk to me.”

I didn’t blame her but that was another story.

“A Thousand dollars up front and a hundred dollars a day until the job is done. If I don’t catch the skip you will get half back.”

“Now listen here, I only have six thousand dollars on this skip.” Mason groaned.

“Well, you better hope I find him quickly.”

Mason snorted, “Glenn will do it for less.”

“Fine,” I said standing up, Get Glenn to do it.”

Mason visibly calmed down. “Okay, okay,” he said. “You got the job, but I swear your going to bankrupt me.”

Mason took a thousand dollars and a brown envelope out of his briefcase. “Here’s a picture of the skip his name is Tim Gordon.”

Fifteen minutes later I was standing in Pia’s shop.

She was in the back I could hear her rattling around. I picked up a skull and blew the dust off it. Than I read some of the labels on the jars. Things like: Monkey whispers, bats blood, dried lice… Just then Pia came out of the back room “Did you find what you were looking for?”

I smiled, “I am here about the watch that was stolen.”

“You’re here about the Time Keeper.?”

I know my face must have showed my surprise. “It was that watch?” I stammered.

“You didn’t know?” she ask. “Yes each one of the Wizards Cancel holds it until another time walker takes it.“ “She held up the empty box. “I let someone steal it.”

I could tell she was upset. “How could a human steal something from you?”

“He could if he had power over glamour.”

I frowned, “No, human has power over glamour.”

“They can though, She said, “If it’s granted to them by the Seelie or Unseelie Court.”

I left very disturbed, because this meant a trip to the Seelie realm. I was not looking forwards to it.

My first stop was my apartment building to grab a few things. I got my long coat, so I could pack my sword, two more knifes several premixed spells and exchanged my skirt for jeans.

As I was driving out of the city a message came over my police band radio. Mason wouldn’t have to worry about his skip any more. He’d been found in the park with his heart ripped out.

When I got down to the beach, I sat up four candles in the sand. The white and black candles I sat across from each other. The blue and green ones across from each other. From my stash of things, I used a dried peach seed for earth, a Gull feather for wind, my lighter for fire. Then I drink a mixture of dog spit for smell, cat whiskers for vision, horse sweat for speed and grounded up wolf teeth for cunning and mint because the other things taste like crap. I also brought along a bag of tacos in case I needed to bribe the gate keeper.

Soon I heard the familiar buzz in my ears that heralded the realm of the Summer Court. I became disoriented as I past through the veil of the Seelie Court. Grob the ogre was guarding the gate. I had been hoping for a fairy or at least an elf but no such luck it just had to be big green and ugly.

“What do you want here, whore.” he snarled. Hey, I can get along with anybody, but I don’t like being called a whore. I thought about drawing my gun and shooting him in the knee, but metal things have away of acting crazy in the Seelie Court. It could very well blow up in my face.

“I’m here to see Lady Darcey.” I lied.

A tiny seelie came up and Grob told her, “Tell the Lady that Miss Keegan is here to see her.” He said Miss Keegan, like it was a dirty word.

I hope Lady Darcey would except my visit, I didn’t want to fight, I was still sore from some other work and sore from something’s that was more pleasure than work.

Soon Rymer, Lady Darcey’s consort came to show me into her presents.

Darcey was in her full glamour, even though I prefer male sexual partners, I still felt an attraction.

“Could you please turn down the wattage,” I smiled. “It’s a bit distracting.”

“I have no meeting with you, Hunter.“ She said coldly. “Why are you here?’

“The Time Keeper was stolen.” She looked at me as if she could care less. “So,

What does that have to do with the Seelie Court, time is not important to us. Ask the humans who are here for years, and think they been here for a day.”

“I agree that the Time Keeper should have nothing to do with the Seelie Court, except for one thing.”

“And this is?” You could hear the scorn in her voice.

“Glamour was used by a mortal.” I saw a flicker of surprise go across her face. “And only a Seelie can give a mortal the use of glamour.”

She didn’t like what I said. “The Unseelie Court has glamour as well.”

“I’m aware of this, but unseelie magic feels different. I’m sure Pia would have noticed if it was unseelie glamour.”

“How can you find the seelie responsible, out of the thousands in Fawn’s Summer Court, or in my Spring Court?”

“I was hoping you’d talk Queen Cassandra into letting me work a small identification spell.”

“You dare to ask me to allow your wild magic loose in this realm, the Queen would have both our heads.” she almost spit the words at me.

“I don’t see why the Queen, couldn’t help me control the magic unless you have something to hide.”

“Very well, I shall ask, but don’t hope for anything.” Her grin was ugly. “Not even getting out of here alive.”

While she was gone I notice two ogre watching me closely. An elf, ask me if I’d like something to drink while I waited. I said no, everyone knows not to eat or drink in the Seelie realm.

I did sat down under an apple tree, it was in full bloom. It made me think of my childhood visits to my Grandpa’s farm. I jerked myself awake. Two tiny fairies were sprinkling dust on me.

“What’s your names?” they both giggled, “You should know we don’t give our names to mortals.” I held out the taco, “Not even for this?”

The two small seelies, they don’t like to be called fairies, smelled the taco. They begin to glow. I laid the taco on the ground and they attacked it, a few minutes later they laid on the ground to full to fly.

The male said “I’m Bray and this is Cherry.” I shook their tiny hands. “Now that I have your names I can call you.” The one called Cherry said, “only if you bring us more of this t stuff.“ I smiled , “This is called tacos and I promise to always bring you something to eat.“ After all in my line of work it doesn’t hurt to have seelies on call.

Darcey returned, the Queen said she would not allow the use of a spell on everyone, but If I could find some suspects, she would allow me to question them.

“Ok, but I can probably find more clues in my world.” I smiled , “Will I be allowed back?”

“The Queen said you have four days.” she waved a hand dismissing me. The Spring is falling quickly into Summer, and then even she will not be able to control your wild magic.”

Soon I was back in the city. It was nighttime, though I’d only been in the Seelie realm for an hour, four hours had passed in my world.

Pia’s shop was closed so I decided to go to the police department to see if I could get close enough to Gordon’s body to run a trace spell on him.

Captain Wilson was at his desk, but he was busy writing so I slipped on down to the morgue. Davis looked up as I walked in, “Hey Kageen, I hope your not here to do any of your hocus pocus.” I smiled my sexiest smile. “You don’t sound happy to see me.”

“I might be, if you were friendlier.” He gave a wolfish grin. “Instead of getting the Captain on my ass.”

“I just need to look at Tim Gordon’s body.” He leaned close to me, “And what do I get.” I started to say, “Just me puking all over you.” But I didn’t. say it. I have had sex with the undead, some were wolves, were leopards, even a couple were rats, but I could bring myself to let this guy touch me.

He said “If you’ll go out to dinner with me.” Before I could protest, he held up his hands, “I promise it will be a hands off dinner.”

What would the harm be, after all I had a black belt in karate and than there was always my gun. “Okay,” I said .

I touched the eyes of the man trying to read the last thing he saw. All I got back was a whole lot of nothing.

There wasn’t a trace of magic, it was as if the body had been totally wiped. There wasn’t but two or three beings that could do a full wipe. The Seelie Knights, and there was only four of these. A head vampire and as far as I knew there was only one of these in the city. Than there was a dark rider and I hoped it wasn’t one of these.

There was nothing more I could do until Pia opened up in the morning so I decided I’d go home and go to bed.

Brian was still up when I got home. “Ummmm, is that soup I smell?” He poured me a glass of wine. His voice was soft with concern, “You look tired, maybe I can help you with a warm bath.” He gave me a hot sexy look. As tired as I was my body reacted to him, but I ask, “Do you mind if I just went to bed, to sleep?”

He cleaned up the dishes , “Of course not.” I looked around, “Where’s Ryan?” He Smiled. “Sleeping like a child.”

I took his hand, “Shall we join him?”

I crawled in against Ryan’s naked back and soon Brian’s arms came around me. Sandwiched between two sexy nude men I wondered if I’d ever get to sleep. Before I knew it the phone was ringing dragging me from sleep.

It was Mason, wanting to know if I’d heard about Gordon. After he tried to keep from paying me what he owed I demanded to know why he hadn’t told me the watch that had been stolen was the one watch that controlled all time.

He said, “You know I don’t believe that stuff.” Which was a crock of bull. If any one had seen enough to believe in the unseen, he was it.

Pia was open early and she seem to be watching for me. She had the rue stones scattered before her. “Ah, Keegan, I knew you’d return, so I did a reading for you.”

I glanced at the stones, “If they don’t say I am going to have wild hot sex before midnight, I don’t want to know.”

Pia smiled flashing her gold tooth, “I hear you all ready get all the wild sex you can handle.”

I sat down laughing, “Someone has been talking out of school.”

Pia became serious, which in turn made me nervous, “You are in great danger.” I started to say, “So what else is new?’ “There is one who wishes to stop time or at least slow it down.” This wasn’t a surprise either.

“Who, wants to do this?”

“Someone who hides their face behind many veils and lies.”

There was something I should be seeing, her words had set off an alarm. In other words my spider senses were tingling.

As I left Pia’s, I dialed up Sam on my phone, “Hey Sam, I need to barrow your brain today.” He laughed, “Sometimes it doesn’t do me much good, child, but your welcome to it, for what it’s worth.”

Sam lived in the same house he’d grew up in as his father had done before him.

After pouring me a cup of tea he ask me how he could help me. I told him I wanted to know when the Seelie Court chose a new queen or king.

He looked into his dusty books, of which he had hundreds of.

“The Seelie Court changes royalties at the end of their season.”

“So Cassandra’s rein ends at the end of their spring which is ten days their time.” I frowned, “What happens if the queen doesn’t wish to leave her throne?”

“It doesn’t matter, if there is a lady or prince in waiting. She still has to turn over her rein to the winner of the games.”

I had a lot to think about as I left the old man’s house. The way things were looking, I would be lucky to get out of this alive.

That evening I brought a pizza down to the beach. I did a drawing spell and called Bray and Cherry by name. They buzzed with anger until they saw the pizza. As they rubbed their over full bellies. Bray ask, “And what is this wonderful stuff called?” “Pizza,” I said.

“What can we do for you lady Keegan?” I was honored by the title.

“Take your Queen, a message for me. Tell her I wish to return to the Seelie Court as she promised.”

Cherry buzzed, “Must we do it now and let all of this pizza go to waste.”

I laughed, “Take it with you, but yes I need you to go now.” The pizza and the fairies were gone in a second.

I pulled my coat close about me and sat down to wait.

The sun had dipped like a ball of fire, turning the ocean to blood, be fore the two returned. I could feel the magic so I knew the way was once again open.

Cherry said, “We’re to be your guides.”

Soon I stood before Queen Cassandra.

I bowed deeply. She did even notice, “So, Hunter do you know who is the guilty party in this?’

“”I know why the watch was stolen.” I said.

“”And this is?” she ask coldly.

“Someone wants to stop or postpone the changing of the queens.” I felt her anger, “I suppose you think that person is I.”

“I did at first, but you would be the first one anyone would think of.” I cleared my throat, “But there is one other who might benefit from postponing or stopping Spring.”

Just then I heard a Snarl and a spear missed my back only because I felt the wind from it and moved. I wasn’t surprised to see Rymer, Lady Darcey’s consort, behind me.

The elf guards quickly surrounded him. The Queen was upset. “How dare you attack a guest of the Court.”

“Where’s Lady Darcey?” I ask. “She needs to be here for this.”

“Here,” Darcey said, as she appeared before us.

The Queen looked at me, “Say what you have to say, Hunter.”

“I don’t know Lady Darcey’s reasons, but she does not want to be Queen.”

The Queen rose from her seat, which was an honor indeed. She walked down and put her arm around Darcey’s shoulders. “Why,” she ask. “You’ve have been treated like a daughter to me. I have groomed you for queen since you were a child.”

“That’s just it,” Lady Darcey said. “I wanted a daughter of my own.” The Queen frowned, “But you will have plenty of time for that after the next queen is chosen.”

Darcey touched her stomach, “But I’m with child now.” She looked at the queen without fear. “No one will harm my child, Not even you.”

The Queen said softly, “As your not the only choice we have, I will let you refuse the throne.”

“I thought that wasn’t allowed.” Lady Darcey said in surprise.

“Am I not the Queen,” Ask Queen Cassandra. “I say what is to be while I rein.”

Darcey came over to me and handed me the watch. “I’m sorry about Gordon, when Rymer tried to wipe him clean something went wrong I think his mind was defective, We didn’t mean to harm him.“ Smiling slightly, “We removed his heart to how do you say, throw you off the track.”

Finally after my job was finished, as I walked through my home I could hear someone in the shower. I wondered if it was Brian or Ryan and than I realized I didn’t care which it was.

I opened the shower curtain and got pulled in against a soapy chest. A voice growled, “Ah, Jobs over.” As I was smothered in Brian’s kiss I felt Ryan slide in behind me. He purred, “And now it’s time to play.”