“Don’t!” Mina whirled to confront Jared. “And you, you knew, didn’t you? You’ve known all along that they were Fae.”
Jared had crossed to stand by the window, letting the light filter through across his skin, giving him an otherworldly appearance. He tilted his head and studied her thoughtfully. “Are you saying you didn’t?”
“I…uh. I don’t know.”
“You can’t be that naïve. Didn’t you know you would have one? They’re the ones responsible for bringing the house to you. All Grimms have a babysitter.” He shrugged and pointed to the prim and proper Mrs. Colbert. “They’re not much good for anything else.”
Mrs. Colbert’s pink lips pinched together, and her eyes narrowed in anger. “Young prince, we are not babysitters. We are a collective Guild of Fae dedicated to the peaceful co-existence between Fae and non-Fae. We strive to keep the balance by protecting the Grimms.”
Jared flashed his white teeth at Mrs. Colbert in challenge and bowed. “Oh, pardon me,” he announced slowly, “your Orderliness.”
“Now, hear me—” she began.
“Stop!” Mina yelled, her world once again crumbling beneath her. “What do you mean, you protect the Grimms?” She turned on Mrs. Wong, her words like daggers. “You’ve never protected me. Not from Claire, not from the wolves or the Reaper. If you are my protector, then why didn’t you tell me about my father, about the curse, about the Story? You could have warned me.”
“We watch, we guide, but we never ever interfere. But we broke that promise when your brother was born, and we’ve been trying to fix it ever since.”
“Charlie! What does this have to do with Charlie? What did you do?” Mina began to pace frantically, keeping as much distance as she could between herself and the Fae. She should have known, should have seen the signs. They were there. Like the magic tea Mrs. Wong gave her that healed her injuries, everything pointed to the obvious, but she refused to believe it. Chose not to believe it.
“We will explain everything, but I think we need to have a seat. This could take a while. Come.” She opened the white double doors and motioned down the hallway. “Follow me.”
Mina hesitated at first, chewing on her bottom lip in indecision. She needed answers, and they had them. She dutifully walked after the female Fae, and Jared fell in line behind her. Mrs. Colbert…or as Mei called her, Constance…turned and in short, clipped words told him off.
“No, Jared. You may be our prince, but you do not rule over us. Where we go, you cannot follow.”
He glared at her. “Don’t you think I deserve some answers, too?”
She shook her head. “When you haven’t earned those answers? I think not.”
His mouth thinned into an irritated grimace, and he looked toward Mina before shrugging and walking over to the vacated chair. He made a big show of moving it loudly across the room and sitting in it while plopping his shoes on a white coffee table. He had a smug look on his face, and called out in a commanding tone. “Well, if you are to keep me waiting, at least fetch me something to drink.”
Constance closed the door with a firm click. Mina highly doubted that Jared would be receiving that drink anytime soon.
She followed the woman who was her teacher and wondered at all of the things that had led up to this moment. Mei Wong followed a few steps behind them as they traveled the plush carpeted hallway. Her head was lowered and her steps slow, as if the Fae woman was trying to keep out of sight.
Feeling sorry, and somewhat responsible, Mina slowed to walk by her long-time friend. “So is your name even Mei? What about Ken? Are you two even married?”
She shook her head, her voice soft and melodic, unlike the clipped accent she favored. Upon closer inspection, her Fae protector didn’t look that much older than Mina’s own mother.
“It’s Meira, or Mei for short, and yes, we’re married.” Her cheeks flushed, and her eyes twinkled mischievously. They stepped into a golden elevator and pushed the one-gemmed button. The doors closed, and instead of the elevator going up or down, it stayed in one place. The air crackled around them.
Mina kept stealing glances at the smiling Mei when it hit her like a ton of bricks.
“It was you, wasn’t it? You wanted the Story to find me! You posted the pictures of me on your restaurant. You gave me magic tea. And your accent was terrible, by the way.”
Mei looked around in panic.
Constance turned to Mei with her hands on her hips. “Mei, you didn’t? You know better than to get involved too soon. You wait until we know for sure.”
“Constance, forgive me, but the Story was bound to find her. No matter how many times we moved and I changed forms, and Sara changed schools, he always found her. The Story has always been particularly attracted to my Grimm. I knew despite her being a young girl that she would be the next one chosen. My Mina will be the one to break the curse. Just you watch and see.” Mei grinned widely and winked in Mina’s direction.
“This conversation is not over with, Mei. That was a serious breach of protocol.”
The doors opened again, and they were in a large, circular white room filled with mirrors of all kinds: small mirrors, ornate mirrors, and mirrors larger than a pickup truck.
“Here we are.” She smiled proudly and waved her hands around. “I know it’s not much to look at and we run a small operation, but I think the Guild is something any Grimm would be proud of—well, I at least hope so, since you are the first one who has ever been here.”