Seyah

It had always been just another day. Living in New York didn't change that.

"Are you heading out, ?" Solar asked. She was the only other supernatural working at Staccato, the pretentious—sorry—prestigious restaurant in the heart of Manhattan. Solar was in the middle of her Introspection. Three months ago, I didn't know what that was, but she'd explained, with much more excitement and detail than necessary, that Introspection is the year away seelie fae take when they reach fifty earth years old.

"I'm closing the check for my last table now. Are you here much longer?"

"Nope. My guess, about an hour." She lifted her hand as she turned her flat palm from side to side. "Then I'm heading to a party."

"Of course you are." I chuckled. "Are you ever not partying?"

Solar touched her chest and scoffed. "I'm here now, aren't I? Work is hardly a party, Sey. Not that you would know. You never party. Tell me again, how many jobs do you have?"

"Right now, I only have two. OK, well, three, but the third is only a few hours a month."

"Mm-hmm. That sounds like two too many."

It was my turn to scoff. "Not all of us have magic fae court money to fall back on. I work so hard because I need to make a living," I said, keeping my voice down when mentioning her court.

She waved away my words. "You're working yourself to death. What's the point of longevity, if you work your life away?"

"Alright, Solar. I'm going to let you go on that one." I stepped back and collided with the front of house night manager, Darren.

"Hey, ," he said, lifting his hands to steady me. Only I wasn't off balance and his hands lingered on my waist for too long. "Happy birthday! Do you want to share a slice of the torte?"

"It's your birthday? You little lioness. Were you really about to leave and not say anything?" Solar's eyes widened and her lips pursed, even as her cheeks lifted.

"Solar, the saying is minx. I thought Brenda gave you a book on idioms," Darren said, dropping his hands and stepping to the left.

"She did, but doesn't look more like a lion?" Solar winked at me, and I stifled a laugh. "Now, sister-girl, my sweet pumpkin of sunshine."

"Oh, goddess. Get to it." I laughed out loud, and Darren shushed me.

"Please don't ruin the guest's dining experience."

"No worries, Darren. is going to hang around for a slice of torte, and then she and I are going out to celebrate her birthday. Wait! You're twenty-one now. Yeah, we're so going to a party tonight."

I never sought friendships. I preferred being alone. Well, as alone as I could get with my lioness in my head.

I heard that.

And you just proved my point, Ahzay.

Solar was the closest person I had to a friend. And I still never saw her outside of work. I had no plans to change that. Especially not for my birthday.

It's been six years since you turned fifteen. What will it hurt to go with Solar? Imagine what it would feel like to enjoy yourself, Ahzay chimed in.

Not happening.

"I'm sorry, Solar. I have to login to my second job tonight. You know, I wish I could, but duty calls. Oh, see—duty is calling me now." I tilted my head to my last table, where the older gentleman raised his hand to summon me.

Darren squeezed my shoulder. "That's a good girl, . Come find me for the torte when you're done."

Solar and I watched as he walked away. When we turned back to each other, we stuck our tongues out through our teeth and scrunched our noses.

"I know an unseelie who would be happy to curse him," Solar said deadpan.

"And I know a witch who would do the same. He's not worth the favor I'd owe, though." I shrugged and turned to give my attention to my customers.

"." Solar caught my wrist and let her glamor flicker for a few seconds. Her umber toned skin melted away to a dark dandelion and her whiskey-brown eyes turned lilac. They also grew. Solar pouted and slowly blinked her wide eyes. "Raincheck?"

Oh, she's good. Ahzay laughed in my mind.

She's a seelie. Cuteness runs in their veins. "You bet," I said, knowing I had no intention of taking her up on it. Based on our past interactions, she'd wait two weeks before trying to lure me out again. That was enough time to come up with an excuse.

After I closed out the table, I grabbed my torte to go. It was a delightful treat to cut up the ride home. It was a long ride, but I used the time to write lyrics. I couldn't visualize the melody without my keyboard, but the words poured out of me, and I captured them all.

When I got home, I threw a hot pocket into the microwave and settled at my desk with my headset. My place wasn't much. And it wasn't up to code. But the illegal issues were what made it dirt cheap, and that's what I could afford. I didn't need much more than my microwave, shower, and keyboard. I'd spent my share of nights on the street, or in the forest in Ahzay's form. A roof was an improvement… even if there was no insulation in the walls.

Ahzay bristled inside me as I logged in and took my first call of the night. It was her birthday, too. While I loved the lioness to bits, it was just another night.

I was wrong, and I hated being wrong. For six years, I'd worked hard to assess my surroundings and read the people I encountered. Never again would I be at the mercy of other people's emotions. People's actions were harder to avoid, but I chose how I received everything. From getting fired, hit on, or robbed… well, attempted robbery. Which was why I was kicking myself in the kitchen of Staccato.

", you agreed to a raincheck last night. You wouldn't go back on your promise, would you? Not with a fae like me." She smirked at me, but I knew she would hold me to my word. Even sweet sunshine fae had their limits, and a broken vow was one of them. Vow was a strong word, but I didn't doubt she'd equate the two.

"Not me, no. I'm a woman of my word." I nodded and straightened my spine.

"Great! Because my friend who threw the party last night had so much fun, he's doing it again. Tonight!" Solar clapped her hands and shook her shoulders, happy again.

Ahzay perked up. Party time! What are you going to wear?

What I'm wearing right now.

, your uniform is so boxy, and your pants are too baggy. You need a dress or a romper… something to help showcase your assets.

Ahzay! First, what do you know about looking cute? You don't wear clothes. Second, I don't want to showcase my assets. I want to go, have a drink, and leave.

Wow. Well, first, don't be rude. I pay attention to what the women around you wear, she said. Her tone was too snippy as she kneaded the ground in the plains she created in my mind. Her tail whipped from side to side, and I shook my head. Second, where's the fun in that?

"Looks like one of you is on board," Solar said with a laugh. Though she meant Ahzay, she didn't know my lioness's name. My parents didn't teach me a lot about being a shifter, but they'd done that much. Her name was precious. Giving it to just anyone was not only frowned upon, but it was also reprehensible.

One day, you'll feel comfortable enough to share my name.

I won't. You're stuck with me, and me alone. I grinned inwardly.

What about our mate?

I closed my eyes and pursed my lips. Ahzay, if I put something sexy on, and go to this party… do you promise not to talk about mates for the next century?

She tilted her head and hummed. How about I give you a year?

I sighed. Fine. I'll take it.

When I opened my eyes, Solar gave me an expectant look. "Can you hook me up with something sexy?"

"Of course! My clothes won't work, though." She was five inches taller than me, and three sizes smaller. She beamed as she looked me up and down and rubbed her fingers together. "I'm sure I can spin something together that will work."

"Great. Let me tip out and then we can go." I took a deep breath but smiled.

We took a cab to Solar's apartment, which was only twenty minutes from the restaurant. And, taking New York City traffic into account, that was close. When we got inside, Solar instructed me to strip down to my underwear and stand in front of her wide floor to ceiling mirror. Even though I had no interest in the pretty fae, I was happy I'd worn my matching black lace bra and panty set. Thinking about it, I wasn't sure why I wore it. I usually didn't.

"I think you'd look so pretty in blue," Solar said as she waved her hand and a powder blue dress wrapped around my body.

The material reminded me of flower petals. I ran my hands over the delicate fae fabric and grinned. "It's beautiful."

"It is," she agreed, and then twisted her lips to the side. "But we can do better."

She waved her hand again, and the petals fell away. In their place, a warm stream of water wrapped around me instead. After a moment, the water morphed into a dress that hugged my every curve. The blue was the same color as before, except it shimmered when I moved in the light. The material was weightless and though it looked solid, I could still feel the soft current flowing around me.

"Solar, I-this is amazing." I beamed and turned from side to side in the mirror to get a better look.

"It's perfect. Give me a minute to get dressed. Help yourself to my makeup. Don't say no."

"Thanks." I didn't say no, but that didn't mean yes.

Sey, are you really going to half ass it?

I rolled my eyes. Ahzay, if I didn't know you better, I'd say you had an ulterior motive here.

Just some light shadow and mascara. You have lip gloss.

I groaned and trudged to the bathroom. Solar must have guessed I would agree, since a tube of mascara, maroon lipstick, and an eye shadow in the same shade as my dress sat on the counter next to a shadow a few shades darker. I used both to make a rough gradient before applying the mascara. I decided against the lipstick, and took Ahzay's advice about my lip gloss, which I would worry about when I got there.

"Ready?" Solar stepped out of her room, and I sighed. Her dark brown skin glowed like she was sunshine incarnate, and her light makeup accented her rose pink strapless top. Her black jeans hugged her frame and her flower and gold crown dropped lines of petals down her shoulder-length hair.

"Uh, hell yeah! You look amazing. I want to be a summer fae when I grow up." I laughed and Solar chuckled.

My coat is golden brown—some might say I look like sunshine, too. Ahzay chuffed, and I laughed again.

Don't be a Jelly Jane, Ahzay.

She hummed. Have fun.

As if you won't be paying attention to my every step.

Someone has to look out for you, she grumbled.

And you're the only one I want looking out for me, Ahz. Love you.

I love you, too.

"Here," Solar said, picking up a light rose clutch and a black crossbody bag. Both bags were just large enough to hold a phone and a few small items. She handed me the black crossbody and smiled. "You can leave your bag and work clothes here. This will look much better with the dress."

I glanced over at her couch where my worn canvas bag sat. There was no way I could wear it with the dress. The dress deserved better. I took a minute to grab my phone, my ID, and my lip gloss before accepting the bag from her. "Thanks, Solar."