Chapter 37

UNDERCOVER MICE

Outside of Los Angeles Police Department Headquarters, Los Angeles, California, United States

Gen had really tried to keep a straight face when King Rudolf told her his plan for sneaking them into the Los Angeles Police Department. However, for as far-fetched as it sounded, she couldn’t discount that it was brilliant and would probably work. It wasn’t without its complications and risks though.

“Are you sure you can do this?” Gen asked the fae as they stood in the shadows of an alleyway, nearby the LA Police Department Headquarters. “Transfiguration magic is incredibly complicated and a lot can go wrong.”

“I know,” King Rudolf stated. “But you don’t live for six-hundred-plus years and not pick up the skill of transfiguration. How do you think that I avoided capture a few dozen times?”

Gen shrugged. “Turning yourself into an animal.”

“That’s right,” he said proudly.

“It’s not so much that I’m worried about your ability to turn us into animals as much as reverse it,” Gen pointed out. “Isn’t that what happened to Faraday, the scientist squirrel? Didn’t he get stuck?”

“True, but that one was a bit more complicated for other reasons,” Rudolf stated. “I’m just going to turn us into simple little mice and it’s only for a short period of time, which means it’s easier to reverse. Trust me. I might seem like I’m just a pretty boy, but I’m a whiz when it comes to advanced magic.”

Gen still remained uncertain, not wanting to be a mouse for the rest of her life.

The fae sighed. “How do you think I became the king over all of the fae and the richest man in the world?”

“Transfiguration?” Gen asked, confused.

He shook his head. “No, I defeated an evil queen…using powerful magic. And how do you think that I brought my mortal wife back to life when she was dead and on the bottom of a fountain, guarded by a grotesque mermaid?”

“Magic,” she guessed.

“Yes, oh, and Liv helped me too. Anyway, I promise you, I can do this. And it’s the best plan for getting us into the Commissioner’s office undetected. Then we find the evidence linking him to prostitution?—”

“A bank robbery,” she corrected.

He waved her off. “Same thing. And then we get to clearing your name. Easy peasy.”

You should do it, Emperor encouraged in her head.

Are you sure? She questioned.

No, he stated at once. But I have a good sense about it.

Meaning you see a future where I’m not stuck as a rodent, she said to him.

Something like that, he replied.

Gen let out a big breath, steadying herself. “Okay, fine. I’m ready for you to turn me into a mouse.”

“Great,” he cheered, pointing a finger at her. “Hold still, this is going to hurt a lot.”