Sin & Spirit (Demigod of San Francisco #4)(8)

“That explains the strange dress, yes,” Red said, and I couldn’t help a glance down at myself. It was plain, but I didn’t think it was strange… “The charity for medical aid to help the magical needy was rubber-stamped by the Demigod himself this morning.” She stared at me for a silent beat. “That means he approved it.”

“Yikes. Someone came down with a case of the assholes this morning,” Bria muttered, walking over to look out the fake window.

“With his name on the project, all the red tape you had undoubtedly hoped would take up a lot of your time will be torn away,” Red said. “Which means you have plenty of newfound time to see him. Now.”

My heart swelled at Kieran’s unblinking support of my endeavors. I’d thought all magical people living in the magical zones got medical, but it turned out a lot of Demigods didn’t notice the weaker or struggling magical people in their territory, thinking of them little better than Chesters. Valens had supported the “only the strong will survive” system. Not Kieran. He was using his position to help those in need. It made me proud to be on his team.

It also annoyed the crap out of me, because the timing wasn’t ideal. He could’ve had a note sent to me before I picked out this—clearly ill-chosen—dress. But if he’d sent a note, I wouldn’t have come. Instead, he’d rubber-stamped the charity. I could still refuse his summons, sure, but given what he’d done to help me (and others), I would feel like a jerk walking away. Which he knew.

As if hearing my thoughts, Bria nodded. “He’s good.”

Red stretched her lips wide to show her teeth, a comical and slightly horrible rendition of a smile. “I have something for you to change into. If you’ll come with me?”

“But wait…” I looked around wildly for a reason I couldn’t possibly go.

I knew the guy wanted to share his leadership with me, which was super cute and rare for a Demigod, but really, I was a poor girl at heart. What the hell did I know about business or leading a territory? I had to have a couple of teenagers help me lead my life.

All of which I’d tried to tell him before he dragged me into the last meeting. That had been a shitshow. Something about the laundry system in the building. I hadn’t even known there was a laundry system in the government building, let alone why. Then they’d started talking about quadrants, another thing I didn’t know anything about, and I was done. I’d excused myself to the bathroom and run off.

The tabloid picture of me sprinting across the parking lot, holding my red pumps, had not been my finest moment.

“I’d like to do the paperwork,” I hedged, dancing my fingers across files that weren’t mine. “Also, I might need to do something in the way of a charity for homeless animals, because the lack of shelters in this city is discouraging, even in the non-magical zone.”

“The paperwork is in progress and…” Red hesitated. She was very rarely thrown for a loop, but I could get to anybody. I took it as a point of pride. “I’m sure you can circle back to the homeless animal issue, though we don’t have many furry stray pets in the magical area.”

“But…” I tapped a file folder. “We don’t?”

“No. Various magical creatures hunt stray pets for sport. It keeps our streets stray-free. If you knew anything about your home—the magical area, I mean—you’d know that.”

“A case of the assholes with a hint of dickface,” Bria said, running a finger across my desk.

I grimaced at Red. That was…gross.

“Now, if you’ll come with me?” Red turned sideways, gesturing for me to get moving. She wasn’t a lady with a lot of patience.

Bria crossed her arms over her chest. She didn’t offer me any help.

“Any excuse you could possibly come up with has a rebuttal, Miss Price, I guarantee it,” Red said. “Please, save us both the trouble and come with me. Demigod Kieran and his guest are waiting for you. I have a dress I think you’ll really like.”

“Should I keep the car running for when you escape?” Bria asked. She was joking, so I didn’t give her the affirmative on the tip of my tongue.

“Demigod Kieran would like you to come, too,” Red told Bria.

Bria’s smile dripped off her face. “Ah, crap, really? What did I do to deserve this?”

I laughed at Bria, my tension easing a little. Kieran would know better than to bring Bria into a professional meeting—she couldn’t be trusted to stay civil, especially when dumb or redundant questions were asked—which meant I had some hope of lasting the whole thing.

“Come on.” Red nodded, and we glumly followed her to Kieran’s huge office upstairs, the one he’d taken over after Valens’s things were moved out. A bathroom was tucked away in the corner, and on the door hung a gorgeous cream silk dress that looked much too fine for the likes of me. Even the new likes of me, with the Demigod’s mark and the upgraded social status. I’d probably stain it before I even left the office. “Why don’t you hop into that and we’ll head out. Bria—”

“Nah.” Bria waved Red away, standing near the door. “I’m good.”

“This is a meeting with two Demigods. Don’t make me hook a leash to that collar and drag you to the dressing room.”