She read the text from Tetra, then read it again.
The queen is here.
“The queen?” Val hissed.
The car behind her honked. Her foot slipped on the clutch, and Genevieve lurched forward. Instead of stalling, she emitted a throaty roar and smacked Val on the arm with the gear shift.
“Sorry, sorry!” Val squeaked. “The queen is at my house!”
Genevieve flashed her lights and let out a long, blaring honk. Her gas pedal disappeared under Val’s foot.
“Nonononono—” Val yelped.
The Mustang roared forward. Val grabbed the wheel, and it spun so hard that her wrists hurt. She let go and kept her hands and feet out of the way as Genevieve screeched through the quiet streets of Bed-Stuy, overtaking despite solid lines, roaring across red lights, and narrowly missing hapless cyclists. Val squeezed her eyes shut. Sirens yowled behind them a few times but rapidly faded into the distance.
She didn’t dare look again until Genevieve screeched to a halt. Carefully, Val peeled one eye open.
Genevieve honked three times.
“Okay, okay.” Val fumbled for her keys. “I’m opening it.”
The garage door rose. It was still several feet from the top when Genevieve thundered into the garage. The driver’s door slammed open, and it was Val’s turn for the Mustang to dump her unceremoniously on the floor.
“Genevieve!” the queen sang.
She stood at Val’s back door, arms extended toward the Mustang. Genevieve rolled up to her, suspension squeaking, windshield wipers waving, headlights flashing.
“I’ve missed you, you badass bitch.” The queen rubbed the roof fondly as Genevieve’s front bumper butted her legs.
Val picked herself up and dusted herself off. The fae queen wore a V-neck shirt and jeans, and her glimmering wings lit the garage with a silver glow.
King Taylor emerged from the back door, wearing a baby carrier. The toddler within extended chubby hands to Genevieve. “Nennie!” she crowed. Tiny eddies of wind swirled around her hands and ruffled her dark hair.
“Hello, Val,” King Taylor called. “It’s nice to see you.”
Val cleared her throat. “Um, hello, sir.”
“Oh, yeah. You’re here, too.” Julie laughed. “Sorry to drop by unannounced. We happened to be in the area and thought we’d swing by.”
“Of course, Your Majesty.” Val rubbed the back of her neck. “Uh, welcome home, I guess.”
“I love what you’ve done with the place. It’s beautiful. I can tell you really care about it.” Julie beamed.
A human with a thick head of dark curls appeared in the doorway. “Valerieeeeeeee!” she sang, hustling across the floor to grab Val in a comfortable, squishy mom-hug.
“Hi,” Val squeaked.
“Honey, you look very peaky!” The queen mother, Rosa, stepped back and studied her. “Look at that skin of yours.”
“Mom!” Julie groaned. “Her skin’s fine.”
“Nonsense, baby girl. You can tell from a mile away that she’s iron-deficient! Stick out your tongue. Let me see,” Rosa demanded.
“Mooooom!” Julie moaned. “She’s an Iron Dwarf. She’s mostly made of iron.”
“You should eat more spinach, dear,” Rosa informed her.
“Uh...” Val managed.
“Mom. Stop.” Julie face-palmed.
“Why don’t you tell her about Stella?” Taylor intervened. It was evident which half of the royal couple was famous for her prowess in battle and which was the diplomat.
Rosa clapped her hands. “Val, have you been to Stella’s new house?”
“I have. It’s incredible.” Val grinned. “What a great place for the kids to grow up.”
“I’ve never seen her so relaxed and happy.” The queen smiled. “I loved having her in Lillie’s house, but this is the future she’s worked so hard for.”
“I’m so glad you have mom friends, honey.” Rosa beamed.
“I’d invite you inside, Your Majesty, but you are inside.” Val rubbed the back of her neck.
“Yeah, sorry about that. Lillirelda was pitching a fit, and we had to get her off the street. Don’t worry, though. Your living room is fine,” Julie added brightly.
Taylor stepped aside. Val hurried into the living room, which was mostly fine. She thought the scorch marks on the walls would scrub off.
“Oh, crap. I didn’t see those.” The queen waved a hand, and after a hiss of steam, the scorch marks vanished. “My bad.”
