Bonus scene time! I'll probably move this to the back of DLF soon, but for now, here it is! This is the scene from Dirty Lying Faeries when Thea meets Devin in chapter one, only we're about to see it from Devin's perspective. Enjoy <3

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The clock on the wall ticked away.

Obnoxious. What an obnoxious contraption.

My office was supposed to be my oasis from the party, but every little thing was reminding me of my least favorite day of the year. The red star on my calendar for today. The ticking clock, counting down the minutes until I really had to go fulfill my obligations. Even the silver tie I had tossed over the back of a chair by the door was reminding me that there was yet another gala being held downstairs.

I sighed through my nose and yanked open my bottom drawer. If my work couldn't distract me, maybe a little brandy would help.

I eyed my coffee mug, pondering whether I would rather drink from the bottle or from the ceramic L'Atelier Rouge mug I had gotten from the souvenir stand by the front desk. I decided on the mug and tipped a hefty portion in it before stowing the bottle in my desk once more.

I took the mug with me to the window where I could drink and watch the guests in my last minutes of peace. I recognized many faces. Some fae. Several humans who regularly donated to the gallery. The gala may be a guise for the business of marking the changeling, but there was no reason not to profit off of it as well. We're already taking a human from humanity tonight, why not a little of their wealth too?

I took a slow drink of the brandy, letting it roll over my tongue and warm my throat, when a peculiar sensation tickled my nose. A soothing scent. Something that I didn't sense often. A human, ripe for the picking and fully ready to be tumbled off the edge and into the world of the fae. She had been prepared well, this one. Our changeling was here, and she smelled delightful.

I set my half-finished mug on the desk and took my tie from it's resting place on the chair. It was time I made my appearance.

I had the knot tied around my neck and my clothes straightened to perfection before I walked into the main gallery room. The decorations were very well done this year, and it looked like all the guests were enjoying themselves. But the scent of the changeling wasn't coming from here, she had already moved on. My mouth twitched, nearly smiling. She must be in another room.

As I wandered I received the odd greeting from the more sober of the attendees. I did my due diligence as host and greeted them back, all the while making my way through the room and to the hall that would carry me to the smaller exhibit rooms. Where was the changeling? She had definitely walked this way.

I was nearing the last of the rooms when I finally caught my glimpse of her. Then my face really did crack into a grin. She was in a dark corner of Marcel's room, eating appetizers from one of the little buffet plates and rubbing her foot under one of the straps of her uncomfortable looking shoes. But she was dressed impeccably, and they really did go with that most flattering dress to a lovely figure.

And she was alone.

A loaner, probably. Many of them were, or at least they didn't have anyone to bring with them tonight. All the better, we would pluck this gem from her lonely human life and give her a fresh start among our kind.

I walked softly toward her, my nose twitching as I got a deeper grasp of her scent. She looked up, done with her shoe situation and I got a better look at her face.

"Beautiful," I said.

Her big doe eyes widened as she caught sight of me. She had just taken a bite of food and it was cute to see her caught in the moment like a deer in the headlights.

She swallowed whatever treat she had just tasted. "What?"

What?

Oh, I had said that out loud.

"The paintings, they're beautiful. Don't you think?" I asked, shifting attention to the artwork around us with a grin.

"Yes," she answered shortly, setting her plate on a nearby table.

I laughed, I couldn't help myself. This one was a bit timid, I wonder what Georgina saw in her. But maybe I could find my opening if we just talked a bit. Yes, that sounded nice. I don't always get to meet them for long before the change, and we were perfectly alone here.

"Much better than the gray eyesores out front, but I suppose that's what's 'in' now." I know the artist came highly recommended by a friend at the university, but I really couldn't see it's appeal.

Her cheeks turned a light shade of pink as she watched me talk. I smiled as she shifted her full attention to the nearest wall of paintings, but I could hear her heart racing. She was nervous, and I had to hold back a chuckle.

"Is this your first time to L'Atelier Rouge?" I almost went too deep into my French accent, rolling the 'r's and giving her goose bumps. Noted, this one enjoyed that sound.

"Yes, it is." She spoke softly and quickly. Still nervous. But perhaps I could help with that.

"Marvelous," I grinned, my eyes smiling at the human so deep in my clutches. "Would you enjoy a private tour?"

"Do you know much about the art, then?" She asked, nudging herself toward the nearest painting.

Now, now. Can't have that.

"I should hope so," I said as I closed the distance again with one long step. "I own the gallery."

"Oh," she breathed.

"This series here are some of his earliest landscapes." I glanced at the familiar paintings. I remember seeing Marcel painting this one on a sunny day. Engrossed in his work, not noticing me at all.

We walked through the exhibit, taking in the paintings slowly. I enjoyed the walk, and as far as I could tell, so did the changeling. She was nice to talk to, though I knew I'd be distressing her in a moment. Her distressed face was pretty cute. 

"Here, you can see the difference in his later years of work. For instance..." I smiled, waving a hand at Marcel's madder years as a painter. He was clearly beginning to see us for what we were by then.

"This was one of Marcel's last pieces before he passed. Near the end of his life he would claim to see things in the forest. Fairytales come to life."

She went from watching my lips spill out the secrets of Marcel's work, to taking in the painting before us. An image from Marcel's own garden view. He sat in front of his prized pink lilies, and far behind them is a line of trees with eyes peeking out of the forest. 

I moved us along to another masterpiece. 

"This one is a personal favorite." I smiled as she took a step toward me, breaking eye contact at the last minute to look at the art. A little fae girl holding a bunch of wild flowers. The daughter of a friend of mine, from the Spring court.

"What do you think of Marcel's work?" I leaned in, asking her softly.

She took a step back, licking her lips. "He was a very skilled painter, if not a bit eccentric in the end."

I couldn't help but to throw my head back and laugh. "Yes, I suppose eccentric is an excellent word for Marcel." 

I straightened my tie and offered her a hand. We were at the end of the tour, and it was time. "I'm afraid I've babbled on about Marcel and haven't even introduced myself yet. My name is Devin."

"I'm..." She offered her hand in the modern handshake pose, but I swept her fingers into mine and brought her fingers to my lips, kissing them gently. With a gentle push, I gave her enough of my magic to begin her transition. I looked into her eyes with a smile. 

"Yes?" I asked.

"Thea!" I flinched as a human had snuck up on us. I was enjoying myself and had let my guard down. The little blonde thing that had called after the changeling was drunk. Very drunk. But she had given me a gift, the name of our newest fae.

"Thea." I smiled, tasting her name on my lips. A delicious sound it made. "Thea. It was nice to meet you, Thea. If you ever want to know more about Marcel Dubois, you know where to find me."

"Uh, right." She swallowed, watching me as I turned away. I headed for a narrow back hall that would allow me to retreat to my office once again. 

Thea, we would meet again soon enough. I hope you embrace your new life well.

Our newest changeling. 

Thea.