A Human’s Guide to Surviving Magical Mishaps by Kit Bryan

It doesn't take long for it to be clear that I won't be sleeping for a while. I'm so tired, and somehow still completely wired. Giving up on the idea of getting any decent amount of sleep, I grab my laptop from the living room and bring it to Ashton's room. I spend a bit of time scrolling before deciding to take the chance to do an online grocery order. Originally I was going to take Ashton shopping, but I'm feeling a little petty now that I've discovered he's been keeping secrets. I'm not angry or anything, but I am kind of disappointed. I thought he trusted me more than he actually does. It's silly, and Ashton doesn't even know that he's missing out on experiencing a trip to the grocery store because I never mentione it to him. But the small childish revenge makes me feel better. He's not the only one who can just not mention things. Although admittedly his secret was a lot bigger than mine. I'm not totally petty though, I still order a variety of fun snacks to keep around for him when he gets hungry from holding his glamour. I make sure to order different types as well so that he can try all sorts of things. It's fun making him smile, and since I now know it was his father who was assassinated... Well, he probably needs reasons to smile. Well now I feel bad, I should have just taken him grocery shopping after all. He might have a good reason for keeping secrets, he hasn't exactly had a chance to explain himself yet.

The obnoxious ringing of my phone is enough to make me jolt so hard I nearly fall out of the chair. I'm not especially surprised to see the mayor is calling. He's probably just gotten an update from my dad and now he wants the full story. Not that I'm going to give it. I'll tell him the basics. But while I don't love that Ashton has been keeping secrets from me, I have no issue with him keeping stuff from the mayor. I learned his identity by accident, that doesn't mean I'm going to go around telling everyone. If he wanted the mayor to know, he would have told him already. Besides, I did promise Ashton that I wouldn't share anything personal with the mayor. I've not told him any of the information Ashton has shared about magic, glamours or the fae realm so far and I'm not starting now. I answer the call, almost excited. It'll be entertaining to know that I have information he wants. I don't particularly have anything against the mayor, I just don't love that he wanted me to spy on Ashton. If he has questions, he should just earn his trust and ask the fae himself rather than trying to be all sneaky about it.

"Hey, this is Kat." I answer with false cheer in what I would consider to be my 'customer service voice'.

“Good evening Miss Fall. I hear you've had an eventful evening.” Mayor Simmons doesn't waste any time in getting straight to the point.

"Yes, Ashton and I successfully located and captured one of the criminals that he's chasing. The police are going to hold him until Ashton is ready to transport him back to the fae realm.” I answer easily.

"That is what I heard. I also heard that the fae, Mr Rallowend, was rather badly injured. He had to be carried away. Should we be concerned? It would not be good for the fae to come barging in because we got their representative injured.” He says with concern that doesn't sound at all convincing. I have to suppress a laugh. If only he knew, Ashton isn't just a representative, he's royalty. Mayor Simmons' head would probably explode. At the very least I assume he would insist on assigning a few cops to follow us around. Actually, that might be part of why Ashton didn't mention it.

"Oh, no. Ashton is fine. A little banged up, but it's mostly just a few scratches. He's just sleeping off exhaustion from using a lot of magic I think. He did just single handedly fight a guy who was basically a walking, talking flamethrower. I think he's earned this nap.” I joke halfheartedly. Despite what Ashton told me, I am worried about him. But I don't think it would be useful for the mayor to be aware of just how vulnerable Ashton is. I'd rather he think Ashton is just a little worn out. I guess I am downplaying his injuries a bit though. I mean, the burns on his arms probably are not pleasant. They'll take quite a while to heal.

"Ah, very good then. I'll be expecting to read both of your official reports when you submit them tomorrow. They should be interesting to say the least. Is there anything else I should know, while I have you on the phone?" He questions. This is it, the part where I'm supposed to be a good little citizen and tell him all about Ashton and his secrets. For all I know, he already knows. I have no clue if the imp is still unconscious or if he's been talking to anyone. I did suggest to dad that he should be kept as isolated as possible, but that's mostly because I have no idea what he is capable of and because I don't want to risk anyone removing that necklace that stops him using magic. I'm going to need to ask Ashton more about that. I swear he was only wearing the one chain, but he's still wearing it so where did the second one come from?

"Miss Fall?" The mayor prompts me. Oops, I got a little sidetracked.

"No, I don't have anything particularly interesting to share. I didn't even see most of what happened. Ashton told me to go somewhere safe before any of the fighting started." I tell him. It's technically true, although the really interesting stuff happened after the fight, but whatever. I really hope the imp hasn't gone around telling everyone that Ashton is a prince. If only because then the mayor will KNOW I'm keeping things from him. I'm fairly sure he suspects it already, but it's not like he can prove anything. Mayor Simmons seems disappointed with my lack of interesting information to share. He politely asks if I'm managing okay and reminds me to call if I need anything, but now that he's realised I have nothing to share it feels like he's in a hurry to get me off the phone and I don't particularly want to keep him so I yawn, tell him I'm going to bed and hang up before he can think of any more questions for me.

I spend a bit of time scrolling through videos online, I was so sure I wouldn't sleep, but my eyes are dragging shut and I've jolted awake twice now. I'm right on the edge of actually being asleep. I don't know what time it is when my dad gets home, but I hear him knocking on my bedroom door. I should get up and go greet him but my drowsy, sleep-addled brain doesn't actually process the thought properly so I just stay lying in the chair. A minute later, the door to Ashton's room cracks open and my dad peeks in. He doesn't look thrilled to find me here, but I can see sympathy when he glances at Ashton so I know he's not really upset. He knows I'm just keeping an eye on him. He knows how panicked I was when I called him earlier. I give him a drowsy half smile. I expect him to start in on an interrogation, or maybe lecture me about how unsafe this whole job is and that I should never have agreed to it. But that's not what happens. Instead, he gives me a half hug and kisses me on the forehead.

"Get some rest. We can talk tomorrow when we both feel a little more human." With that he turns and leaves me be and after my stressful afternoon I just want to cry because my dad is sweet and loves me so much. Now I actually am crying because Ashton just lost his dad and I can't help but cry for him. I sob quietly until I fall asleep.