Guess that’s not a good memory.
“Call me Mingo.” The peri stuck out a hand at Jax, who shook it. “You’re friends with Hank Bishop?”
“He’s helping us,” Rome said as Mingo offered him his hand next. “His ward is on our team.”
When Mingo shook my hand, I saw his eyes were lilac, too. Not like Chance’s Liz Taylor violet, either. These looked like a pair of those fake contacts people wore as part of cosplay costumes, and I amused myself by imagining his glowing in the dark.
“Aw, man, Hank’s been worried sick about that kid.” He shook his head and his hair went in every direction. “WhereisHarker?”
“He’s standing outside. We were hoping to see someone who might be able to provide some insight on our mission.”
“I thought missions were on hold because a bunch of humans got in the neph-hunting business.” Mingo had finished shaking all our hands and now stood arms akimbo. “Last I heard, your Council’s going to vote on whether or not to issue a lockdown.”
Wow. Mingo’s pretty informed about nephilim matters for a peri who works in a flower shop.
“We need to rescue one of our team members before they do.” Rome was very good at answering questions without giving away a drop of extra information. “Do you know if anyone here would be willing and able to answer a few questions?”
“We’re in a bit of a disarray right now. Our queen—”
“We know,” Rome told him. “Our condolences and our apologies for intruding during this stressful time.”
“Thanks. That’s why they’re all so … chaotic.” Mingo gestured to the peris buzzing around us like frantic bees. “But none of them would have anything to do with Harker, anyway.”
“Excuse me?” I broke my silence.
“Just as nephilim are prejudiced against the formerly possessed, so too are the peris.”
“You hold it against him?” Anger firing me up, I stopped caring if I knocked over any of these sanctimonious nitwits or their precious arrangements. “Samuel Castle tortured hismother in front of him when he was nine years old, and you blamehimfor that?”
I didn’t realize I was leaning forward with my fists clenched until Rome wrapped one arm around my waist and pulled me back against his chest. I wasn’t done, though.
“If that’s how you feel, then we don’t need your help. You and your people can go f—”
Rome put his hand over my mouth, and for half a second, I debated whether or not to bite him before deciding no more drama was needed right now and let him get away with it.
“Hey, I didn’t sayIwas prejudiced!” Mingo threw his hands up. “I’m happy to talk with you!”
“All right.” Rome’s voice vibrated against my spine as he removed his palm from my mouth, and I was suddenly struggling for control for a whole different reason. “Thank you. Give us a minute, please.”
“Of course. Take your time. I’m not going anywhere.”
#
“Can we trust this guy?” I muttered. “He didn’t hesitate to tell us that his people are prejudiced against the formerly possessed.”
We were huddled around Kerry, who kept a good five feet between him and Mingo. I wondered about that at first, then realized the half peri’s very presence would hurt him if he got too close.
“I don’t know.” Jax blew a giant pink bubble. “We need information, though. We’ll have to be careful how we ask, that’s all.”
“I’ll call Hank.” Kerry pulled out his phone.
I looked over at Mingo, who stared back at our group.
When Hank answered, Kerry put him on speaker and told him what was going on.
“Let me see him,” Hank demanded.
Kerry gave his phone a hateful look, then held it out to Jax.
