Star Blessed

Mistaken Identities

RAFF

The embrace between the father and daughter dragged out for nearly a minute, but finally, they broke apart, both wiping tears from their cheeks.

"Why didn't you tell me you were coming in tonight? I would've let Viv run things for the evening."

"You know me, I wasn't really sure about my plans. Things kind of changed last minute, so here I am. Interesting company you're keeping these days."

Raff resisted the urge to loosen his collar as the duo turned to stare at him. Joe's face dimmed. "Yes, well it seems the pup has a few things he'd like to discuss. Go out there and get the bartender to make you a drink while I finish up in here."

Rolling her eyes, she gave her father another hug. "Always treating me like a little kid, but I'll let you slide this once."

"It was good to see you again Mariah," he called out before she could leave.

"You too Raff. We'll catch up?"

"Yeah, I'm sure we will."

Joe waited until Mariah was out of view before slamming the office door. Frames on the wall rattled with the force, and the swivel chair squeaked in protest as the burly giant sat down. He set his hairy arms on the table and threaded his thick fingers together and sized Raff up.

A vibration in his back pocket gave him an excuse to ignore the irritable man in front of him. Shrugging in false apology, he pulled out the phone and checked the message that came through.

 Calum: Hey man, I meant to send these through earlier. Most people will recognize Serafina. She used to draw a big crowd. Gavin sticks to the shadows. Show these around if anyone has a hard time "remembering."

Raff: Thanks. These will be helpful. I'll let you know what I find out.

"Sorry about that Joe. Here, take a look at these. Either one of these faces ring a bell?" He offered the device to the shifter and waited silently. Joe's face gave nothing away as he studied the pictures.

"The girl is--well was--a singer here. She stopped booking appearances about five months ago. Figured she'd gotten too big to sing in bars anymore. Great voice."

"And the man?"

"He might've come with her once or twice. She was usually with some other fellow. Funny sounding name. What've these two done that have gained the attention of those racist bastards?"

"Supposedly they're working with the Fae Queen, using pubs like this to cover up the transport of Children for LeFay's dirty experiments. Camden would make sense as a lot of supernaturals gather here. Just like Avalon."

The bear shifter snorted. "I thought the Children kept better tabs on their people than that. Bunch of idiots concerned with ancestry. Is it my fault if their losing their people?"

Shock radiated through Raff. He'd only asked Joe to cover his bases, but the man's responses were beginning to make him suspect he might actually be involved. "Joe, I know you've never cared for the Children or their Guardians, but this isn't like you. You don't follow LeFay."

"You're right. I just don't appreciate what you're implying."

"I'm not implying anything. You would've booked her gigs, maybe talked to them. The Starless pack has been making runs through my territory recently. They've even recruited Meribella to help them get rid of me. Something is brewing, and you know the Children are our best hope in this fight. If they ask for help, we give it to them."

Joe scrubbed a hand over his face. "Maybe I don't want to pick sides. Just because I'm Fae doesn't mean I follow that woman blindly, but the Children treat our kind like second class citizens. We're all the same to them."