A lot can change in a week.
Seven days ago, I was just Talia - an art school drop-out with an affinity for tattoos, a hopeless crush on my boss, and a knack for finding trouble.
Now, I'm a gold-blooded, magic-harnessing, Runemaster-in-training.
The good news is, all of that has resulted in one hell of a promotion. Instead of sweeping floors, I'm sweeping swarms of venomous squatters out of castles. I've been enrolled in accelerated, hands-on rune lessons - super handy for those, like me, who are death-adverse. Oh, and I'd be remiss if I didn't mention my incu-boss's upgraded benefits "package," which has been particularly generous.
Sadly, promotions aren't just about the perks. There are increased responsibilities as well: amassing a magical army alongside the newfound fae king, repairing centuries-old divisions among the Seelies and Unseelies, and vanquishing a completely unhinged demon lord whose ego may have gotten the teensiest bit damaged when I became the first woman with a pulse to ever spurn his advances (oh, and nearly kill him too).
But hey, when you're the most coveted tattoo artist in two realms, it's all in a day's work.