Betrayal

by Jennifer Blackstream

  “Simon, if you ever need help, please call me,” I said quietly, handing him one of my cards. “No matter what.”

  Simon ripped the card in half and shoved it in his pocket. “Anything else?”

  “No.”

  “Good.” He leaned in, so fast and so close that I jerked back. “Now maybe you can do something for me. Leave me alone. Don’t look at me, don’t talk to me, don’t try to contact me again. I finally have the life I want—the life I deserve. And I’m not going to let some jealous witch take it away from me. Not again.”

  “Simon, I—”

  “You tried to keep this world from me. I don’t know what I ever did to you to deserve that, but I won’t let you sabotage my life again.”

  For an instant his anger fell away, and I saw the pain underneath it. The fear of a small boy who was terrified of being left behind again. A boy who’d convinced himself monsters like Marilyn were his family. That they’d never hurt him.

  “How did you find the fey?” Andy asked. “Who brought you back to Marilyn?”

  “So you can scare him away, like you did with Oisean?” Simon seethed. “No. I’m not telling you anything.” He looked at me again. “If you try to come between me and the Otherworld again, the next canvas I paint will be with your blood.” He stepped back. “Stop by anytime if you feel like donating.”

  He stormed away, and this time, Andy and I let him go.

  “It was him. He took the chalice. He took the bowl.”

  “You don’t believe he handled the chalice during his studies like he claims?” Andy asked.

  I stared after Simon. “Maybe. But I think he’s the thief. You heard him, Andy. He’s so desperate to be part of the Otherworld, and so terrified of losing it. He might act like he has complete faith in Marilyn, but I don’t think he’s capable of real trust. Not this quickly. He’ll be looking for a way to be part of the Otherworld independently and permanently. I can’t think of anyone who’d be more willing to risk a curse for power.”

  Andy shook his head. “No. We can’t let that happen. We—”

  His mouth snapped shut as he caught sight of something behind me. I froze. “What is it?” I winced. “I don’t think I can take any more surprises.”

  Peasblossom stilled. “Um, then don’t turn around.”

  Too late. I turned.

  Alicia, Catherine, and Devanos had just entered the opera house. Beside Catherine, I saw the “extra security” Anton had mentioned.

  Vazkasi.

  Chapter 16

  “Still think it was Simon?” Andy muttered under his breath.

  I stared at the dragonkin looming over Catherine. Once he entered the doors of the opera house, he touched the hex bag at his waist, deactivating the glamour. The lights overhead fell over his golden scales, and his pupils elongated to reptilian slits. He yawned, giving everyone in the room a good look at sharp teeth. Unlike everyone else, he wasn’t wearing a suit. Or even a shirt. Instead, the bare-chested lizard strode in behind the half-sidhe and her father wearing nothing but a low-slung pair of leather breeches and heavy boots. His style choice gave me a good look at the larger patches of scales that covered his chest, and I renewed my vow not to make the dragonkin angry.

  “He looks like a pirate,” Peasblossom said, perking up.

  “This doesn’t mean it wasn’t Simon,” I insisted, keeping my voice as low as I could manage. “Vazkasi could be innocent. Maybe he volunteered to guard Catherine because he hopes he’ll get a chance to catch the thief that stole from him.”

  “I’m going to warn Devanos,” Andy said, taking a step forward.

  His movement caught Devanos’ eye, and the sidhe turned to face us. His clothing was more modern than it had been earlier, a dark suit that, while similar to Andy’s, probably cost five times more at least. He’d entered the building wearing his “human dad” glamour, so he’d obviously been expecting Andy to be present.

  When he saw me, his face darkened, and he put his arm around Catherine as if he’d steer her away. Vazkasi quickly angled his body so he was in front of Catherine, his gold eyes sweeping back and forth over their surroundings. He spotted me, and his eyes narrowed.

  “Something isn’t right,” Peasblossom muttered against my neck. “They like you a lot less now.”

  Majesty chose that moment to wriggle out of my arms. I swore as he twisted in mid-air, landed silently on soft paws and took off across the opera house. I took a step to go after him, but Andy cut me off when he strode forward, extending his hand to Devanos.

  Devanos and Vazkasi moved in front of the women. Alicia, wearing a gown that looked like it’d walked off a medieval movie set, took Catherine’s arm and pulled her closer, whispering something in her ear.

  The Unseelie didn’t hesitate to accept Andy’s offered handshake, obviously unwilling to make his relationship with the FBI agent adversarial if he could avoid it. But his expression remained cold and distant when I approached, and he didn’t offer to take my hand the way he had before.

  “Mr. Emlyn, it’s good to see you again. I hope no news is good news?” Andy said.

  Devanos tore his gaze from me long enough to look Andy in the eyes. “Yes, we’ve had no trouble at all.” He glanced at me again before gesturing toward Vazkasi. “Vazkasi told us about the theft at the museum. He kindly offered to act as our escort tonight to make sure this bold thief doesn’t make an attempt on my daughter.”

  He looked right at me when he said ‘thief.’

  I bristled. Devanos hadn’t been suspicious of me when I’d talked to him earlier. What had changed? I looked at Vazkasi.

  The dragon stared back at me, gold eyes unwavering. “Yes, it is very difficult to know who to trust during such times. When it comes to gold, sadly, there are many who are willing to sacrifice their principles for the promise of riches.”

  All right, so both of them had lost faith in me. Fine.

  “He’s not wrong,” I said to Catherine, deliberately turning away from the dragon. “You need to be careful. Is the knife in a safe place?”

  Catherine didn’t respond right away, but her hand fell to brush her skirt, and I noticed she tilted her body to put her right side closer to her aunt.

  Blood and bone, she’s still wearing it in her thigh sheath.

  “It’s safe,” Devanos said flatly.

  “And if the thief makes an attempt, then I will have him,” Vazkasi said, a low satisfied growl in his voice. “I will get back everything that was stolen, and they will be made to pay.”

  Devanos shot Vazkasi a withering look as the dragon basically confirmed that the knife was on Catherine’s person. The dragon didn’t notice.

  “You’re using her as bait?” I asked, horrified.

  Vazkasi frowned. “No. I am merely giving her the security she needs to do as she wishes without worry for what some petty thief will do.”

  Catherine wouldn’t look me in the eye, a sharp contrast to the way her father seemed to think if he stared at me hard enough, all my secrets would come spilling out. I looked at Alicia and found the vulcanus studying me as if she were considering taking me on as a scullery maid and was worried I’d be too lazy for the job.

  I tried to get the half-sidhe to look at me. “Catherine, I—”

  “We should go inside,” Catherine said, looking at her father. “We don’t want to miss the curtain.”

  “Quite right.” Devanos put his arm around Catherine, settling his arm on her waist to guide her out of the room and up the stairs to their seats. Vazkasi and Alicia trailed after them.

  I watched them go, my hands curled into fists.

  “Someone talked to him since the last time we spoke,” I told Andy. “He trusted me before.”

  “Then it’s a good thing I’m here,” Andy said. “He still seems to trust me.”

  “I doubt it. You’re my partner. If he thinks I’m untrustworthy, then why would he trust anyone with me?” I shook my head. “It’s more likely he’s keeping up a front for the
human law enforcement officer.”

  Andy rolled his eyes, but I let that go. It was almost time for the show to start, so we made our way to the Winters’ booth. My heart pounded as we stepped inside, my attention focused on Andy and the vampire.

  As soon as Anton spotted Andy, his eyes flared red. Andy took his seat as if he hadn’t seen the vampire at all, and I sat next to him, putting myself in the middle between Andy and the Winters. Vera smiled at me, but then turned her attention back to the stage. Moments later, the curtain rose.

  I was a fan of opera, and The Magic Flute was one of my favorites. But it was impossible to concentrate on what was going on when I could see Vazkasi standing against the wall at the end of the row of seats near Catherine, his gold eyes glowing softly in the darkness. Was he really watching over Catherine, making sure no one tried to steal the knife right from under her dress? Goddess only knew there were plenty of creatures capable of such a feat. Even those without magic.

  A few rows away from the Emlyns, far too close for my own comfort, Simon sat next to Marilyn. Maybe the dragon was helping Simon. Vazkasi clearly had a fondness for the boy. Perhaps he worried about him too. Stealing the artifacts could be a win for both of them. Vazkasi gets the gold, and Simon gets the power. It certainly seemed as if Vazkasi hadn’t known the artifacts were cursed. He knew now, but would that stop him? Or was it in for a penny, in for a pound?

  I leaned down to whisper in Scath’s ear. “Have a look around. See if the wizard or his friend are here.”

  Scath didn’t respond. I frowned and leaned back to find her staring at the stage. The dark queen was singing, and Scath’s eyes were locked on the soprano as if the woman playing the evil Queen of the Night was singing for her alone. Her green eyes glowed softly, but there was a muted quality to the light. As if a fog sat in front of them.

  “What wizard?” Anton murmured.

  I ignored the question, only brave enough to do so because Andy hadn’t reacted to the vampire’s voice. Or to my failed order to Scath. I looked from my partner to my sidhe bodyguard and panic hummed inside me. I called my magic, sent it out in a soft silver wave through the box.

  The air was filled with purple notes. I could see the soprano’s song. It filled the air like fine dust, but here and there, the trail thickened, looped around one of the listeners and caressed their face, their shoulders.

  A thick tendril caressed Scath, and my heart nearly stopped.

  “What is she doing to them?” I demanded, my voice tight. I looked at the vampire, and even the hint of red shine in his eyes wasn’t enough to deter me. “You invited us here. We’re your guests.”

  “You worry too much,” Vera murmured, not taking her eyes off the singer. “What you’re seeing is Borgia’s gift. It is the reason the waiting list is so long, why tickets sold out so quickly.”

  “Borgia’s mother was a siren, and her father a leannan sidhe,” Anton explained calmly. “Borgia has the gift of song, but also the sensitivity to emotion from her father.”

  “What is she doing to them?” I asked again.

  Vera put a hand over Anton’s and turned to me. “When Borgia sings, she can sense the emotions of others. She can see it, the way an oracle can see glimpses of the future, or some psychics can see auras. Borgia reaches out to those who are struggling to find balance, those who fight within themselves. She uses her voice, her magic, to calm them, help them find peace.”

  “Music soothes the savage beast.” I stared around at the audience, and my thoughts finally clicked.

  That’s why so many of the attendees were from the wilder edge of the Otherworld spectrum. The centaurs, the shifters.

  I looked at Andy, noticed how his face had relaxed, the lines around his eyes and mouth smoothed out. It wasn’t until I really studied him that I realized how long it had been since he’d looked that relaxed. Whatever was going on with him, he didn’t feel it now.

  Vera tapped Scath on the head, then smoothed her hand down her neck. Scath blinked, then looked at her.

  “See?” Vera said. “No harm done.”

  I wasn’t sure I believed her, but there was no sense arguing now. “Scath, go see if that grey guy is here,” I told her.

  The sidhe shook herself, as if trying to wake up after too long a nap. She snorted and her coat shivered. She looked at the stage, and this time it was a considering look. A look that said she would remember Borgia. Then she wove her way past our seats and out of the booth.

  I paused, then glanced at Vera. “Borgia. As in…the Borgias?”

  Vera smiled, but shook her head. “Her history is not mine to share.”

  “You asked your companion to look for the wizard,” Anton spoke up, drawing the conversation away from the singer. “What wizard?”

  “It’s part of the case I’m working,” I said carefully. “I don’t—”

  “Mother Renard, shall I ask again?”

  I didn’t look at him. I didn’t have to, I knew what I’d see. Glowing red eyes and a bottomless pit. He wasn’t really asking.

  “Jim Givens,” I said finally. “He and I had a…disagreement earlier.”

  “He knows about the artifacts you’re attempting to find?” Anton asked.

  “He does. And it’s possible he’s involved with the theft of at least one of the items. Andy found a connection between him and the art museum’s dragonkin guard, Vazkasi.”

  “I’m familiar with their connection.” Anton tilted his head. “But you won’t find the wizard here.”

  I hesitated. “Yes, I’d imagine he’d be hesitant to enter a building you own.”

  Vera chuckled. “Certainly he would. But more than that, you won’t find him here because Mr. Givens never leaves his house.”

  I twisted in my seat. “What do you mean?”

  “Jim Givens is acutely agoraphobic,” Anton said. “He does not leave his house. Ever.”

  I stared from one to the other, trying to process that new information. If they were telling the truth—and Vera was fey, so she had to be telling the truth—that meant Jim had teleported me to a room in his own house.

  And it meant he was home now.

  And if the dragonkin had known he was agoraphobic, then he wouldn’t have been “searching” for him as Givens had claimed, he’d have known where he was.

  “He could have hired the dragon to gather the pieces for him,” I said out loud.

  “Indeed. He and the dragonkin often work together.” Anton leaned back in his seat. “But you’ll find that this particular wizard has a rather unfortunate habit of collecting powerful items to lock them away. He doesn’t always…appreciate their potential.”

  The audience erupted in applause. I looked up to find the curtain had closed, signaling intermission. Andy blinked and stretched as if waking up, and when he turned to me, he looked almost…happy.

  “I’m going down to talk to Simon,” he said as he stood.

  I frowned. “He doesn’t want to talk to us. There’s nothing we can say to convince him that Marilyn is bad for him.”

  “I just want to make sure he’s safe. Physically safe.” Andy sighed. “I know it’s pointless. But I’ll sleep better if I try one more time. I just want him to know he has a friend if he needs one. A human friend.”

  “I’m going to try and talk to Catherine,” I said. “Someone tried to poison her against me, and I need to know who it was.”

  Anton and Vera remained silent as Andy and I left the booth. I noticed with unease that Andy never even glanced at Anton. The vampire smiled at me. No fang.

  It wasn’t until I was stepping out of the main stage auditorium that I remembered Majesty had taken off. Every nerve in my body spasmed at imagining the next animal-summoning, lightning calling catastrophe. I searched the lobby, but it was useless. There were too many people off in search of refreshment and the building’s facilities. I thought I caught a hint of grey fur darting between the hooves of a passing centaur, but by the time the very large creature trotted past me, h
e was gone.

  “I should have sent Scath after him,” I groaned.

  “Never mind him,” Peasblossom said. “He’ll be fine.” She pointed ahead. “There’s Catherine.”

  I followed where she was pointing and saw the half-sidhe standing with her father waiting to get a cup of tea. She saw me approach and stepped closer to her father. Devanos noticed the movement and tensed, searching the room until his gaze fell on me.

  “Peasblossom, I need you to create an opening for me,” I murmured.

  Peasblossom lifted her grappling gun. “Just get me close enough.”

  I approached Catherine with the most sincere smile I could. Alicia was still watching me with that strange contemplative look on her face, but I ignored her.

  “Catherine, could I talk to you for a moment?” I asked.

  Catherine looked up at Devanos. He pulled at her arm, tugging her so she was behind him, but still visible.

  Vazkasi stepped forward as if ready to physically block my approach. “Mother Renard,” he started.

  “It’s not about the case,” I interrupted. I smiled at Catherine. “It’s about your talent. I was wondering…” I trailed off, then looked down at Peasblossom. “Cover your ears.”

  Peasblossom made a show of sulking, but covered her ears.

  Catherine’s suspicion faded under curiosity. “What is it?”

  I leaned closer, lowered my voice to a whisper. “Can you work with very tiny amounts of gold?” I asked, using a twitch of my eyes to indicate Peasblossom.

  Catherine looked from me to the pixie, and a small smile spread over her lips. “I see. I think I can—”

  I jerked back as Peasblossom fired her grappling gun. Her aim was true and she snagged the lace trim of Catherine’s dress. The fabric tore as she rappelled up the sidhe’s arm, and I gasped.

  “Peasblossom! Look what you’ve done!” I chastised her.

  Catherine and Alicia looked stunned, and Devanos just gaped at the pixie armed with a grappling gun. Vazkasi looked like he was trying not to laugh.