by Isa Medina
A new idea surged forward, filling me with as much excitement as when I had stood outside the building on that first day.
“You know…” I gave him a sly look. “Perhaps the Institute is in need of an independent consultant? I’ve been known to have a knack
for finding artifacts.” My agreement with Lord Velei stopped me from
being a member of the Institute, not from having them as a client.
Aidan tapped his chin, as if mulling my question, but mirth danced in his eyes, and the hurt at his lack of disappointment at me not being part of the Institute faded away. Perhaps it was better this way. We could investigate things together that would otherwise fall into the oth-ers’ hands due to seniority. We could still be a team without the formal distance between director and recruit.
Oh. Ooooh. Was that what he meant when he’d said he “couldn’t?”
He pursed his lips, containing his smile, and resumed his stoic countenance. With a small shrug, he said, “I think we can draw up con-tracts for something like that.”
My grin nearly cracked my face.
Maddie Dover, still Artifact Hunter Extraordinaire.
Epilogue
The following evening, I found myself in Faerie, Aidan on one side, Greenie on the other. We stood on the open, grassy field I had seen from Lord Velei’s mansion, right by the forest’s end.
I’d gone to bed excited but uncertain of what my new position would bring, and had woken up knowing exactly what to do. Aidan had agreed to come with me after I’d signed my consultant papers, his tone curt as usual, his texted answer to where to meet for the trip a single “ok.” But that was part of the charm—breaking the shell and watching the internal chaos erupt.
His attitude through the phone might’ve been director-approved, but the man by my side was a lot more relaxed than usual. Wary and watchful for being in Faerie, but relaxed.
“Are you sure?” he asked.
I studied the ex-dagger Eye in my hand. It peered soulfully back at
mie. “I’m sure. It’s useful, but it deserves freedom.”
Kneeling on the grass, I placed the Eye on the ground and called forth the magic in my veins. It surged with its usual jubilation at being able to do something, and I poured it into the Eye. I thought back to what had gone through my mind when I had activated Greenie’s Eye. I hadn’t known what it would do, so there had been no purpose in my will other than to awaken it. I tried to recreate the feeling.
A thrumming enveloped us. Greenie gave a sharp bark.
The ground around the Eye darkened until it was the familiar inky goo that foretold the entrance of a Fae creature. It spread, then bumped upward, raising against my hand.
Fascinated, I watched the inky goo envelop my hand, press back. The Eye was torn from my grip, and the goo parted to reveal a feline head. Violet pupils stared at me, blinking slowly.
The creature’s skin was sleek, like Sullivan’s hound, but unlike that ball of darkness, this one was a matte white with lines of soft orange
running the edges of its muscles. Grass and dirt had accumulated
between its ears, so ] wiped those softly. Its skin was so different from Greenie’s moss…
Greenie barked again. The new creature turned its head his way and hissed. It was smaller than my hound but still a mass of compact mus-cle.
“Go do Fae things,” I told it, marveling again at the smooth texture of its skin and the strange combination of its coloring.
The creature took a step forward, nuzzled my neck, then leaped away. A blink of the eye, and it had disappeared into the forest.
Greenie gave another sharp bark in its direction, as if saying yeah, you better run. Grinning, I got up and wiped the dirt and grass off my jeans. The green stains were probably going to wash as well as the smi-ley flower that still adorned the fabric.
“It’s okay, Greenie.” I said, coming to scratch behind his ears. “You’re still my favorite hound.”
Greenie yipped and wagged his tail.
“You know…” I started thoughtfully, scanning our surroundings. Faerie, looking so calm and peaceful now, full of light and with a breeze caressing our skins.
“Yes?” Aidan asked, coming to stand by me.
“Maybe that’ll be my thing now,” I told him brightly. “Looking for Eyes and setting them free.” Starting with the one Proctor must’ve had in her possession, and following with those in the Fae’s tomb—if I ever found the way back.
“God help us.”
I laughed at the suffering in his voice. “Don’t worry, I’ll help finding Sullivan’s collection first I promised.” | wondered what Lord Velei would think of that.
As if reading my mind, Aidan said, “I’m surprised the deal with Lord Velei went so well, considering he had the upper hand.”
Greenie lowered at my command, and we settled on top of him. |
reveled in Aidan’s warmth, the way his front cradled my back—he had
learned from our previous rides and no longer attempted to put any space between us.
“T think he always wanted you back as director. If ] hadn’t come along with my deal, he’d have found some other way to do it. This way, he got what he wanted on top of the Keeper and the Heart.”
Aidan’s hands tightened on my waist. “And you.”
“And me, in a way,” I agreed. It wouldn’t be long before the Fae Lord came around asking me to do something for him, and I hoped that would never put me on a collision course with Aidan’s interests. Not yet, anyway. It was naive not to expect it to happen at some point. But that was a problem for future Maddie, and present Maddie had enough on her plate.
I patted Greenie affectionately. “Greenie makes me valuable. I’m sure Lord Velei knows what he can do.” I had already told Aidan my conjectures about Greenie’s power and how I believed his Eye was what
Proctor had wanted so badly at the start.
Greenie began trotting through the forest, bringing us back to the portal into the ley lines. He was taking his time today, his pace sedate. Whether that was because the pressure was gone or because he considered Aidan a more precious baggage than me, I wasn’t sure.
“I think I’m going to look at some of those apartments my mom keeps sending me.” I decided aloud.
“Good for you,” Aidan breathed into my ear.
Yes, we were definitely meant for teamwork.
It was the last thing we said until we were back to my office in the Hub. My litle corner of basement paradise. High on my to-do list was figuring out who owned it, and how to call dibs if nobody did. I figured Lord Velei could pay for that—an office at the Institute and another at the Hub sounded like the perfect balance.
Aidan had taken a potion to lessen the ley lines travel effect on his person, so he had no trouble hopping off and lending me a hand. I slid awkwardly to the floor before turning. Instead of stepping back, Aidan
remained where he was, fingers pressing into my hips, not a whisper separating our fronts.
“Do you think we should tell Lockhart he’s safe now?” I asked a little breathlessly. Aidan was so close, his eyes a rich brown again, like wells luring me into their depths.
“No. Let him panic for a bit longer. It’ll do him good. Maddie?”
“Yes?” I managed over the fluttering in my chest.
“T liked our kiss, but…”
“But…2”
“I’d like to make sure while I’m not under a potion’s effect.”
“Oh, yeah?” I croaked.
He leaned in, one eyebrow arched mischievously. “Is that a yes?”
A second croak was building in my throat when I decided to give up on words. Closing the distance between us, I pressed my lips to his.
He stilled for a second, and then his hands left my hips and ran
across my back, bringing me even closer. Mine ended on his shoulders,
warm and solid under my touch.
And his lips… Oh, his lips. They had the perfec
t texture—a little rough, perfect for the most sinful friction. We parted for a mingled breath, then he took the initiative, and we drank from each other as if we were two souls starved for each other’s nectar.
When we broke apart next, my breathing was heavy, my cheeks flushed. He looked adorably disheveled and slightly stunned, as if the experience had gone well beyond his expectations. Inner Maddie preened at that.
“Well?” I whispered.
He schooled his features. “Hmm.”
“Hmm?” I demanded. “Wow.”
He grinned then, a true smile that told me the fluttering in my chest wasn’t going to go away any time soon, if at all. “Wow, indeed. I think it bears investigating further.”
I humphed, mollified, and he took my hand.
“But for now, what about some dinner? You can tell me all about your plans, and I can try not despairing over the mess they’ll land us in.”
My gaze went a little dreamy as I thought of that. I did have to find that book for Dawn, on top of Sullivan’s collection and the Eyes. And since I was feeling magnanimous, might as well help out with the Skull.
“Oh, no,” he said with mock despair. “I’m doomed, am I not?”
“Don’t worry,” I told him with a wink. “Doom is the flip side of greatness. Hey, wanna go to the burger place upstairs?”
“The one where you stole Greenie’s Eye from me? Yep, that sounds about right.”
“Finders keepers,” I reminded him. “I found it first.”
He gave me another fleeting smile before tugging me toward the
door of the office. “Good I found you first, then.”
“Told ya, greatness!”
Thank you for reading! While this chapter of Maddie’s adventures is at an end, who knows what might happen in the future? Join my newsletter here
for news about my next release, exclusive Magical Artifacts content, and
more!
If you enjoyed the Magical Artifacts Institute series, please take a moment to leave a review or rating at your favorite store—it makes all the aifference to
authors.
Also By Isa Medina For a full list, please visit:
www.isa-medina.com
Magical Artifacts Institute: Finding Fae Artifacts
Playing Fae Games
Breaking Fae Spells
Fixing Fae Problems
Stand-alone Novelette:
Whispers of Ink
