“I don’t like the idea of you going out to Lefere’s alone.”
Jerrick leaned against the hood of his vehicle, the casual pose in direct opposition to the rigid plane of his jaw. “I’m not an eighteen-year-old punk anymore. I can handle Magnus on my own.”
Damn stubborn kid. “I know. Could you humor me anyway?”
For several tense seconds, it seemed Jerrick might balk. Finally, he nodded. “But we’re taking the Air Racer. No way I’m sitting in that ride of yours.”
“Deal.” Dash ambled to the passenger door of his brother’s vehicle and climbed inside.
Jerrick slid behind the wheel and turned on the engine. Grungy metal music pounded through the speakers. Approximately a minute and a half passed before he reached for the volume control and lowered it several decibels. He stared at Dash in stunned disbelief. “Holy shit, you got laid, didn’t you?”
“What? No.”
Jerrick glared at him. “You’re a piece of work, you know that? Giving me shit about Avily, which I wasn’t guilty of, and here you won’t even come clean about Mara.”
“I didn’t get laid…exactly. But let’s just say she had me in the palm of her hand.” A flush of heat raced over him at the memory. “How the devil did you know anything happened?”
“Are you kidding?” Jerrick grunted. “You hate my taste in music and not one single complaint popped out of your mouth. Which means you’re still basking in post-coital joy.”
“Shut up and pull out of the damn driveway.”
“That lasted long.” Growling, Jerrick sped into the street.
The drive to Magnus Lefere’s countryside shack took roughly forty minutes. Dash surveyed the overgrown pine bushes obscuring most of the house’s exterior. Amazing the level of squalor some people insisted on living in. And in Lefere’s case, it was definitely by choice. The man made plenty of merca—enough to buy a palace if he wanted. “I take it Lefere’s still hoarding his merca under his mattress.”
“Yep.”
Dash made a wry face. “Some things never change.”
Jerrick reached for his door handle. Stopping, he eyed Dash, his mouth tightening. “Look, I let you tag along, but don’t get any bonehead ideas about following me inside. You’ve a price over your head, and as you pointed out last night, Magnus is one greedy, backstabbing sonofabitch. Besides…” Jerrick pressed a button on the center console and the hidden compartment beneath the steering wheel popped open. Reaching in, he pulled out a wicked-looking laser gun and tucked it inside his shoulder holster. He flipped his leather jacket back in place with a grim smile. “I’ve got my own brand of protection.”
“Good gods, don’t shoot your nipple off with that thing.”
Jerrick grimaced. “Your confidence in me is humbling.” He shoved his door open and climbed out, giving the area a quick scan.
Other than the mongrel hound gnawing on an enormous stick in the front walkway, there didn’t seem to be any living creatures stirring about. Jerrick remained on high alert when he approached the hound. The beast’s scraggly brown tail thumped, barely disturbing the weeds poking up through the crumbling bricks marking the path to the house. Apparently satisfied his leg wasn’t going to replace the stick tottering between the hound’s massive paws, Jerrick proceeded up the rickety-looking stairway and disappeared behind the screen of pines.
Dash pressed the station surfer, banishing the gods-awful grunge metal. The rich, smoky strains of a female singer floated through the speakers. “This is more like it.” The sensual music swelled, filling the vehicle. He imagined Mara beneath him, moaning as his thrusts kept tempo with the music. Slow and rhythmic—that’s how he’d give it to her. By the time her tenth orgasm left her more wrung out than a rag, she’d know the true meaning of payback.
The crunch of footsteps drew his attention back to the driver’s side window. He frowned when he spied Jerrick hurrying towards the Air Racer. “That was quick.”
Jerrick leaned his head inside the window and Dash realized his brother’s normally tan face wore a tinge of green. “We’ve got a problem.”
Dash reached for his harness release. “What’s wrong?”
“Lefere’s dead.” Jerrick shot a glance over his shoulder. “And that stick the mutt’s chewing on? Pretty damn sure it’s Magnus’s leg.”
The stench permeating Magnus Lefere’s humble shack nearly knocked Dash on his ass. Breathing shallowly through his nose, he leaned over the enormous man laying facedown in the middle of the filthy, garbage-strewn floor.
“Yep, he’s minus his wooden leg.” Dash visually tracked the muddy paw prints leading to and from the knee-high flap door cut in the nearby side of the shack. “Wonder if the hound absconded with it before or after Lefere met his maker.” He shook his head, figuring that’d be one mystery forever unsolved. “Want to give me a hand turning him over?”
Jerrick looked none too excited about the prospect of touching Lefere. That made two of them.
Growling, Jerrick hunkered next to Magnus’s good leg. “You owe me big time for this.”
Side by side, they rolled the dead man over until he landed on his back with a thud. Dash lifted his gaze north of Lefere’s impressive potbelly, giving a low whistle when he took in the pebble-sized laser hole cauterized in the man’s chest. His whistle petered off when he noticed the edge of a photograph jutting from Magnus’s shirt pocket.
“What the hell is that?” Jerrick demanded, apparently noticing it too.
Dash reached for the corner of the glossy photo, easing it out. The object in the picture made his heart race.
The rune.
But it was the words scrawled in ominous red ink at the bottom of the photograph that turned his blood to ice.
Come get it.
Chapter Nineteen
Mara waited until she heard Piper’s off-key buzzing in the bathroom before she tiptoed across the room. Her hand snuck towards the door’s keypad, fingers inches from the green button.
“Where are you going?”
Damn, so close. Mara gave the exit a wistful glance and turned. Piper fluttered in the bathroom entry, her amethyst eyes glittering with bright accusation.
“Uh…downstairs,” Mara said, thinking fast. “I left my coin purse in the networking terminal.”
“Hah!” Piper’s arm shot out, one finger pointing towards the dresser. “Then what’s that?”
Her coin purse. Crap.
Piper plopped her hands on her hips. “You’re sneaking out to meet her, aren’t you?”
“Maybe. Okay, yes,” Mara admitted with a reluctant sigh. “Why don’t you come with me?” It was better than the alternative—listening to Piper’s complaints all morning.
“Really?” Piper instantly perked up. “I can come with you?”
“Sure. But do me a favor and don’t bring up the poaching stuff again.” Mara wrinkled her nose. “I’m pretty sure you freaked poor Avily out.”
“You got it.” With an excited buzz, Piper flew to the keypad and kicked the green button. Once out in the hall, she slid Mara a sly look. “You’re being pretty nice this morning. Does that mean you and Rhyder did it last night?”
“Jeez, you’re poetic with your words.”
“Well did you?”
“That’s none of your damn business.”
Piper shoved her arms over her miniscule chest. “You’re no fun.”
Snorting, Mara led the way to the lift. Despite her refusal to appease Piper’s naughty curiosity, she couldn’t stop thinking about last night. Or forget the silky-steel texture of Dash’s…
Liquid heat rushed through Mara and she shivered. A part of her still couldn’t believe she’d had the nerve to do that to him. An even bigger part couldn’t wait to do it to him again.
“Cold?” Piper wagged a finger. “You should have worn a sweater.”
Yeah, that’ll really take care of my problem. Blocking further mental images of Dash’s scrumptious body parts, Mara trudged the final block to Avi
ly’s shop, The Fairest Rose. She stepped inside and breathed in the heady fragrance of the shop’s namesake.
“Mara,” Avily blurted in delighted surprise. She rushed forward, her wide grin slipping a little when she spied Piper.
The milling customers drew Mara’s eye. “Did we come at a bad time?”
“Nah, the big crush of customers isn’t due for another half an hour—when everyone lets out for lunch. Besides, I could use some honest opinions on this new honey tea I’m promoting.”
Happy to oblige, Mara followed Avily to the far corner of the shop, where a rose-colored hutch held a white pottery tea set. The set certainly didn’t compare in elegance to any of the dozens gracing Rulach Palace, but she found its simplicity charming.
Avily poured a cup of tea for Mara and glanced at Piper. She bit her lips in contemplation. “I don’t get a lot of sprite customers. Oh wait, I’ve an idea.” Grinning, she rushed over to a wicker basket holding silver thimbles. “These are left over from the woman who owned this place before I took over, back when it used to be a seamstress shop. Don’t they make cute little cups?”
Piper scrunched her button nose while Avily filled one of the thimbles. “Eewwe, that better be clean.”
Glaring, Mara lifted her hand, but Piper wisely sensed where it was heading and flew to the other side of Avily.
Mara sent Piper a final warning stare before sipping from her cup. The essence of honey and lavender mingled on her tongue. She hummed in appreciation, her irritation at the pain-in-the-ass sprite instantly dissipating.
“What do you think? Remotely palatable?”
“It’s delicious.” Licking her lips, Mara glanced around the shop, taking in the nearby shelf of lotions and creams packaged in beautifully etched decanters. “Your shop is so pretty and frilly. And it smells divine.” She inhaled the sweet fragrance lacing the air. “I keep expecting to walk around a corner and stumble across an actual rose garden.”
“Hmm, now you’ve got me thinking.” Avily settled the teapot down and tapped a finger against her chin. “A few live rose plants tucked inside some urns would add a nice touch.”
Mara smiled at Avily’s intent expression. “You really know your stuff.”
“In this biz, you’ve got to stay competitive. Particularly when half the fae population stick their noses up at the idea of frequenting a business run by a human. Still, I’ll take it over my old way of life—far less chance of getting thrown in the fairy prison.”
Avily’s pronouncement slowly registered with Mara. Lowering the cup, she stared at her over the rim. “Were you a…” Mara lowered her voice to a whisper, in case any customers might be within earshot, “…thief?”
A blush pinked Avily’s cheeks. “Yeah, many moons ago. After Leena took off, my mother had a tough time coming up with merca to support us. It took some doing, but I convinced Jerrick to teach me the trade.”
Mara didn’t bother hiding her fascination. “How old were you?”
“Ten. I just turned twenty-five, which means I’ve been out of the thief biz for almost six years now.” Avily shook her head. “Wow, hard to believe.”
The parallels between them were downright freaky. Their ages, the fact they basically bargained themselves into dubious employment in their earlier years.
“I hope you don’t think too poorly of me.” Worry pinched Avily’s face.
“You did what you needed to survive and take care of your family. Trust me, I know all about that necessity.” Saluting Avily with her cup, Mara took another sip of tea.
The lines of anxiety furrowing Avily’s forehead eased. “Okay, now that you know my deepest, darkest secret, I’m dying to ask you something really personal.” Avily leaned forward, her grin wicked and mischievous. “Does Dash live up to his legendary-lover status?”
Mara choked on her mouthful of tea. She lowered her cup, bumping the sturdy porcelain against the edge of the hutch. Her gaze flickered between Avily and Piper’s unblinking expressions. Jeez, talk about having an enthralled audience. “I…uh…have no idea.”
“You’re kidding.” Avily’s eyebrows risked getting lost in her hairline. “The way Dash kept looking at you in the terminal last night, I thought for sure the two of you were hitting it hot and heavy between the sheets.”
The cup tottered in Mara’s hand and she quickly set it next to the teapot. “Nope. Our relationship is strictly business.” She waited for the goddess of honesty to strike her dead. Her heart gave a little skip of relief when no truth-tipped lightning spears splintered through the ceiling tiles.
“Damn, and here I thought I was about to get the scoop of the century.” Avily gathered the crumpled napkins scattered on the hutch and tossed them into a small waste receptacle sporting a pattern of vining roses on its exterior.
Feeling like she’d missed a close call, Mara grabbed her teacup and drained its contents in a quick gulp. She absently scanned the assortment of antique books lining the hutch’s uppermost shelf. One title in particular stood out like a gold-lettered beacon. The Legend of Rhyann.
Mara blinked, her mouth falling open in shock. “I don’t freaking believe it.”
Avily glanced up from her tidying and frowned. “Pardon?”
“That book,” Mara said, pointing. “Look at its name.”
Straightening her glasses, Avily peered at the title in question. “Huh, what do you know.”
“Surely it isn’t a coincidence.” Mara shook her head, refusing to accept the possibility. “No, it must be connected to the rune in some way.”
“There’s only one way of finding out.” Avily ducked around the corner of the aisle. Seconds later, she reappeared, carrying a cylindrical stepstool with tiny wheels bolted to its bottom. She deposited it in front of the hutch and made short work climbing up and fetching the small, leather-bound book. A thin layer of dust coated the upper edge of the binding.
“Ugh, obviously the cleaning fairy hasn’t paid a visit up there lately.” Grimacing, Avily tapped the book against the lip of the waste receptacle before handing it to Mara.
Fingers trembling with excitement, Mara stroked the book’s burgundy leather cover. She cracked it open to the first page. Piper flew onto her shoulder and leaned close to the yellowed parchment, her wings fluttering impatiently. “Come on, hurry up. What does it say?”
For once, Mara didn’t mind the sprite’s bossiness. “It’s a story about a goddess named Rhyann.”
“Never heard of her,” Avily and Piper said in unison.
Mara continued flipping through the book. An illustration of a beautiful redhead astride a winged horse filled the next two pages. She paused, tracing a finger over the flowing lines of Rhyann’s fur-lined cloak.
“Is that her?” Avily’s voice floated over Mara’s shoulder. “Just once, I’d love to see a bucktoothed goddess with bad acne and a disfiguring hump.” The stepstool’s wheels squeaked in protest when Avily nudged it away from the hutch. “So what does the book have to say about our sickeningly gorgeous Rhyann?”
The fine-grained parchment crackled when Mara turned the page. “Apparently she’s the bestower of magical wishes.” A weird sense of déjà vu settled over her.
“Wishes, huh?” Avily grunted. “Sure could have used her last night, when I was wishing for the ground to swallow me whole.”
Avily’s surly comment distracted Mara from the strange sensation poking at the edges of her consciousness. She tore her attention from the book. “What?”
“Nothing,” Avily said, waving her hand. “Does the book make any mention of the rune?”
Mara thumbed through the remaining pages. There weren’t many—less than a couple dozen. And the majority of those only displayed illustrations. Her shoulders slumped. “No.”
“Well, so much for that.” Avily stooped and picked up the stepstool. “You can keep the book if you want. It’s just more junk left from the shop’s previous owner.”
The gold lettering drew Mara’s eyes again. Maybe she’d show
the book to Dash, let him see if he could determine if it held any relevance to the rune. “At least let me pay you for it.”
“Don’t be silly. If you hadn’t spotted it on the shelf, it’d still be stuck up there, gathering dust.”
The shop’s front door opened and a horde of chattering females trooped inside. Mara tucked the book against her waist. “It looks like your expected crush has arrived.”
Avily peered towards the timepiece hanging over the payment desk. “What did I tell you? Right on time.”
“We should let you get back to work. But how about you meet up with us for dinner tonight?”
After gaining Avily’s promise to stop at the Crystal Lodge once she closed up shop, Mara and Piper ventured out onto the bustling street. Neither felt the desire to fight the rush of lunchtime traffic, so they headed back to the hotel. Once in their room, Mara belly-flopped onto the bed and reopened the book.
“Aren’t you done looking at that thing?”
“No. I barely peeked at it earlier.”
An irritated buzz sounded from Piper. “I’m bored.”
“Then go find something to entertain yourself.”
“Oh sure. Just like I have to do everything else around here!” After vocalizing several more of her typically outlandish complaints, Piper flew from the room.
Rolling her eyes, Mara flipped past the lavish illustration of Rhyann astride her horse. The next page showed the goddess cavorting with her favored lover, a devastatingly handsome…human?
Mara blinked at the unexpected word printed in bold-as-you-please script. “Jeez, no wonder she’s never been heard of. The fae bluebloods probably don’t want it leaked that one of their goddesses did the deed with a lowly human.” She flicked the page over.
The sound of arguing drifted through the door, breaking her concentration. Lowering the book, she cocked her head, trying to decipher the muffled conversation next door.
Frowning, she hopped to the floor and tiptoed to the connecting door. She pressed her ear to the smooth wood, sliding a hand towards the supporting frame. The surface proved slicker than anticipated and she lost her grip. Scrabbling for a hold, she grabbed the first thing her hand made contact with—the green button.
Lover Enslaved: Thieves of Aurion, Book 1 Page 18
