Suzanne Lazear - Charmed Vengeance

Kevighn leaned in to examine it, standing far too close for polite comfort. Then again, he always did take any liberty he could.

“Yes, this is.” He stoked the piece with his finger. “What is Brogan up to and why is he using the name Kyran? The real Kyran won’t like that very much at all.”

“We can’t give this to him.” Closing her eyes, she held the piece in her hand. “There is so much magic in this.” Her voice shook as the power from it coursed through her. Tell me your secrets, she begged. All she felt was the hum of magic under her skin.

“Noli?” Kevighn sorted through the pieces in the attaché case. “I think I know what this is. It’s incomplete, but you’re right. We can’t give this to Brogan.”

“What is it?” It couldn’t be anything good—not if Brogan was involved.

“An artifact that has been gone from the Otherworld so long it’s presumed to be only myth and legend,” he breathed. “If half the stories are true, it’s probably best if it remained out of the hands of people like him.”

Noli’s belly twisted. No, not good at all.

“What do you think you’re doing, Noli? This is no time for your antics.” Jeff appeared in front of them, a deep frown on his face. He did a double take. “Mr. Silver, why are you here?”

“Magnolia, Jeff has been doing business with Otherworld folk,” Kevighn told him. “Though I’m certain he has no idea who Brogan is or what this is.”

All the air left Noli’s body making her feel as if she would suffocate. Jeff knew about the Otherworld? Her eyes widened as she looked up at her brother, suddenly feeling betrayed even though she was just as guilty.

“My word, you do know about the Otherworld.” Jeff’s jaw dropped.

“Um, yes, I … I do—and we can’t give this to Brogan. We can’t. Do you know who and what he is?” She waved her parasol at him. It didn’t matter to her what the artifact did. It was the principle of the matter. She didn’t approve of doing business with people who betrayed their own family for power.

“It’s just a business transaction,” Jeff soothed, taking a step back to avoid being hit by her parasol. “What he does with it is of little importance.”

“Yes it is, because he’s up to no good.” Kevighn held up another piece from the case and examined it in the mid-morning light streaming between the two buildings.

“The Otherworld is none of my concern. I’m just in it for the money—and if I don’t give it to him, we don’t get our money. No money means an unhappy crew.” Jeff gave her a firm look as if she were still a little girl and had taken his hammer without permission.

Her arms fell to her side, the piece still in her hand. “The Otherworld is your concern. It’s symbiotic. If something happens there, it affects our world as well.”

Jeff laughed. “And I suppose you’re going to tell me that aether is really faery magic.”

“But it is.” Noli just stared at her brother. How could he think this was all just business? Or a game. The Otherworld played for keeps.

“Oh, you’re serious.” Jeff deflated. “Wait, isn’t this some sort of odd coincidence? You know Kyran, Mr. Silver being here at this particular moment?”

Kevighn glanced at her in a way that seemed far to intimate all things considered. “Everything is the will of the Bright Lady.”

Jeff’s hand went to his face. “You’re one of them as well?

King Brogan can’t get his hands on this. There’s a reason it was broken up and hidden throughout the mortal realm. Just the fact he’d paying people to track the pieces down is troublesome.” Kevighn’s eyes flashed with passion.

“Do you think he’s doing it by himself or do you think he is in partnership?” Noli couldn’t suggest out loud that Brogan and Tiana were in this together, but it made sense.

“I don’t know.” He turned to Jeff. “Let me have this and I’ll get you your money.”

“Who are you going to sell it to, Kevighn?” Noli remembered his exile.

“No one. I’m going to dispose of these pieces. Thank the Bright Lady they’re not all here, but who knows how many he already has. As for the money, I know someone who would gladly pay to ensure it remains out of the wrong hands.” He returned the piece to the case.

“Who?” Jeff eyed Kevighn and the case as if at any moment he’d snatch it from him.

“The real Kyran.” Kevighn snapped the attaché case shut. “He wouldn’t want Brogan to have these—he could use it to destroy the very fabric of the Otherworld.”

“Wait, are you trying to tell me that this is some powerful faery artifact, one that could start a war?” Jeff’s eyes brightened. “So, it’s worth a lot of money?”

Kevighn nodded. “Quite a bit.”

“Will you actually get us the money? Because if you won’t, I’m not giving you the case.” Sliding the piece into her left glove, Noli strode over to Kevighn and poked him in the chest with her parasol. “I’m not powerless, Mr. Silver.” She recalled what the sprite had done. Noli knew she could do it again herself.

A wounded look crossed Kevighn’s face. “Do you honestly think I’d double-cross you–you, of all people?” She shook her head. “No, of course not.”

He’d done a lot of things, but never had he doublecrossed her.

Jeff put a hand on her arm, his body still blocking Kevighn’s path back to the street. “Noli, you can’t just give him the artifacts. He’s never going to pay us. Since it’s so valuable, perhaps we should bring it to Kyran … Brogan— whatever he calls himself—and request double.

No.” Noli’s voice sharpened and both men looked at her, startled. “Jeff, you have no idea what Brogan is. Kevighn, you have one hour. You will meet us at Miss Molly’s Teahouse with the money.” She met his eyes and narrowed her own, holding her parasol menacingly. “You cannot hide from me. If you double-cross me I will hunt you down.”

A smile twitched at the corners of his lips. “You dare to challenge a huntsman, little blossom?”

His smile, along with that pet name made ire rise within her.

“Oh, I do. Do you have a problem with that?” Dare dripped from her voice and she kept her parasol poised.

“You may hunt me all you wish, I don’t mind.” His eyes danced.

Jeff cleared his throat. “The money, Silver. All I care about is the money.”

“Two hours. I need two hours and I’ll meet you at Miss Molly’s Teahouse. I promise.” Putting a fist over his heart, he bowed.

Jeff drew his pistol and aimed it at Kevighn. “I’m only letting you go with my take because my sister seems to trust you. If you don’t come back with my money, so help me, what I will do to you will make shooting seem like mercy.”

“Point taken.” Kevighn extended his hand to her. “Come with me. That way you may ensure I get your money.”

Now that would be the prudent choice. However, the last time she’d followed him she’d ended up at his cabin and nearly succumbed to his advances. She knew better now than to fall for his charms, but who knew where he’d lead her.

“No.” Jeff’s voice cut through her reverie. “Noli is going nowhere with you, Silver.”

“She’s quite able to answer for herself, Braddock,” Kevighn snapped. “Magnolia?”

Both men looked at her expectantly.

Being put in the middle made Noli seethe. “If you don’t mind, gentleman, I’m going to get some tea. Kevighn, you have one hour.”

Without waiting for either, she brushed past them and onto the streets of San Francisco. She’d find Miss Molly’s Teahouse on her own. As she walked, she slid the piece from her glove into her dress pocket. There was no good reason for keeping it. If she’d thought Kevighn would double-cross her she never would have let him leave with it. After all, she hardly needed Kevighn. Quinn would know what to do—V’s tutor always had an answer. If anyone had a dusty old book about a forgotten artifact it would be him.