Suzanne Lazear - Charmed Vengeance

Noli sucked in a breath as she remembered Ciarán and his ruffians. “Yes, you would be, wouldn’t you?”

“Are you insulting me?” He recoiled as if slapped.

“Not at all. I met Ciarán once. He seems more … your people … than the high court.” She’d learned quite a bit about the high court and wondered how someone like Kevighn had stood it.

He took a sip of tea and nodded, visibly relaxing. “Yes, they are far more my people—and they could be yours. They loved Creideamh and they’ll love you. If anyone could reverse what the queen did to you, it would be Ciarán.”

She hadn’t thought of that. As tempting as getting her old self back might be …

“I can’t go with you.” She met his eyes as she said that. “You’re still not good for me and you never will be.”

He reached across the table and tilted up her chin with a rough finger. “Yes, I can. That earth court rogue hurt you—and he’ll continue to hurt you. You deserve better.”

She flinched as if his words burned. “V is more man that you’ll ever be.”

Kevighn stood. Taking her hand, he kissed it, lips lingering a little too long. “You sound so much like Creideamh it hurts my heart. I only hope that it doesn’t take your death to show you the error of your ways. If you ever need me, leave word at The Thirsty Pooka. It’s a tavern in the blackwoods.” His hand lingered on hers. “I will always be there for you, Noli. Always.”

With one more kiss to her black-gloved hand, Kevighn strode out of the teahouse.

Well, that was interesting, the sprite replied. Now, let’s order more cake.

Noli returned to the air terminal alone, attaché case clutched tightly in one gloved hand, a paper sack in the other, parasol under her arm. Where could Jeff be? Was he angry with her? Her chest tightened. He must be. Otherwise he would have come to Miss Molly’s.

Vix stood on a ladder, carefully sanding the ship’s hull, Jeff nowhere in sight.

“Captain, may I speak with you?” Noli’s heart thumped in her ears.

She glanced over at her from her perch on the ladder. “Where’s Jeff?”

Noli sighed, disappointed he’d never shown. “I don’t know. Please, may we go inside and talk?”

This wasn’t the place to discuss King Brogan—or the attaché case full of money.

“Of course.” Vix climbed down the ladder, her usually annoyed expression replaced with one of concern. “The girls are gone, by the way.”

“They are? I didn’t get to say goodbye to Rahel one last time.” It was like a knife in the heart and her hand went to her chest.

She’s gone? the sprite cried.

Yes she is, Noli sniffed.

“Rahel is on an airship to New York to be reunited with her father,” Vix assured, herding Noli onto the ship. “She’ll be home soon.”

“I’m glad.” Noli dabbed at her eyes. She looked around the quiet common area of the ship. “Where could we speak privately?”

Vix gestured to the table in the galley. “We could sit here. No one’s onboard but Winky and he’s below.

Let me make some tea. Do you drink tea? I bought some.” With some of the money in the attaché case. After all, she had to make sure it spent. Noli busied herself with boiling some water in a pot since they had no kettle.

Vix sat at the head of the table, looking at Noli with something halfway between concern and amusement. “I do drink tea sometimes, I’m not a complete heathen, but don’t go telling everyone that,” she added conspiratorially.

“I brought you cake.” Noli set a bag from the teashop on the table in front of Vix. She had another with the extra piece for the sprite.

Captain Vix eyed the slice of cake. “Do you often do this? Use food to solve problems?”

Noli made a face as she found a clean fork and handed it to Vix. “I …I know so little about you. All I know is that my brother loves you, you return stolen children to their families, and you like chocolate cake.”

“Oh, we haven’t actually gotten to talk much, have we?” Vix took a bite of cake as Noli prepared the tea. “Where is Jeff, did he go on the drop alone?” She froze. “There wasn’t a problem with the drop, was there?” Her dark eyes narrowed at Noli.

Setting the cups of tea on the table, Noli took a seat, making sure the attaché case sat by her feet. “How long have you been doing business with the Fae?”

Vix nearly spit out her tea. “Jeff was right.”

“How does he know I know?” She’d wondered about that.

“Something about a magic valise?” Vix shoveled another bite of cake into her mouth. “This is very good cake.”

Noli’s hand went to her face. Of course it was the magic valise. “Why are you doing business with them?

I’m not sure I feel comfortable sharing that with you.” Vix said this politely, not snappishly. Still, anger welled inside Noli at her refusal.

Noli slapped the attaché case onto the table, just out of Vix’s reach. “This is your money. I get my answers, you get your money.”

“Where’s Jeff?” Vix’s eyes went frantic and she looked about the room as if he might magically appear.

“I don’t know. He was … unhappy with my business decisions and left me on my own—but I don’t think you know these people like I do.” Noli moved the case closer to her as Vix snatched for it.

“Vix, Vix, have you seen Noli?” Jeff called from out of sight, voice anxious.

“What is going on here?” Vix stood, hands on the table.

Noli grabbed the case and held it to her chest.

Jeff strode over to Noli. “Please tell me you have the money. Do you have any idea what you’ve done? I tried to find your teahouse but I couldn’t. Is it even real?”

Standing, she smacked Jeff with the attaché case. Hard. “Of course the teahouse is real. Kevighn had no problem finding it. Do you have any idea what you were about to do?” She smacked him with the case again and again, pouring her frustrations into it. “I won’t allow you to sell things to King Brogan, especially if he intends to use it to hurt more people.”

When it came time for V to kill his uncle she’d gladly stand by his side. Maybe she’d even help.

“I have your money, but I’m not giving it to you until someone tells me what is going on here.” Quiet anger tinged Noli’s voice as she gripped the case to her chest, stepping away from the both of them.

“Jeff, go get the bottle of whiskey.” Vix stood at the head of the table, pale. “I don’t know about you, but I need a drink.”

Jeff looked from Vix to Noli and back again. “Are we actually going to tell her?”

“We want our money, don’t we?” Her look to Jeff was matter of fact.

With a shake of his head, Jeff left. Noli sat down and took another sip of tea. Finally, she’d get some answers.

Jeff retuned and poured himself and Vix a drink, not offering any to Noli, not that she liked spirits much.

“When I first left home, I was befriended by a man.” Vix took a swig. “Unsavory sort, yet fairly honest, all things considered. He helped me out a fair bit and I did a number of jobs for him. Eventually I discovered he wasn’t mortal and that there were plenty like him. Others like him asked me to do a job here and again. But they’ve always been jobs. Business transactions. I don’t ask questions, and I don’t get involved with them or their politics. ”

“How long have you worked for Brogan?” Noli polished off her tea and went to the stove for more. “Who’s Brogan?” Vix took another pull from her cup.

“Kyran. Only he’s not the real Kyran. That’s someone else.” She refilled her teacup, leaning against the counter, holding it in her hands.

“He’s a new client. Met him through someone else we do work for sometimes. Kyran—Brogan—needed us to collect some artifacts for him. He gave us a list of where and what to get.” Vix finished her drink and poured herself another. “I didn’t ask questions—that’s not my job. But something seemed off about him.”