A Little Street Magic (21 page)

“He’s pretty down.”

Logan sighed. “It always hits him hard when things don’t work out.”

“But he’ll be okay, right?” Heartbreak sucked ass.

“Sure. It’ll take him a while, but Dane has an optimistic soul. All we have to do is keep him from brooding too much for a couple weeks.” Logan stepped onto a fallen log and offered me his hand. “In two or three months, he’ll be noticing other women exist again.”

He knew Dane better than I did, having lived with him for years. I nodded. “Subject change then. I don’t fully understand what it means to be clan.”

“It’s the same as being family, except with people who’ve mutually selected each other. No one goes without; we all work together to keep the coffers filled, and everyone safe.” Logan kept hold of my hand as we hopped off the log. “Terra’s making some changes now that we have this place.”

“Oh?” I took a deep breath, loving the smell of crisp, piney air.

“Good changes. She decided to end full tithing. We have more members now, and we’re a hell of a lot better off than we were.”

Bone leaped out of the undergrowth, stood on his hind legs and took a few steps. “
Rrrrr, I’m a bear
.”

“I’m pretty sure you’re a goofball, not a bear.” He dropped to all fours and ran off ahead. “What’s the new tithe?”

“Fifty percent.”

I wrinkled my nose. “That still seems pretty high.”

Logan began swinging our joined hands. “It’s fair. Practically everything’s provided, aside from food, clothing, and gas. Actually, for those with lower paying jobs, we have clothing, and canned and dry food in the store rooms in the main building.”

Ah. No matter what, everyone was taken care of. “I see. Will that be a draw for new recruits?”

“We’re hoping so. Meadow’s just ahead.”

I had to ask. “Exactly how do I fit in?”

“This,” he swung his free arm wide, “wouldn’t be ours, if not for you. You’re exempt from tithing for life. Anything you need, just ask. If we can do it, we will.”

“Not really comfortable with the idea.” I wasn’t. It just didn’t feel right to even think about asking friends for financial help, or anything beyond what they already did for me. Assuming I ever needed financial help, or whatever.

“Cordi, we can’t put a price on having our own pocket realm, knowing that we’re safe, and have everything we need. And in far shorter time than we’d hoped.” Logan pulled me to a halt and turned to face me. “You did that. Saved us years of work.”

“Damn, I’m good.”

He laughed and kissed me. “You are. If you need something, just ask. You’re clan, you have the right to ask.”

“Okay.” I had no intention of asking for anything big, ever. Doggy daycare and a practice arena was more than enough.

“I’m serious. Doesn’t matter what.” He kissed me again, on the forehead. “Come on, let’s go see your meadow.”

He was turning when Diablo tore free of the underbrush and rushed across our path. There was a small, orange splotch on his back. “
Get it off! Get it off!
”

The black pit disappeared into the trees. I looked at Logan. “I’m sorry, was that a monkey riding my dog?”

“It was. A baby tamarin. We need to get it back to the right area.” Logan frowned. “Diablo won’t eat it, will he?”

“Diablo!” I let go of Logan’s hand to pursue my dog.

I
t was five after four when I teleported to Thorandryll’s front door. Catching a panicked pit bull with a screeching, baby monkey on his back hadn’t been the easiest thing in the world. A pine needle fell out of my hair while I was reaching for the door knocker. “Lovely.”

There hadn’t been time to clean up. I ran my fingers through my hair. More needles, and ouch, a couple of twigs, came loose. Edrel opened the door. “Lady Di...ah.”

“Hi there.” I dropped my hands, plastering a huge smile on my face. “Sorry I’m late. There was a problem.”

“I see.” He stepped back. “Do come in.”

“Do you ever get a day off?” I walked in, well aware of the messy trail I was leaving. Heavy treads could collect a lot of dirt.

“Of course. Would you care to freshen up before I escort you to the prince?”

“No, I’m already late. Better go on in.” Was there dirt on my face? Probably. I’d face-planted three separate times, the third thanks to Bone. I was pretty sure he’d done it on purpose, too.

“As you wish.” Edrel’s lips were twitching.

“You can laugh. I won’t be offended.”

He took me at my word, and proved to have a nice laugh, low and friendly sounding. Edrel didn’t overdo it either, but he was still smiling when we reached Thorandryll’s study. “Your Highness, my lord, Lady Discord has arrived.”

I walked in, and instantly wished I’d taken my guide’s offer to take the time to freshen up. Lady Celadine’s sneer was a scorcher, as she gave me a raking once over before turning to Thorandryll. “She’s not fit to be in our presence.”

Okay, it appeared I was wrong about the reason for the meeting. “Sorry I’m late.”

Kethyrdryll, standing behind the desk and to one side, smiled. “It appears there was situation.”

I headed for the empty chair beside Celadine’s. Too late to go clean up now. “A baby monkey mistook one of my dogs for its mommy. My dog wasn’t thrilled.”

Thorandryll, elbow planted on his desk, dropped his forehead into his hand. Face hidden, his shoulders began quivering. I was just amusing the hell out of everyone.

“You smell.” Celadine leaned away from me, her nose wrinkled.

“Yeah, like dirt and trees. You’re an elf. Deal with it.” I slouched back in my chair, stretched out my legs, and crossed my ankles.

Thorandryll cleared his throat while lifting his head. His eyes were bright, and he wasn’t quite pulling off the sternness he was trying for. “Lady Celadine has made a breach of contract complaint.”

“We found and returned her stolen mirror. It’s on display at the museum, just like it was supposed to be.”

She rounded on me. “Don’t pretend ignorance, girl. It was returned without its occupant.”

“You hired us to find your stolen mirror. You didn’t specify ‘spirit still attached’,” I pointed out. Splitting hairs, just to watch the tips of her ears turn red. “I didn’t remove the spirit from your mirror. The demons did.”

Her glare would’ve melted steel. “You filthy little guttersnipe.”

Thorandryll finally achieved his stern face. “I’ll thank you to remember where you are, Celadine.”

She lifted her nose, turning to look at him. “What can you possibly see in this, this...She’s...”

“Quiet.” Celadine zipped her lips, and Thorandryll looked at me. “The spirit was transferred to another mirror, which you also retrieved. Why didn’t you turn that mirror over to her?”

“It didn’t belong to her.” I waited until his eyebrows drew down before saying more. “Actually, the original mirror probably doesn’t belong to her either.”

Thorandryll’s eyebrows returned to normal. “And you determined that how, exactly?”

“I didn’t determine anything. The gargoyle queen did. She helped us retrieve the second mirror and something else.” I held his stare. I’d been impetuous, acting on Petra saying the mirror spirit belonged to my bloodline the way I had. But I wasn’t going to back down. Backing down showed weakness, and I couldn’t appear weak. Not to any elves. “Petra said that the mirror and spirit belonged to my bloodline. Mr. Whitehaven said he wasn’t going to argue with her. Are you?”

“Gargoyles do not lie,” Kethyrdryll murmured.

“If the spirit belongs to my bloodline—by the way, Cernunnos is the one who stuck the poor guy in that mirror, and according to Petra, he’s one of the gods I’m descended from—then I’m kind of wondering how she,” I flipped my hand at Celadine. “Managed to get her hands on it.”

“Through great expense,” she snapped.

“Got a receipt? Or was it expensive to hire a burglar?” I smiled at her. She sneered back, the tips of her ears lobster red. “A spirit that’s also a grimoire doesn’t sound like something that goes on the auction block often.”

Thorandryll sighed. “How did you acquire the mirror, Celadine?”

“I paid dearly for it.” She didn’t meet his eyes.

“Who did you purchase it from?” I shivered, because the prince’s voice had turned icy. She mumbled some name. “I’ll contact him, and ask where he obtained it.”

As he began to reach for his phone, she shot me a look of pure, narrow-eyed and teeth-bared hatred. “He stole it.”

Thorandryll put his phone down. “You purchased stolen goods, and dared to trouble me over the rightful owner’s heir claiming those goods?”

“Uh oh, somebody’s in trouble,” I sang under my breath. The prince shot me a dark look. “Sorry.”

“I have possessed that mirror for...”

“You can keep the mirror,” I said. “I don’t want it. The spirit though, maybe his body’s gone, but he’s still a person. This, in case you didn’t catch it, is America. We don’t allow slavery here.”

“Yet, you kept it.”

I shook my head. “Nope.”

“Then where is it?” Celadine’s knuckles were turning white as she clamped onto her chair’s arms.

“He’s somewhere safe, where no one will be able to use him.” I had an idea. “And he’s staying there until I can talk Cernunnos into freeing him.”

All three elves simply stared at me. I flicked a pine needle off my jeans. “So, are we done here? I have a party to get ready for.”

“Insufferable, smug little bitch.” Celadine raised her hand, fingers beginning to move.

“Do not.” Thorandryll’s glare froze her. “I don’t want my study destroyed when Miss Jones retaliates.”

I wondered what she’d been about to do. He kept talking. “Unless you care to dispute it, my decision is that Miss Jones retains ownership of the spirit as her family property.” He narrowed his eyes. “And I really wouldn’t dispute it, Celadine.”

She sniffed, rose, and curtsied. “Your Highness. May I take my leave?”

“Please do.”

Celadine left, but not without shooting me a final venomous glare. Once she’d cleared the room, I prepared to get up. “If that’s all...”

“Please stay seated, Miss Jones.”

“Why?”

“We have another matter to discuss.”

Oh, joy.

I
settled back into the chair, re-crossed my ankles, and smiled. Thorandryll smiled back. Kethyrdryll clasped his hands together, a faint smile on his lips. No one said anything. I gave it a few seconds before pulling my phone out of my coat pocket to check the time.

“It’s four-thirty, and I have somewhere to be at seven. I’m going to need time to take a shower and dress. So, spit it out.”

“I’m afraid you made an enemy.” Thorandryll gestured at the doorway while sitting back.

“She’ll have to get in line behind the demons, thanks to you.”

His smile disappeared. “It was never my intention to make you a target.”

“Maybe not, but hey!” I did double finger-guns at him and winked. “You did.”

“I paid a high price for my error. Do you ever intend to forgive me for it?”

I was in the mood for another Come to Jesus meeting. “I honestly don’t know, because that’s not the only mistake you’ve made. You know, before you came along, my life was pretty simple. I found stuff, located missing people, and ashed the occasional vamp. Now, I have to keep a constant watch for demons, reporters, and your mother.”

Kethyrdryll’s lips were pressed in a tight line, his dark blue eyes slightly wide. Thorandryll’s eyebrows had drawn together. “There’s been something different about you lately, Miss Jones.”

“You’re absolutely right. I’m not the same girl I was, and congratulations, you played a part in who I’ve become.” I paused. “I have responsibilities I never thought I would, to my clan and my allies. I have to worry about my family being harmed or used. But I’ve also learned a lot about who I am, and what I am. I’ve finally decided to own it.”

“I see.” The smile on Thorandryll’s face made it clear he thought I was just talking. Making noise that didn’t really mean anything.

I studied him for a moment before shaking my head. “I don’t think you do. I didn’t choose any of this, except for my adoption by the clan. But here I am, and you’d better listen up: I will not be manipulated any longer. Not by you, not by your mother, not by anyone.”