The Cursed Key

by Miranda Brock

  “You can’t make a deal with him,” Kael pleaded. “Making a deal with a fae is dangerous. There is always something slithering behind their words. Whatever he wants, I guarantee there will be something else he is truly after.”

  I would be a fool to ignore Kael’s warning. He knew about fae much better than I did.

  Still, what about the key? If this guy couldn’t help us, who could?

  I had to take a chance.

  I pulled my arm out from Kael’s grip. Though the jaguar shifter had been whispering, Ren was smirking at me as if he had heard every word.

  “What sort of cost are we talking about?” I ignored Kael’s irritated growl and crossed my arms.

  Ren stood and walked over to a wet bar I hadn’t noticed against the right wall. He busied himself making drinks while he answered. “I want two things from you, Olivia.”

  I waited for him to continue, but he didn’t do so until he was walking back toward his desk with two glasses of something sparkling gold in his hands. He set one of the drinks on the desk in front of me. I caught the slight shake of Kael’s head. Whatever was in it, I decided it would be best to leave it untouched.

  The fae smirked at me. “It’s just champagne.” His narrowed gaze flicked toward Kael. “Shifters are such suspicious creatures.” Ren eased back into his office chair and pinned me with an amused smile as he took a sip of the golden liquid. “I do hope you will not be this averse to drinks on our date.”

  My eyebrows shot up, and a surprised laugh flitted up my throat. “Excuse me? Our date?”

  “Yes.” Ren set his drink on the desk. “Price number one for the information you’re trying to get from me.” Ren’s grin was charming. How many women had he managed to turn into a puddle of mush with that smile and those unusual eyes? Judging by his confidence, I’d say many.

  I shook my head. “You’re not really my type, Ren.”

  “Oh?” Ren leaned forward, resting his forearms on the desk. “And what exactly is your type?”

  I shrugged a shoulder. Dating was something I didn’t have time for these days. Not many guys wanted to go out with a woman who had a tendency to get called away frequently across the world. When I did go out on the occasional date, it most certainly wasn’t with guys like Ren.

  “I like my guys a little rough around the edges. Strong, not afraid to get their hands dirty. Sorry, but you’re a little too pretty for me.”

  I gave Ren a smile to take the sting out of my words. He was gorgeous, but I would have a hard time being with a man who seemed to spend a great deal more time on his physical appearance than I did. Perhaps all fae just woke up the embodiment of perfection, though.

  Ren tilted his head back and laughed. “Seems to me Kael may have more of a chance, then.”

  My eyes widened before I could rein in the reaction. No, no, no. That was definitely not what I meant. I risked a glance at Kael, but he was staring daggers at Ren.

  “No matter.” Ren shook off the rest of his mirth and cleared his throat. Back to business, then. “One date, or no deal.” He laid a hand on his chest. “I promise I will be the perfect gentleman.”

  I thought about what Kael had said about fae always having something hidden behind their words. “Just dinner?”

  “Dinner and dessert.” Ren almost purred out the word dessert, and the way he was looking at me definitely didn’t have a hidden meaning behind it.

  That part was going to be a big nope from me. “I’m not much of a dessert person. Dinner only.”

  Ren studied me, the corner of his mouth quirking up. “Fine. Dinner only, but I get to pick the place.”

  “Fine. One date, dinner only, at the place of your choosing,” I clarified. Beside me, Kael grunted and muttered something that sounded like “idiot.” I ignored him and kept my attention on Ren. “Now, what about the second thing?”

  The smile on Ren’s face grew downright wicked. “I want something of yours that you would never dream of parting with.”

  I swallowed. My mind instantly rocketed toward something like my hand, or even a finger. Wasn’t that the kind of thing you heard about in stories? People needing a sacrifice of blood or something to seal a bargain?

  Ren laughed, teal eyes dancing. “Not something so macabre, Olivia.”

  How had he known what I was thinking? Perhaps his tapered ears were able to pick up my racing heartbeats.

  I scooted my chair back and stood. “Give me a minute.”

  It would have to be something good or Ren would never go for it. I paced across the room, ignoring the pair of male eyes following my steps.

  What was something I would never want to part with, but also something that Ren would want to have? My house had quite a bit of valuable possessions from digs over the years, both from me and my father. I had a feeling Ren would not be interested in some vase pried from the sands of Egypt or a carved, ivory-handled knife from China.

  My gaze swept across the office, searching for a clue.

  I didn’t like what I found.

  Cars. He had all of those vintage cars in frames and models of cars on shelves and his desk. Ren appeared to like vintage cars…and I had one sitting at home in my garage.

  My gut twisted in a knot. My dad’s car was all I had left of him. I never drove it, but I still sat in it sometimes just to keep the connection with him. That Bristol had meant so much to my dad that I had put the urn of his ashes inside.

  The logical part of me knew it was just a car, that I still had my memories of him. The sentimental part of me wanted to cling to the vehicle, to keep it shining and in perfection the way he had done throughout his life.

  Ren would agree to it, I knew, solely because of how much the car really meant to me. I turned to him, a scowl already building on my face. This was his fault, and I was hating him for requiring me to make such a decision.

  “I have a 1951 Bristol 401 in pristine condition. It’s the only thing I have left of my late father’s that holds any importance to me. You can have it in exchange for the information we need.”

  I had to force the words from my mouth. Pulling in a deep breath, I tampered down the burning in my throat. It was ridiculous, I told myself as I made my way back to the desk. It was just a car.

  Ren smiled. “Very well. One date and your father’s Bristol, correct?”

  I gave him a short nod. I wanted to slap the triumphant grin from his pretty face.

  “Describe this man that took the key.”

  I’d glossed over the description of him when I first told Ren about the incident, concentrating more on the key itself. This time, I laid out every detail that I could recall. A shiver tapped down between my shoulder blades as I thought of those ancient eyes pinning on me and the feel of his power. It was crazy that I had agreed to go on this manhunt with Kael. I could go the rest of my life without seeing that man again.

  I finished my description and looked back up at Ren. I was surprised to find his delicate brow pinched with concern.

  “Do you know him?” I asked.

  “I know of him.” He fell silent, as if lost in his own thoughts.

  Wow. He really was worried.

  “Well, who is he?” I pressed.

  Kael had his hands on the ends of his armrests, leaning forward.

  As Ren spoke, his voice was quiet, as if the words he were speaking shouldn’t be heard by anyone else. “He is a mage. Not just any mage, but a dark mage. Powerful, and as ancient as the bones of the earth.” His gaze flicked to me, a spark of curiosity in his eyes. “The elders have told stories of such a being. He thirsts for power. Nothing else matters to him except dominion over every other being in existence.”

  Ren stood once more and turned to peer out the window behind the desk. His hands were folded behind his back, and I couldn’t help but notice the white-knuckled grip with which he held them together.

  Was this mage really that bad?

  “Why would he want the key?” I asked.

  “If this mage grows
stronger, he will be able to overpower all manner of people and creatures on this earth. We fae will not be able to control the weather, the witches will be unable to cast and heal.” Ren pivoted to pin a stare onto Kael. “Shifters will be unable to transform.”

  I could have sworn a slight shiver rippled through Kael.

  He clenched the armrests harder. “And the key will help him be able to do this?”

  Ren’s shoulders rose and fell. “I would assume so. Why else would he want it?”

  I bit my lip and scrunched my brow. He was guessing about the key, but his logic probably wasn’t that far off. The mage had wanted it for a reason, and whatever the reason, it likely wasn’t good.

  “Where would he take it?” Kael asked. His teeth were bared. Was it the news about the dark mage or the fact that Ren didn’t seem to know much about the key that made him upset?

  Ren’s fingers tapped on the wooden surface of his desk. “There is someone who may be able to help you.” He reached for a pen and a piece of paper. “Her name is Cordelia, a witch. She has a little shop down by the waterfront.” He pulled back his sleeve and studied his watch. “She usually stays open until ten or so. If you hurry, you may be able to make it in time.”

  Witches, fae, shifters, dark mages. I was a naturally logical person, and learning about all of these beings in the time span of twenty-four hours was making my head spin.

  Kael took the paper from Ren with a reluctant nod and stood. I followed.

  “I do need to warn you,” Ren continued. “Cordelia is not as forthcoming with information as I am. She will likely require a gift.”

  Ren, forthcoming? That had to be a joke. I couldn’t imagine someone worse than Ren.

  But the expression on his face told me he was being serious, and my heart sank. What else was I going to have to give away?

  “Olivia.”

  I looked up to find Ren studying my face. He stepped around the desk.

  “Here.” He grabbed my hand and turned it palm up. “A little something to show good faith in our bargain.”

  The fae cupped his hand over mine, and I felt something cold against my skin. My eyes widened when he removed his hand.

  There, in my palm, was a tiny fox that seemed to be chiseled from ice and kissed with starlight. I snapped my mouth shut and looked up at Ren. He was grinning again.

  “You can try to bribe Cordelia with this. It will never melt.” I must have still looked stupefied, because Ren smiled and said, “Fae can control the weather, remember?”

  Ren shook his hand as if he were flinging away the cold. A handful of snow whirled from his fingers. Kael waved his hand in front of his face with a look of disgust, trying to keep the flakes from falling on him.

  The scene reminded me that I had my own magic. “I have one more question.”

  Ren arched an eyebrow, and I hoped he wouldn’t ask for anything else.

  “The, uh, magic inside of me. It came from the key, right? Like a…like a curse or something?”

  The possibility of living with a curse made my insides clench.

  Ren tilted his head and squinted. “I don’t believe it’s a curse. What you have inside of you is more like an awakening, or a homecoming. The key may have helped fan it to life, but that magic is all yours.”

  A breath whispered past my lips. My magic? Why on earth would I have magic?

  “Another mystery for you to solve on your travels, it seems.”

  Behind me, Kael grumbled. No doubt my mysterious powers were just another bother to add to his list.

  Ren continued, “Take a care with Cordelia. Witches can be blessedly helpful but wildly unpredictable. Even dangerous.”

  Great. A potentially dangerous witch. A perfect way to end the night.

  “Thank you for your help,” Kael said, his voice strained as if he had to pry the words from his tongue.

  “My pleasure.”

  Kael walked off. I started to follow, but Ren caught up to me. I stopped as he put a hand on my shoulder while Kael hesitated in the doorway.

  “Here.” Ren handed me a business card. “Call me when you return from wherever it is our shifter here is dragging you. I look forward to our date.”

  He winked. The man was persistent.

  I clenched the tiny frozen fox in my hand and nodded. I hadn’t missed something, had I? There wasn’t some trick to that date agreement I’d overlooked?

  The look on Kael’s face had me doubting myself.

  I really hoped I wouldn’t come to regret making that deal.

  Chapter 14

  A dark mage had stolen a cursed key from me; a key that had awoken some kind of ancient magic deep inside myself. Now I was stuck with a grumpy man who could change into a jaguar, and he was driving my car out to find a shady witch who may be able to help us find said evil mage.

  My day had definitely not gone as planned.

  I just got back from a trip to South America. I wasn’t supposed to be chasing down cursed keys and dark mages. I was supposed to be kicked back on my couch watching sitcom reruns or writing up a report of my findings from the excavation.

  My report! Shit!

  I gasped, and Kael jerked his head toward me.

  “What? What happened?”

  “I forgot about typing up a report of my trip to the ruins.”

  Elizabeth Andrews was not a patient woman. I groaned, fishing my cell out of my bag and then tapping at the screen. It wasn’t until I had sent her a quick email telling her an emergency had come up that I noticed Kael’s growing agitation.

  The jaguar shifter had taken up a near constant string of growling and grumbling the closer we got to the waterfront of New Haven. Luckily, we were only going down toward Long Wharf Park and didn’t have to cross over to the East Shore or we probably wouldn’t have made it in time.

  I tried to ignore Kael’s incessant grumbles of irritation, but curiosity got the better of me. “What’s wrong?”

  He didn’t take his eyes from the slow van in front of us. “This is turning into a wild goose chase. First, I had to chase you down. Then, go to Renathe. Now we have to go and speak to this witch.” His knuckles were white on the steering wheel. “I don’t like witches. Can’t trust them.”

  My shoulder hit the door as Kael took a violent swerve around the van. “Do you mind?” I straightened. “You didn’t seem to trust Renathe, either, or is it fae in general?”

  “I have yet to find a trustworthy fae.”

  Did others feel the same? Did fae have a distrust for witches and shifters? Did witches distrust shifters and fae? It was crazy any of these beings even existed.

  I peered out the window as the streetlights flashed by in the darkness. What else was out there? Vampires? Zombies?

  Kael sighed. “If we’re going to catch the mage, we may have no choice but to put our faith in unsavory beings.”

  I remained silent as we continued our drive. Finally, the GPS informed us we were nearing our destination.

  Kael parked along a line of shops facing the pier that stretched into the calm waters. I stepped onto the sidewalk and craned my neck to peer up at a sign that read “Cordelia’s” in delicate, looping letters. The hours posted on the door showed we had five minutes to spare. Kael walked in, and I followed him inside to speak to a witch.

  When I had heard we were going to a witch’s shop, I had been expecting a creepy sort of place. I thought of pentagrams, candles melted onto shelves, and perhaps a black cat curled up on a shelf of spellbooks.

  Instead, I found a tea house.

  The various tables were covered in an assortment of floral-patterned tablecloths and ringed with mismatched chairs. A small fireplace crackled on the right side of the room. I took a deep breath and pulled in the mouth-watering aroma of cakes and scones.

  A door creaked, and a woman walked in from the back. She was slightly plump with a long braid the color of warm brass hanging over her shoulder. Her cheeks were tinted pink, and while I had the impression she usually
had a smile on her face, a frown weighed down her lips as she peered at Kael.

  The tiny tassels on her shawl shivered as the woman pulled the cloth closer around her. “You are not welcome here.”

  Kael rolled his shoulders back, somehow making himself look a bit larger. He stepped forward a couple of feet. “We are looking for information.” His voice was strict, authoritative. Ever the agent.

  I groaned quietly. I was sure there were times his commanding presence worked to draw words from people’s mouths. This was not one of those times. He had managed to move in front of me again, so I elbowed past him and smiled at Cordelia.

  “Hi, there. I’m Olivia. You have a lovely shop. May I ask how much for a cup of tea?”

  Cordelia narrowed her eyes, clearly trying to decide if it was worth the trouble. Finally, she sighed. “Very well. Tea is four fifty per cup.”

  I dug into my bag for a twenty as I followed Cordelia to the register. I bought a cup of tea for myself and Kael, plus some scones with Devonshire cream and jam.

  Cordelia told us to sit wherever we wanted as she hurried into the back. I sat at one of the small tables and raised an eyebrow at Kael until he sat down. A smile cracked my face to see the gruff shifter at the delicate tea table with a rose-patterned porcelain cup in front of him.

  After a glance over my shoulder to ensure Cordelia was still in the back, I leaned forward. “So, why is it you dislike witches so much?”

  Cordelia, while a bit on edge, seemed perfectly nice to me.

  Kael’s eyebrows lowered, and he didn’t break his stare from the doorway Cordelia had disappeared through. “A witch cast a hex on me once. It lasted an entire month.”

  A witch put a hex on him? That sounded terrible. “What was the hex?”

  “Every time I shifted that month, I would change into a kitten instead of my jaguar.”

  I waited for him to tell me he was joking, but his tone was completely serious. A giggle bubbled up my throat, and I pressed a hand to my mouth. He finally glanced at me, his expression less than friendly.

  “I’m sorry,” I choked out. It was a struggle to get my laughter under control. Every time I thought I was fine, an image of Kael shrinking into a tiny kitten had me laughing all over again.