by Martha Carr
Cheyenne chuckled. “Uh-oh.”
“Yeah. Big uh-oh.” Ember wiped her forehead with the back of her hand and shook her head. “I just spent the last hour cleaning that toilet. An hour. I think I’ve lost all sense of smell.”
“Well, I can tell you used a lot of bleach.”
“More than I’ve ever had to use on anything.” The fae shuddered and rubbed her sweaty, slightly pruney hands on her pants. “Who does that in someone else’s house? Not to mention that she’d never been here before, and they put up wards to keep everything out. Should’ve added something to the bathroom.”
Laughing, Cheyenne folded her arms and shot her friend a sympathetic frown. “I could’ve done that.”
“Hey, just because I can’t walk, it doesn’t mean I can’t clean. Doesn’t mean I want to, either, but I couldn’t let that go on any longer.”
“I’ll make sure to say something about it.”
Ember looked at her friend with wide eyes. “Don’t. I was joking about the invitation. Mostly.”
“Nah, don’t worry about it.” Cheyenne scanned the living room. “I’ll make it sound like it came straight from me. Worst-case scenario, she gets all butthurt and doesn’t want to come over again. Honestly, I just think she’ll laugh and say, ‘Welcome to the rebellion, halfling.’ Or something equally stupid. But I’m right there with you. Not cool. You ready to head out?”
“It’s already time to go?” Ember blinked and patted her pocket, then nodded at the coffee table. “Grab my purse, and we’re outta here.”
“Yep.”
Once Ember had her purse nestled in her lap, Cheyenne unlocked the front door and held it open for the fae to wheel into the hall. She couldn’t help but glance at Matthew Thomas’ front door across the hall before she locked up behind them. Ember was already halfway to the elevator.
“Find any purple specks in the bathroom?”
The fae leaned forward to punch the call button and shifted in her chair. “Nope. I’d say it’s a little creepy that tiny cameras in the bathroom even crossed your mind, but I gotta admit it was the first thing I thought of too.”
“It’s fine. We can both be creepy. Kinda necessary to deal with all this other stuff.”
Ember shot her friend a sidelong glance. “You’re way creepier than I am.”
“Only on the outside.”
“Ha. Nope.”
“At least we have more proof that the apartment’s clean, so there’s less reason to worry about our resident Peeping Matthew.”
“Shh.” Ember glanced down the hall at their neighbor’s front door and shook her head. “Didn’t our suspicions start in the hall anyway?”
“Hey, if he doesn’t like what he sees and hears, assuming he’s watching and listening, that’s his problem.” The doors opened, and Cheyenne waited for her friend to roll inside first. A flash of purple light helped Ember across the ribbed strip of metal and the space between the hallway and the elevator. The halfling stepped in behind her. “He shouldn’t be surprised by anyone who has an issue with being watched.”
Ember pressed her lips together and didn’t say anything until the elevator started its descent. “Maybe he’s just trying to keep his apartment safe, you know?”
“What?” Cheyenne laughed. “Are you really trying to come up with excuses for a guy who seems to be keeping tabs on when we leave and come home?”
Shrugging, Ember scrunched her face and smiled sheepishly. “He’s just so nice.”
“Oh, man.”
“It’s true. You know it’s true.”
“Yeah, and that’s creepy.”
“Why? Because nobody can be completely nice at their core?”
“Most people aren’t.”
Ember snorted. “I didn’t know you were that jaded about everyone in general.”
“I don’t care about ‘everyone in general’ or if they’re one-hundred-percent nice. I just think it’s pretty suspicious that this super-nice guy who’s obsessed with you happens to own a bunch of companies in industries not known for being nice.”
Ember frowned. “How much did you dig into him?”
“Enough to know it’ll be pretty hard to prove he’s not just a nice guy.”
The fae threw her head back and filled the elevator with an unabashed cackle. Cheyenne smirked and stared at the black space between the doors. “We’ll keep looking, I guess. Either we find a purple speck or you find some kinda dirt on him, and then I’ll buy into your theory. But until then, I feel a lot better about my life when I’m not assuming the worst of everyone.”
“You were pretty creeped out last night.”
“I’d just spent my first night out in a magical marketplace with some nutjob friends of yours and got attacked by a giant digging-machine thing that isn’t supposed to exist. My head wasn’t in the right place.”
“Okay, Em.” The elevator doors opened, and Cheyenne gestured for her friend to exit first. “I’ll play along and go with innocent until proven guilty, but I have a feeling I’m gonna end up proving him guilty.”
“Then I’ll change my stance.” They moved through the empty, sprawling lobby of their building. “I gotta say, though, I didn’t expect you to be so gung-ho about law and order.”
“Only when it messes with my personal life.”
When they were settled in the Porsche with Ember’s chair tucked in the trunk, Cheyenne started the engine and paused. “Crap. I didn’t call Corian.”
“He’s coming with us, right?”
“He’d better be. That was the plan.” Cheyenne pulled out her phone to call him. He answered almost immediately.
“Ready?”
“Wow. Was your hand just hovering over the phone, or what?”
“I assumed you’d still be taking Ember to the clinic for her twelve-thirty appointment. It’s twelve-ten, so yes, I was expecting your call.”
Cheyenne fought back a smile. “Yeah, we’re ready. We’re already in my car, though.”
“That’s fine. Hard to trace a portal when the remnants are driving around the city. I’ll be right there.”
“Wait, can’t you just meet us at the—”
He hung up before she could finish, and Cheyenne tossed her phone into the cubby under the dashboard.
“He is still coming, right?”
“Yeah, Em.” Cheyenne twisted partially around and eyed the back seat. “Apparently he’s just gonna—”
The black light of Corian’s portal ballooned over the black leather seats in the back, and the nightstalker stepped through, ducking before sliding over to the other side. “Hey.”
“Oh!” Ember jumped and spun around to glare at him over her shoulder.
“Open a portal in my car.” Cheyenne raised her eyebrows.
“What the hell?” Ember scowled at him. “You should really warn people before you do that.”
With his illusion charm in full effect, Corian looked like the average, upstanding Richmond resident with his light-brown hair, blue eyes, and open smile.
At least he’s not still wearing that stupid red hat.
The nightstalker glanced at the magicals in the front. “I told Cheyenne I was coming.”
“I didn’t have enough time to explain that part before you popped into my car.”
“Which is very nice, by the way.” Corian spread his hands on the leather seats and sat back, adjusting comfortably. “I could get used to this.”
Cheyenne shot him a quick glance in the rearview mirror. “Taking up my back seat, or just riding in a car, period?”
“Just because I don’t have a car, it doesn’t mean I’ve never been in one.”
“I know. That fun little road trip out to the first new portal wasn’t that long ago.”
He strapped on his seatbelt and dipped his chin, staring at her reflection in the mirror. “You’re just being a smartass, then.”
“Right now? Yeah.”
As she pulled out of the parking lot, Corian stared out the back wind
ow and nodded slowly. “When we get there, kid, Ember and I will stay in the car.”
“And I’ll go have a little chat with Marsil ‘George’ Keldryk.” Cheyenne’s grip on the wheel tightened with a creak of leather.
“Only a chat,” Corian warned. “We have to be careful with how we approach this. If this Marsil is who he says he is, Ember can go in for her appointment, and nothing’s changed. Then we’ll shift our focus and look for another lead. But if he’s only pretending?”
“I know exactly what to do with him if that’s the case.”
“Easy.”
“It will be, yeah.” Cheyenne rolled her shoulders back as she turned onto the next side street to head toward the physical therapy building.
“Don’t go in there with magic blazing, kid. That’s the most important part of this whole thing.”
“Really? I thought the most important part was finding the assholes who stole Ember’s blood to get to me and who keep sending their creepy war bugs after us.”
Corian looked away from the window and stared at the rearview mirror, waiting for her to meet his gaze. “Were there more?”
“Yep.” She reached into her pocket, pulled out the short-circuited spy-fly, and handed it to him over her shoulder. “That one found me in my classroom today.”
“Another one?” Ember turned to peer at the tiny black metal shell of the bug-shaped machine in Corian’s palm.
“So apparently, whoever’s sending these things now knows exactly where to look. We can’t let more of those things fly onto the campus and sit in on my class.”
“Your class.”
“Didn’t I tell you I’m teaching now?”
Corian stared at the fly-machine and cocked his head. “Doesn’t surprise me.”
“Did your students see it?” Ember turned back around and stared through the windshield.
“I don’t think so. They definitely didn’t see me shoot it off the wall.”
Corian glanced up at the rear-view mirror and chuckled. “How’d you pull that off?”
“Told them to close their eyes and meditate on what they wanted to do at the end of the semester.” With a snort, Cheyenne shook her head and looked briefly at his reflection. “Only took me two seconds to hit that thing and stick it in my pocket.”
“Unconventional distraction.” Corian licked his lips in amusement. “But the speed is certainly impressive.”
“Not to mention my aim.”
Ember blinked slowly. “You guys are talking about this like it’s funny.”
“It is. A little.” Corian studied the fried metal bug again. “The machines they’re sending out are smaller every time, which makes me think that either the loyalists programming these things are changing their tactics with every failure, or they’re running out of metal soldiers.”
“Do you think that one was able to send anything back before I squashed it?”
“I don’t think so. Something this small and mobile doesn’t have the capacity to relay information remotely, as far as I know. These were built under the assumption that they wouldn’t be seen and would return to base to make a report, so to speak. Can I keep this?”
“I sure as hell don’t want it.”
“Excellent.” Corian slipped the tiny machine into his pocket and folded his arms. “After we check things out at the clinic, we’ll know more about who we have to track down to keep these things away from you.”
“Yeah. And if it’s Marsil, we won’t have to look very far.”
Ember slowly turned her head to look at Cheyenne, but her friend stared intently at the road, oblivious to the fae’s concerned glance. When Ember turned a little farther and frowned at Corian, she only got a shrug and a slow shake of the head in response.
Chapter Thirty-One
The Panamera rolled to a smooth stop in the parking lot of the physical therapy clinic. Cheyenne shifted into park and punched the automatic start button. The purring engine faded, and she took a deep breath. “Ten minutes ‘til you’re supposed to be in there, Em. I’ll be back out in five.”
She unbuckled her seatbelt and opened the door.
“Cheyenne.” Corian raised his eyebrows when she paused to look at him. “Easy.”
“I got it.” She slid out of the car and forced herself not to slam the door before stalking onto the sidewalk toward the entrance.
Corian sat back in the seat and watched her disappear through the glass front doors. “I’ve seen that kind of anger get magicals into a lot of trouble in my time.”
Ember frowned at the clinic entrance, even after Cheyenne entered the lobby and vanished from view. “It gets humans into trouble too, I’m pretty sure.”
“Yes. But if it’s used the right way, it’s very powerful.”
The fae frowned. “I’ve already seen what she can do, so you don’t have to keep talking in mysterious sentences. Just say it.”
“Okay. There’s another reason you and I are waiting here while Cheyenne has her chat.”
“Right. Let me guess. You’re about to tell me that I’m a liability because now these crazy people siccing their machines on us know they can get to her through me. Sure, I’m her best friend, but I can only use five percent of my magic, and I’m in a wheelchair. Basically dead weight, right?” When the nightstalker didn’t reply, she turned and frowned at him. “Why are you smirking at me like that?”
“Because everything you just said couldn’t be farther from the truth.” Corian tilted his head and graced her with a warm smile. “Honestly, I’m more inclined to believe that having you in her life is exactly what Cheyenne needs to find her strength and keep her on track. Even if you haven’t acknowledged it, I think you know.”
She blinked quickly and turned back around, rubbing her wrist. “Maybe. So, what? You wanted to have a private chat to tell me not to give up?”
He chuckled. “You’re not quite as good at guessing games as she is.”
Ember glanced at the ceiling and let out a wry laugh. “She’s better at a lot of things.”
“But not everything. Ember, I’m not trying to tell you what to do one way or the other. The choice is yours. But since nothing’s been officially sealed, I wanted to give you more information than you have right now so you can make the best choice.”
“Okay.”
“We touched on it last night. About the Nós Aní.”
Ember frowned at the dashboard and bit the inside of her bottom lip. “Kinda hard to forget.”
“Cheyenne figured it out. I am the Nós Aní to L’zar Verdys. I have been for almost two thousand years, and I will be until one of us meets our end in this life.”
“Huh.”
Corian glanced at his lap and smiled. “It’s a lifelong position. No benefits, no paid vacation or sick leave. There’s the occasional bonus, but really, it’s one of those things you do because your heart’s in it. And once you accept, there’s no backing out.”
“I thought I already accepted. Last night.” Ember squeezed the fingers of her other hand to hold them still in her lap. “If being that for Cheyenne helps her, I’m all about it.”
“I heard you, and I’m glad you feel that way before having all the facts.”
“But there are downsides, right?”
“It depends on how you look at it. A Nós Aní’s responsibilities are as unpredictable and complicated as the drow they serve. And no, I don’t mean I’m L’zar’s servant. If that offer were on the table, I’d run away screaming.”
Ember laughed softly. “Me too.”
“If you choose this, Ember, know that it’s for the rest of your life. I supposed there’s a certain truth to what Cheyenne said, that it’s like a best friend or a second in command, and it’s so much more. You could be her friend forever, and that wouldn’t change anything. But a drow, and apparently even a drow halfling, is much more powerful with a Nós Aní at their side. Or in my case, an hour away from Chateau D’rahl for the last seventy-five years or so.”
“So
, I won’t have to live with her forever, then?”
The nightstalker snorted. “Was that a serious question?”
“Not really.”
“Good.” He scratched his forehead and inhaled deeply. “There’s a ceremony for this. Nothing grotesque or painful. You won’t have to cut yourself or make any sacrifices. It is a drow ceremony, which can make things rather odd, with a tendency to throw in surprises just for fun. After that, though, you and Cheyenne would be bound together by magic and a bloodline that goes farther back than even L’zar and I do.”
“And there’s no turning back.”
“Right. I believe I said that already.”
Ember ran a hand through her hair and turned to look into the blue eyes she knew were silver underneath. “What’s in it for the Nós Aní?”
Beneath his human illusion, the nightstalker’s grin bordered on terrifying. “A strengthening of your inherent magic. Which, by the way, I believe you possess much more of than you’ve seen so far.”
“Go on.”
His soft chuckle sounded more like a growl. “When it comes to L’zar Verdys, and of course, his daughter, a chosen Nós Aní is essentially untouchable.”
“Really?” Her eyes widened. “Like, I can’t get hurt?”
“I didn’t say invincible. We can still get hurt, and I have more times than I can count. But most magicals on both sides of the Border are smart enough to back down from any drow’s Nós Aní. The consequences of picking a fight with the wrong one are quite severe.”
Ember squinted at the human-looking nightstalker and cocked her head. “Anything else?”
“Hmm. Lifelong position, magically bound to a drow, more or less elevated status, stronger magic, and unwavering dedication. I suppose it goes without saying that it’s important to like the drow.”
“You like L’zar?”
Smirking, Corian shrugged. “Most of the time. Don’t get me wrong, I’d like to wring his neck on occasion. Someday I might try it. That’s about it. Now that you know, is it something you’re willing to take on?”
Ember turned in her seat again and stared at the entrance to the clinic. A small smile lifted the corner of her mouth. “Of course it is.”