Cross Keys

by Ally Shields

  “Maybe the building’s on fire.”

  He nuzzled her neck. “We’d hear the sirens. Are you anxious to get up?”

  “Not at all.” She turned her head to run the tip of her tongue across his bottom lip. “I could stay right here all day.”

  “Great idea.” He nibbled at her ear.

  The pounding increased. A voice seemed to be shouting something.

  Seth suddenly jerked his head up. “That sounded like…” He leaped out of bed and grabbed a pair of jeans.

  “Sounded like who?”

  “Rhyden.”

  “It can’t be!”

  He yanked his jeans on and zipped them in one continuous motion. Kam scrambled out of bed looking for her own clothes, finally remembering she’d shed them in the bathroom…or hall.

  She shrugged and picked up Seth’s shirt. It came below her thighs, so everything important was covered. She heard him talking, and then a second voice spoke that definitely sounded like Rhyden. She bolted toward the front room.

  “How did you get here?” She came to a sudden halt when Rhyden’s mouth fell open at the sight of her.

  Rhyden’s eyes swung to Seth, and he started laughing. “Man, you work fast. I left here less than twenty-four hours ago.”

  “Rhyden.”

  The warning in Seth’s voice got through, and his cousin toned it down. “It isn’t as if I didn’t see it coming, but, uh, OK, shutting up now.” He kept grinning. “Well, I guess we know your news. Would you like to hear mine?”

  “Rhyden, just tell us how and why you’re here,” Kam said.

  “I’ve come to rescue you.” He gave her an appreciative glance. “The way you look, I’m guessing my presence isn’t as welcome as I’d anticipated.”

  She ignored his teasing. “How’d you get back? Has the portal been opened? Tell us everything.”

  “Why don’t I put the coffee on?” Seth turned to Kam, his eyes meeting hers like an intimate caress. “You’d better get dressed. I’m not sure he’ll be able to tell us much with his mouth hanging open.”

  She reached up and kissed Seth on the mouth. Rhyden whistled as she walked to the back of the apartment. Although she tried to hurry, she took a moment to give her hair an extra brush stroke to make it gleam. She flipped it over her shoulders and joined the men in the kitchen.

  They were drinking coffee at the table and talking about Agent Crain.

  “You started without me?” she protested.

  “Only our end of the story. I explained what happened to you, and our conversation with the CIA agent, but I haven’t heard one word about Elvenrude. Honest.” Seth handed her a cup of coffee with a smile tugging at his lips. “Here’s that coffee I promised. Try it. You might like it this way.”

  She looked in the cup. “It’s brown.”

  “A little cream and sugar. I’m guessing you’ve never had a latte.”

  “No, but I’ll give it a try.” She looked at Rhyden, who hadn’t said anything since she’d come back. He seemed quiet, too quiet. Now that she looked more closely, there were dark circles under his eyes. “I have a feeling your news isn’t all good. So tell us.”

  “I’m going to tell this in order, so I don’t skip anything important.” He took a swig of coffee. “OK. Here goes. When I went through the portal, I had no idea what I’d find on the other end. But I didn’t expect to come out deep in the mines. Or alone and blind in total blackness.” He shifted uneasily. “I’ve never liked being underground, but underground in the dark is much worse. I’ll spare you the details of my crawling around, feeling my way, but I finally reached a lighted shaft and followed it to the surface.”

  “Which mine were you in?”

  Rhyden darted a swift look at his cousin. “It was one of ours. I came out the main shaft on the south mountain.”

  Seth scowled. “A lot of those are leased.”

  “Yes, and both of the crossbreed guilds have leaseholds, but when I went back later with Captain Brunic, I couldn’t identify which shaft I’d started in.” He looked at Kam. “The south entrance leads into dozens of small mines.”

  “Surely, you knew which direction,” Seth prodded.

  “Left. That’s all I was sure of. I guess I was disoriented in the dark, so we searched everywhere. It took a couple of hours with a lot of guards looking, but we finally found the six crossbreeds.” He set down his coffee cup and grimaced. When he went on, his voice was flat. “They were dead. Murdered. The bodies were piled in a small cave.”

  “How did they die?” The words barely made it beyond Kim’s lips. This was worse than she’d expected.

  “They’d been shot.”

  “Who would do that?”

  “It must have been the keyholder.”

  Seth swore under his breath. “Did you recover the firearms?”

  “No, but that wasn’t all we found in that room.” Rhyden’s voice held a warning.

  Kam tensed. What could be worse than six dead bodies?

  “There were bones, and other decomposing bodies. At least two dozen. Most of them were humans.”

  Humans? Kam was confused. Humans in Elvenrude? How could… Oh, no. The missing homeless. They’d been abducted by elves, then murdered. But why?

  Seth sent his chair crashing to the floor as he came to his feet. “Dammit, Rhyden. How could any elf be so barbaric—and so stupid? To bring humans through the portal…” He began to stride back and forth. “Who in Hades is this irresponsible keyholder?” he muttered.

  “Were the humans also shot?” Kam asked.

  Rhyden’s eyes followed Seth’s agitated steps, but it was Kam he answered. “We didn’t find any outward injuries. It looked like disease or starvation. Maybe both.”

  “You avoided my question.” Seth’s voice held a bitter edge. “I take it you haven’t found the traitor.”

  Rhyden shifted uncomfortably. “No, but we will. That’s one of the reasons I was allowed to come back for you and Kam. We need your help to find the bastard.”

  “Just how are we supposed to do that?” Seth shook his head and looked up at the ceiling. “Neither of us has a crystal ball.”

  “You’ve gotten this far. The king thinks you can do the rest.”

  “Because he wants to believe that, Rhyden.” Seth suddenly looked weary. “He doesn’t want to admit that Elvenrude’s future hangs by a thread. But some of the damage has already been done and is irrevocable.” He raked his fingers through his hair. “The enchantment that protects us was broken the instant the first human passed through the portal.”

  Silence. His words filled the room.

  Kam flinched, wishing she could deny the truth. The ancient elven enchantment that kept the portals hidden from outside eyes had been broken weeks ago when the first non-magical beings crossed the threshold. Yet Elvenrude still stood. As long as humans didn’t realize portals existed, they wouldn’t recognize the marks on the floor or be looking for a way to use them. There was still hope that Elvenrude would remain safe…and the portals could someday be reopened. The risk would be greater than before, but perhaps acceptable.

  She got up and slipped her arms around him, hugging her warmth to him. “It looks bad, but humanity hasn’t yet discovered us or the portals. Let’s concentrate on the immediate risk from inside Elvenrude.” She tightened her arms. “Why don’t we have another cup of coffee? No sugar this time. And talk it over?”

  He lowered his gaze to study her face, and his lips slowly curved. “I was mistaken, you are a tough guy.” He looked over her head at Rhyden. “When does the portal open again?”

  “Eight in the morning. We couldn’t count on locating you as quickly as I did.”

  “That gives us a little time to think this through.” Seth grabbed his chair and set it upright, then collected two of the coffee cups. Kam picked up the third and followed him into the kitchen.

  He poured, while she handed the refills to Rhyden. “The cream’s in the fridge. Let’s examine every event that’s happened
. Maybe we missed a clue that will point us in the direction of the keyholder.”

  “I’ll nuke the other package of sweet tarts. I think this calls for brain food.”

  “Sweet tarts?” Rhyden echoed.

  * * *

  By the time the coffee pot was empty, they’d rehashed everything that had happened in the last few weeks, from the rumors of unrest in Elvenrude, to the missing elves, the missing humans, and the smugglers’ activities. They finished by having Rhyden repeat the details of the discovery of the bodies and the mine searches that failed to locate the firearms.

  “Since the crossbreeds were shot, someone has a working gun and ammunition,” Seth mused. “If we’re lucky, there was only enough ammo for the rifle. And some of that was used in killing the crossbreeds.”

  Kam rubbed her stiff neck with one hand. “I don’t understand why they were killed. Why shoot his own workers?”

  “Maybe they tried to take over. Or the keyholder felt they knew too much… He seems to consider everyone expendable.”

  Kam propped her chin by one elbow on the table. “And the humans? Why were they there, and why did they die? We’re assuming someone in Elvenrude is plotting a violent rebellion, but how do the humans fit into that?”

  “Maybe Rhyden’s arrival in an unknown mine portal explains that. Cheap labor,” Seth suggested. “The elves were trading something in those barrels, and it had to be moved by workers who wouldn’t tell what they’d done. Human slaves.”

  Kam frowned. “And then he murdered them when they weren’t needed? Where are the injuries? We need to know what killed them.”

  “The autopsies weren’t completed when I left,” Rhyden said.

  “Don’t forget they died long before the job was over,” Seth reminded them. “If some of the bodies were badly decayed, even skeletonized, then they’d been dead for months.”

  “It makes no sense.” Kam sighed. “Maybe they were human guinea pigs in some bizarre experiment.” She waved an impatient hand. “We’re only guessing.”

  “The key might lie with what the elves were trading. Crain said it could be used to make a bomb, but what kind of bomb? Are we talking dynamite, fertilizer?” Seth pursed his lips and looked at Kam. “Maybe Crain would still tell you.”

  “Oh, no.” She sat up straight and shook her head. “I’m not contacting him again. He’s going to want something in return, and we have nothing to offer.”

  “It can’t hurt to try.” Seth looked at her, his voice soft, coaxing. “It’s not like you’d be asking for state secrets.”

  “No fair.” She could not believe he was giving her the sexy treatment. Right in front of Rhyden. “I’m not calling him.” She crossed her arms.

  * * *

  “It’s classified. Even if it wasn’t, I’m not an information center, Ms. Ryndel.” Agent Crain’s acerbic tone grated in her ear. “No more free info. Now if you were working for us…”

  “Did you pick up the ammunition we told you about?”

  “Of course, but that’s in the past. I would need a small favor in exchange for the information you want.”

  “But you were ready to tell us at the casino.”

  “Was I? I don’t remember discussing it.”

  “Convenient memory,” she grumbled “We don’t have time to do the CIA any favors, so I guess it’s no deal.”

  “It wouldn’t take long,” he coaxed. “An hour or so of your time. No more. And then I’d tell you anything you wanted to know about the cargo.”

  She hesitated. She shouldn’t ask, but she did. “What is this favor?”

  “There’s a ship in port. I need to know what’s in their cargo hold, and I suspect you could get in and out without anyone knowing you’d been there.”

  She looked a question at Seth who was hovering close enough to hear. He frowned, clearly not liking the idea, but he nodded.

  She still hesitated. “If we did this, you promise to tell us anything we want to know?”

  “Yes. I said I would.” Crain’s voice held a growing confidence. “Does this mean you’ll do it?”

  She rolled her eyes in disgust. “Give me the details.”

  “The ship is the Dorina. The crates are marked for Tellaxia, Inc. You’ll have to pry one open, so go prepared.” He gave her the pier number.

  Kam hung up and looked at Seth. “Do we draw straws or wrestle for it?”

  His slow grin appeared. “I’d much rather wrestle, but I’m afraid we’d forget to check out the ship.”

  Rhyden cleared his throat. “Have you forgotten I’m here?”

  “Not at all. You’ve been cramping my style for the better part of an hour.”

  “Not exactly what I meant.” His cousin’s tone was dry, and Seth looked at him. “I’m the logical one to go.”

  “You don’t have either of the necessary magics to pull off this job.”

  “But I know how to use them. Lend me the ring and amulet. I’ll get the information, while you two pack.” He grinned. “Or whatever you decide to do with the free time. Besides, it would give me some bragging rights when we get home. Ladies love spy stories.”

  They argued about it for a while, but Rhyden was so insistent that Kam shrugged and said it didn’t matter to her. She took off her invisibility amulet and set it on the table, then went to her room to pack. Seth poked his head in ten minutes later to tell her Rhyden was on his way.

  “I couldn’t dissuade him. He’s always been hard-headed.”

  “Must run in the Lormarc family.” She continued to fold clothes from the bed and stuff them in her bag.

  He stepped up behind her and kissed the back of her neck.

  She drew in her breath and turned in his arms. “Is this why you agreed to let him go?”

  “No, but it is a nice bonus. He won’t be back for an hour.” He tightened his arms, and she didn’t resist. Just one more minute, one more rush of that electric warmth through her system, then she’d put a stop to this fairytale.

  She’d been thinking while she packed. Tomorrow they would be back in Elvenrude. Things were different there. The Ryndel and Lormarc families hated one another, and no one would understand what had happened between her and Seth. Certainly not her father or mother. She couldn’t even imagine what his family would say.

  And Caleb was waiting for her answer. She’d forgotten all about him last night.

  Loyal, steadfast and totally suitable Caleb, who would make the perfect husband. Handsome and attentive, accepted, even loved, by her family. He would give her a wonderful life. He’d never be Seth, but that wasn’t his fault.

  She closed her eyes and hugged Seth against her one last time. “We should pack.” She spoke abruptly, too abruptly.

  His body tensed. “What’s wrong, Kam? Has something upset you?”

  She pulled away, and he dropped his arms. “Of course not, but we need to have everything ready.” She bent over the bed again without looking at him and kept her tone bright, matter of fact. “We’re going home to Elvenrude and our families. For good this time.”

  “Ah, I see. You and I go back to being a Ryndel and a Lormarc. Is that it?”

  She heard the accusation in his voice, and it spurred her to turn and face him. He had to accept this, even if she had to lie. “We were never anything else, Seth.”

  “Really?” His eyes narrowed. “It didn’t feel that way last night.”

  “Don’t make something out of a few stolen moments.” She prayed he’d let it drop.

  “Stolen moments?” he repeated.

  “I’m sorry, but I should never have gotten involved with you. Caleb has asked me to marry him,” she admitted in desperation.

  “And?”

  The word was harsh, close to menacing, and she overreacted. “I’m going to say yes, as soon as I get home.”

  The words hung there. Unwanted. Untrue. But impossible to take back.

  Something sparked in Seth’s eyes—was it anger? pain?—then they darkened, becoming impenetrable. Aft
er a moment he turned on his heels and walked out.

  * * *

  Rhyden was overdue. Kam sat on the couch and watched the door. Seth paced the room–and ignored her.

  “I shouldn’t have let him go.” He muttered a curse through clenched teeth. “If there was ever trouble to be found, Rhyden would find it.”

  “I’m sure he’s OK.” She tried to reassure herself as much as Seth, but wasn’t prepared for his bitter response.

  “Don’t pretend like you care. After all, he’s only a Lormarc.”

  “That’s not fair.”

  He stopped abruptly. “No, it’s not. I shouldn’t have said that. I’m sorry.”

  She couldn’t leave it like this. “Seth, I—”

  She was cut off when the door rattled and Rhyden stepped inside. “Miss me?”

  “Where have you been?” Seth growled, starting toward him.

  Rhyden’s brows shot up. “Whoa, take it easy. I was delayed at the ship. All my own fault.” He walked into the kitchen and grabbed a beer from the fridge. “I bought a crowbar on the way there, but forgot a flashlight. Bad call.” He went on to explain how he’d been forced to turn on the cargo hold lights to read the names on the crates. A crewman had spotted the lights and raised an alarm, forcing Rhyden to play hide and seek while three men searched the entire area. “When they finally left, it didn’t take me long to get the information. The crates are filled with money. Stacks of twenty-dollar bills.”

  “You’re kidding. I wonder what that’s all about. OK, I’ll call Crain.” Seth pulled out his cell phone.

  While he was busy talking to the agent, Rhyden cocked his head at Kam. “It seems a little cooler in here than when I left.”

  “I hadn’t noticed. We’ve been busy packing.”

  “Did something happen?”

  She sighed. “It’s nothing, Rhyden. We’re just eager to get home to our families.”

  He gave her that I-see look. “Ah, the moment of truth. Does it have to be that way?”

  There was no other way, but Seth’s voice stopped her from having to say it.

  “Well, that answers a few questions.” Seth dropped his cell phone back in his pocket. The look he turned on Kam and Rhyden was all business. “It’s no wonder the CIA has been so persistent. The crossbreeds were selling uranium. Weapons grade uranium. The kind that people in this world use to make nuclear bombs.”