by Sarah Noffke
Sophia couldn’t blame Stefan. Without Liv at the apartment, it was probably lonelier for both Clark and Stefan. “Is war imminent with the giants and the gnomes?”
Liv decided that she’d had enough soup, which wasn’t much, and pushed it away. She shrugged. “The gnomes and giants do this at least every century as far as I can tell. They own similar industries and fight for common resources. Every hundred years, they step on each other toes and the House has to intervene. Usually, there’s a skirmish, maybe more, but I’m working on a strategy that will hopefully avoid both. I didn’t want to unveil it today because I like it better when Lorenzo and Bianca think I’m in over my head. Then I return with the case solved, no battle wounds and a more peaceful resolution than they thought possible. It always puts them in a sour mood.”
Sophia laughed. “Wow, they really want you dead, don’t they?”
Liv was good-natured enough that she agreed with a chuckle. “Not as much as Adler Sinclair, but yeah. I mess up all their power plays.”
“Why don’t the rest of the Council members stand up to them?” Sophia dipped her naan in some sauce. “Hester, Raina, and Clark aren’t corrupt.”
Liv arched an eyebrow. “I don’t know. That Clark guy is pretty suspect. I have my eyes on him.”
Sophia laughed. “He’s our brother. You live with him.”
“Exactly. You know what they say about keeping your friends close.” Liv hid a grin.
“So Clark is your enemy now, is he?” Sophia challenged.
“He got mad at me yesterday because I forgot to tell him the plumber was coming over.”
“That seems like an overreaction.”
Liv shrugged. “Well, the guy did come in while Clark was in the shower. I thought he’d like someone to hear his singing so I sent Mr. Plumber in there unbeknownst to either him or Clark.”
“You’re wicked.”
“What can I say?” Liv poked at her uneaten samosas. “I get bored and need entertainment via torturing my friends and family.”
“How on Earth are you bored?”
“Coming from you, that’s funny,” Liv stated. “I see the way you handle your leadership role with the Dragon Elite and knock out cases and juggle all the rest. If I were a betting woman, which I’m not ever since losing a ton to some gnomes when playing Blackjack, I’d wager that you need more on your plate.”
“You’re crazy,” Sophia retorted. “I have enough to manage, and half of it I don’t know how to solve.”
Liv nodded. “That’s a good thing. If you’re ever given a case or a problem, and you’re like, I know exactly how to handle this, you probably better check out of this business because you’re finished. I think we thrive on the not-knowing aspect of all this.”
Sophia swirled raita into the makhani sauce, enjoying the way they mixed, white and red creating a subtle pink. “Good, so as long as I feel in over my head, I’m doing okay, then?”
“Exactly!” Liv affirmed. “If you find yourself doing the backstroke easily, then watch out because you’re about to get hit by a tsunami.”
Sophia laughed. “Okay, well, I’m struggling to stay afloat right now.”
“No one knows,” Liv related. “You’re making it all look easy.”
For a moment, Sophia didn’t say anything. She simply watched her sister. Liv was the one who showed signs of not staying afloat. Maybe that’s why Stefan had been worried about her and urged the Council not to give her back-to-back cases. Something was going on with Liv, but by the way she studied her food and didn’t touch it, Sophia doubted her sister would confess anything.
Maybe something more had happened with the goblins than Liv was letting on. Or perhaps the giant and gnome negotiations would be incredibly dangerous. It wasn’t that Sophia wasn’t worried for her sister. She was. That had been the case since the beginning when Liv took the role of Warrior. However, Sophia always had a quiet confidence that Liv would persevere. Still, something new in her sister made her worry that she might quit before she could win.
“Is everything okay?” Sophia began and realized that wasn’t the question that would get answers. “I mean, how can I help you out? You and Stefan recently helped the Dragon Elite with the Rogue Riders. I hoped that we could repay the favor. Do you need me to accompany you on the negotiations with the giants and gnomes? Lunis could come.”
Liv shook her head. “Gnomes are afraid of dragons ever since they started referring to them as appetizers, and giants are still offended that they never qualified for rider status due to their weight, but thanks.”
“Oh, well, I guess that makes sense. We wouldn’t want to make things harder for you. I could accompany you if you’d like. If you think I could help. I could leave Lunis at home. He’s busy anyway.”
I’m not, the blue dragon said in her head. I beat Animal Crossing on the Nintendo Switch.
That game isn’t one you beat, Sophia argued. It’s an ongoing thing.
Yet, I dominated.
Sophia nearly laughed, but then she’d have to explain that she was talking to her dragon in her head and that never went over well.
“There is something I could use your help with.” Liv pushed the plates in front of her away.
“Really?” Sophia asked, her interest piqued. “What is it? One of your cases? Research for the House of Fourteen?”
Liv shook her head. “Have you heard about a genie who once worked for King Rudolf Sweetwater?”
Surprised by the question, Sophia leaned back. “You mean Stan?”
She couldn’t believe it, but Rudolf had mentioned the genie and his interactions with him recently. It had been a very typical bizarre Rudolf conversation.
Liv slapped the table. “I knew I came to the right person. How did I know that you’d have heard about that genie?”
“Because I obviously have nothing better to do than hear Rudolf’s strange stories.”
Liv nodded. “Me too. We should get hobbies. Maybe we’ll join a bowling league.”
“I’d rather not.”
“Agreed. Anyway, I know that you’re working with Ru a lot lately for the new business and since I have to buzz off for a while, I thought you might be able to find out the location of the genie’s bottle.”
“Stan?” Sophia asked. “I think Rudolf said he dropped it in the ocean.”
“Yes, but where would be the question. I think we need specifics if we’re going to recover it.”
“Recover it?” Sophia asked.
“Yeah, it’s for a case.” Liv’s eyes slid to the side.
She’s lying to you, Lunis stated in Sophia’s head.
Liv wouldn’t do that, Sophia argued.
She would if she’s lying to herself about something, Lunis countered.
What does that mean?
She has a secret, and she’s not ready to talk about it, Lunis answered.
Like what?
Maybe she’s been poisoned again, Lunis offered, referring to the many times that Liv had tried to downplay how sick she was when recovering from some beast she should never have encountered if not doing stuff that the House shouldn’t have known about.
Maybe, Sophia admitted, looking at the many untouched plates of food on the table.
Or maybe she’s spelled not to talk about it, Lunis suggested.
That’s a possibility. Sophia studied her sister.
Finally, she said, “So you need me to find the location of the genie’s lamp? I was going to see Rudolf soon and could ask.”
Liv’s face brightened with a smile. “Thanks. That would be great. Then we need a way to recover it from the bottom of the ocean.”
“Didn’t you use a spell to pull the Forgotten Archives up from the ocean floor?” Sophia asked.
Her sister nodded. “Yeah, but it was taxing, and fishing isn’t easy.”
Sophia gave Liv a skeptical glare. Something was definitely up with her. This girl hadn’t been taxed in all her life. Deciding it was best to help without question, a
s she would have wanted if it was Sophia doing the asking, she simply let out a breath and thought. Finally, something occurred to her.
“Hey, Evan and Coral can swim underwater and hold their breath for long amounts of time,” Sophia offered. “Maybe they’ll help recover the genie’s bottle.”
Liv smiled, her eyes lighting up. “That would be great. Can you ask them?”
Sophia nodded. “Yeah, Evan owes me a favor or four hundred.”
Liv laughed. “That seems about right.”
Sophia lowered her chin, her face going serious for a moment. “When I recover the genie’s bottle for you, are you going to tell me what it’s for?”
Her sister reached across the table and patted the back of her hand. “Of course, Soph. I have to work out some things first. Then I can explain the details.”
Sophia knew Liv wasn’t lying with what she’d said. She also knew she was holding something back.
Chapter Twelve
The desert air was anything but refreshing as it swept past Versalee’s face and tangled her hair, high on the rooftop of the Cosmopolitan Hotel and Casino. The demon dragonrider didn’t like anything about the desert. What was there to like?
However, she liked the idea of the Las Vegas Strip with all the debauchery and crime and potentials for the Rogue Riders to profit from. Once she’d secured her rightful place inside the building where she stood with Ash, her dragon, she wouldn’t know that they were in the desert. She’d only breathe in air-conditioned oxygen and be bathed in fluorescent lights.
The Rogue Riders’ leader had started with a bang, only to be momentarily defeated by the Dragon Elite. She had to give it to them. They were skillful. However, they were out of practice and conditioned to the old ways. Not only that, but they were good at their core and unwilling to do what it took to be a real dragonrider. They were born to dominate. To rule. To soar in the skies and roast the lands if they desired.
Versalee had no idea why those given majestic beasts used them to serve the weak mortals. It made no sense, and she wasn’t going to be defeated once more by the Dragon Elite. No, this time she’d sneak up on them, quietly building her army and presence until the Rogue Riders were strong enough to squash the Dragon Elite decisively. Never again would she have them ride into her territory and challenge her. She’d be the one storming into the Gullington when the time came. First, she needed an empire to rule.
Versalee pointed at the Las Vegas Strip below, traffic rushing by on the roads, bright lights flashing in the dark, the Bellagio fountains cascading, and smiled. “This is the perfect place to build the Rogue Riders’ empire.”
Beside her, his boot on the edge of the rooftop and a pursed expression on his face, Nathaniel gave Versalee an uncertain look. “I thought the Las Vegas Strip was the property of the fae. Didn’t they create it?”
Versalee shook her head. She had a lot to teach her second in command. Well, if he lasted long enough for such things. “They did us the favor of creating it. I’m not worried about taking something away from a magical race who can’t fight and only know how to indulge in drinking, eating, sleeping, and other things.”
Nathaniel scrutinized her for a moment before his eyes skipped to his green dragon, stationed close by Ash. Versalee thought that he and his dragon were probably conversing telepathically. She sensed his hesitation, which would also be his death sentence.
“What about the Dragon Elite?” Nathaniel finally asked. “They ordered us not to take over any more lands that don’t belong to us. Won’t they storm back in here and force us out? Wouldn’t it be better to find a place that’s not already taken?”
Versalee sighed and considered pushing Nathaniel over the building’s side but thought that would only cause more issues for her. Then she’d have to recruit a new number two and explain to the mortals on the streets below why a falling body had crushed someone. Instead, she shook her head and let out a calming breath.
“The Dragon Elite won’t know we’re here until we own this place,” she answered. “By that point, we’ll have such a stronghold on the Las Vegas Strip that it will be too late. Unlike with the elfin island, we’re not going to storm in and take over this city. We’ll do it stealthily. By we, I mean you.”
“Me?” Nathaniel questioned, surprise making his freckled face crease with confusion. “What about you?”
“I have other things I need to attend to. I need to secure forces that will help ensure any battles with the Dragon Elite deliver us a decisive win.”
“Forces?” Nathaniel asked. “Like what?”
“It’s better if I don’t say,” she answered at once, her tone clipped, ending that part of the conversation at once.
He nodded. “So you want the Rogue Riders to take over the city quietly?”
“That’s right. Take over the criminal rings. Infiltrate and spread our rule. The fae are cowards and will naturally shrink away when a new, stronger force comes into their city. By the time the Dragon Elite get wind of it, it will be too late. We’ll own this place. It’s the perfect place for us.”
Nathaniel’s green eyes lit up with greed. “Yeah, think of all the riches we can get here taking from the criminals.”
Versalee nodded. “When you kill the king of the fae, once we’ve taken over, be sure to thank him for setting us up with such a nice empire.”
She turned at once and strode for the orange dragon, feeling the confused expression at her back from Nathaniel. Swinging her leg over the side of her dragon, Versalee secured herself on top of Ash. Only once she had the reins in her hands did she look back at Nathaniel. As she guessed, he wore a bewildered expression.
“Me?” He pointed at his chest. “You want me to kill the king of the fae? When are you going to be back? How long will you be gone?”
She tightened her hands on the reins. “It’s hard to say. As long as it takes. Yes. I want you to do whatever it takes to secure the Las Vegas Strip as our territory. If the Dragon Elite show up, throw them off our scent. When the time comes, kill the king and show the world that we mean business.”
Versalee yanked back on the reins, making Ash back up from the edge of the building, giving them enough space for a takeoff. Her dragon tugged her head from side to side and resisted the command, but still ended up acquiescing.
“How will I get in touch with you?” Nathaniel asked. “What if I have questions?”
Versalee shook her head while commanding her dragon forward. Ash ran like a bull for the edge of the building and nearly fell off the side before springing into the air, soaring over the Las Vegas Strip and away. She looked back over her shoulder at Nathaniel left standing on the top of the Cosmopolitan. “I’ll be in touch with you. Don’t screw this up.”
With that, she soared to the west to lands that were better suited for what she was looking for—something that would make her an unstoppable force.
Chapter Thirteen
At the threshold to Hiker Wallace’s study, Sophia paused and took in the strange sight of Mama Jamba watching television on a small handheld device, all curled up like a grandmother although she was much, much more.
Behind his desk and digging furiously through the drawers was Hiker, his brow furrowed with frustration.
Both Hiker and Mama Jamba seemed absorbed in their tasks, and although it was kind of nice to watch them doing their thing, Sophia felt wrong spying on them, even from such a public place as an open doorway. However, for a moment she allowed herself to lament about how these two were as close to a mother and a father as she could ever remember.
Well, it was sort of an overstatement since Mama Jamba was quite literally the mother of all. Hiker, well, he wasn’t a father at all. However, he had father-like qualities, and she had to admit that she looked up to him—both literally and figuratively.
Sophia decided to make her presence known and cleared her throat. “I have news,” she said from the doorway while knocking on the frame for good measure.
Mama Jamba didn’t loo
k up but instead simply nodded. “They’re out of the blue ski boots. I know, it was a bummer for me too.”
Sophia narrowed her eyes at the woman as she tilted her head, trying to figure out what she was watching.
Apparently following her train of thought, Hiker motioned in Mama Jamba’s direction. “It’s some home shopping network thing she’s been watching all day. Who knows what that is or why she’s wasting her time on it.”
Sophia’s brow scrunched up more. “I know what it is but didn’t realize that was still a thing. Can’t you buy your snow boots off Amazon? Or I don’t know, manifest them?”
“I could,” Mama Jamba answered. “Where’s the fun in that?”
“Nowhere, apparently,” Hiker grumbled and continued to dig in his center desk drawer. He looked close to having his body sucked into the desk he had his arm so far in.
“What are you looking for?” Sophia asked, curious.
“My sanity,” he answered at once. “Have you seen it?”
“Not since we met,” she replied. “I don’t think it would be in there regardless.”
He pulled his arm from the drawer and stood while shaking his head. “Probably not.” He nodded in Mama Jamba’s direction. “That one knows what I’m looking for, but she isn’t talking, now is she?”
“I can, if you want me to,” Mama Jamba sang, not taking her eyes off the screen as the announcer described a thermal coat that kept out the wind and snow. “Do you want me to tell Sophia what you’re looking for?”
“Are you going to tell me where it is?” Hiker countered.
“Most likely not,” Mama Jamba answered.
“Then no,” Hiker muttered while looking around the desk, which he seemed to have destroyed in his quest for the mystery object.