Page 98 of Tangled Fates

“Thank you,” I said, relieved she had left.

“If I didn’t know better, I would have thought you doused her in a love spell,” she smirked at me.

“Goddess, no,” I scowled. “It was a moment of weakness, and I don’t even remember taking her into a room much less meeting her. Thank you.”

“Anytime. I know she can be a little pushy,” she said, smiling at a few patrons.

“A little?” I raised my brow.

She laughed. “I know she’s a pain sometimes, but most of the men like her. Do you need anything?”

“Not right now,” I sighed. “Actually, do you have a charger for a phone?”

I held up my dead phone.

“Yeah, come to my office,” she said, walking towards the back of the place where we had come in.

It was a simple office that had the usual office things, except in the corner. Cora had a supply of various magical items, potions and artifacts. While she ran this place, she also hired us from time to time to retrieve things for her.

“Any word on Oria on the streets?” she asked as she closed the door.

“None, we tried getting it from a magic shop, but were unsuccessful,” I replied. I knew people were getting desperate for the vials that kept everyone alive who could afford it.

If Tay was correct, we were looking at a really bad situation with Oria, but we had her identity under wraps. How long, though, would it be until someone recognized her or her mother came after her? My wolf felt extremely uncomfortable.

“Has the supply dried up?” She sat down, giving me a power bank that I hooked my phone up to.

“I don’t know. Maybe the talks of it being a fountain were true and we’ve wrung the well dry,” I said, hoping maybe I could start a rumor to push away attention from finding a girl.

“For years I heard it was a girl responsible for the magic, but I guess what you're saying might be more believable.” She leaned back on her chair, clapping her hands together over her lap. “I still can’t believe people like you haven't found it.”

“Not for the lack of trying, but how do you find something that doesn’t want to be found?” My phone screen lit up as it turned on. “I imagine people will start hiring us to find it soon, and I can’t wait to start raking in the money.”

She smirked. “I imagine you will be busy soon, but if you find the source are you going to share?”

“If someone pays me.” I shrugged. “You know you can pay me to find anything.”

My phone vibrated with an array of messages coming through. I recognized one as the woman who wanted us to kidnap a woman for her. I looked at the date and it was the day before Beltane.

Shit.

I didn’t know how time had escaped me, but if I didn’t do it before tonight, that large sum of money would be passed onto the next person.

“I gotta take this,” I said, getting up. “Do you mind if I use this and bring it back before I leave?”

“Of course,” she said, getting up too. “Please keep me in mind if you do find Oria. I have some clients who are chomping at the bit to get their hands on it.”

“Of course,” I said, nodding before I left her office.

I walked out the back door, immediately dialing the woman’s number.

“If you can’t complete a job, the least you could do is let me know.” Her cool tone sent shivers down my spine.

“There was an issue with our current job, and I have just now been able to use my phone,” I replied, trying to be vague.

“Well, good thing for you I need to push back the date; it seems I've run into a hiccup and I will need you in a week,” she said, with an annoyed tone. “Will I be able to count on you or shall I ask your competitors?”

“You can count on me,” I said, hoping I wasn’t making a mistake.

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