Page 61 of A Kingdom of Monsters

I raised my eyebrows. I had no particular strong feelings toward Aine. She was direct and often rude, and had never been overly kind to me. On several occasions, she’d clearly implied that she didn’t think I was good enough for her brother or her cousin. However, she’d also wanted to accompany me to Aftermath and had fought the rebels on my behalf.

From Siobhan’s tone, however, I didn’t think Aine’s character was in question one way or the other. I gathered that her resentment was really jealousy over whatever favor Aine had earned from Cross in these last few months.

“Oh,” Siobhan said suddenly. “I forgot to mention. Your friend Iola is still living with us as well.”

“Really?” I breathed. “Thank the Source. Is she doing alright?”

“Oh yes,” Siobhan waved her hand in the air as if shooing invisible flies. “She’s not much of a thief, but she gets along well with everyone. I think father may start using her in one of the shops we own as a cover.”

I sighed in relief. “I’m glad. If you have a clothing shop, perhaps she could work there. She’s a very talented seamstress. Who knows, perhaps you could turn a legitimate profit for once.”

Siobhan grinned. “I’ll pass that along.”

I swirled the last sip of wine in my glass, trying to think what to say next. It was nice to catch up with Siobhan and to hear news of our missing friends, but still we couldn’t pretend this was merely a social visit. We needed to find the jewel, and the sooner we did so and got out of the city the better off we would be.

Perhaps a direct approach was best.

“So what about the vault?” I asked. “Do you think we might find the jewel in there?”

Siobhan pursed her lips. We’d told her that we were looking for a lost Everlast family heirloom, carefully hiding the true nature of the jewel without directly lying. That much she seemed to believe, but she hadn’t looked happy about helping us look for it. Now, she looked even less pleased.

“I understand what you’re asking,” she began, “and that this jewel belonged to you all to begin with. But I can’t let you into the vault without father’s permission.”

“Tell us where he is then,” Scion demanded. “I’ll get his damn permission by tonight.”

Siobhan shook her head. “I can’t.”

I put a hand on Scion’s shoulder, sensing he was about to say something rash, possibly offending Siobhan enough that she wouldn’t help us at all. He looked down at my fingers then up into my eyes, his expression unreadable.

“Where’s the wine seller?” Ambrose said loudly

I jumped, and spun around to look at him. He was sitting cross legged on the floor, his back straight and his eyes half closed. He’d been almost completely silent since Siobhan had arrived, and now when I looked at him I once again saw that disconnected distant look on his face. Excitement bubbled up in my stomach. “Did you see where the vault is?”

He tilted his head toward Siobhan. “She visits there many times in the future.”

Siobhan scowled. “By the fucking Source. I’d heard the Dullahan was a seer, but that’s eerie.”

I grinned. “So I take it he’s right?”

She nodded, looking none too happy about it. “I should tell you though, I wouldn’t go looking for the vault. It’s warded against thieves.”

“That’s fucking ironic,” Scion grumbled.

Siobhan ignored him, speaking only to me. “The traps are good, so even if you did manage to find your jewel you might not get out. And before you ask me to help you break in, I don’t know how to disarm them and I don’t use combat magic. So, even if I wanted to help you, which I’m not sure I do, I can’t.”

I sighed, feeling discouraged again. There was a long silence in which I could practically hear Scion’s brain working, and Bael gnashing his teeth.

Siobhan sighed. “I suppose I don’t have to be a seer to know you’re going to try anyway so I’ll show you as far as the door, but that’s it. Then I’m done.”

My excitement returned at once and I grinned, jumping up from my stool. “Thank you. You don’t understand what you’re doing for us.”

“Don’t thank me,” Siobhan grumbled. “I’m probably walking you straight to your deaths.”

“Is it that bad?” I asked.

“Oh absolutely, but even assuming you make it out I would keep one eye open. You might be friends but if Cross thinks you’ve stolen from him he’ll slit your throats while you’re sleeping.”

To my surprise, Scion laughed. “I genuinely hope he tries. I could use the exercise.”

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