Page 50 of Morning's Light

“What do you think can be done about it?” Zelda asked, taking a sip of her water and staring at Israel over the rim.

“I don’t know. I’d like to cut it off, but… I don’t know. You would be mad at me if I did.”

She held her breath and waited for him to finish without prompting. He kept her in suspense, taking another giant sip of tea, his throat convulsing. The man had a flair for drama and knew how to draw a moment out to its fullest potential. Surprising, considering his lack of brain cells.

“She really is a powerful woman, despite the night terrors. And the garbage. Beautiful. Strong to a fault,” he finally said.

“I understand how you might be turned off.”

“Right. Although the sex is great.”

Another thing she did not want to hear, though she knew it was a necessary part of his continued involvement. Sex was natural, essential. And a picture in her head she fought to ignore. She’d never been bothered by the concept of sharing. She certainly refused to be now.

Zelda needed to keep him involved with the Cavaldi girl if only to gather information. He couldn’t afford to be caught with his hand in the cookie jar.

The Cavaldis, she mused. A family with magic dating back to the beginning. Her co-workers knew about the eclipse and the arrival of the Harbinger, a witch born in times of great need, capable of restoring balance to the world. With the sole Cavaldi son in custody, Zelda was tasked with keeping an eye on the rest of the clan.

They needed the Harbinger on their side. To understand their goals and dreams for the future. To tip the balance in favor of the Claddium’s interests. Israel was her inside man, content to keep a watchful eye on one daughter while Zelda paid for his service with her body.

“Tell me more about the odd behavior, Mr. James. That’s the entire point of our little luncheon, yes?” She gestured at the table separating them, the tablecloth and accoutrements prepared to display the elegances of their coming feast. “Your keeping me updated?”

“Surely that’s not the only reason?” Israel waggled his brows.

Zelda tapped her fingernails on the table, her eyes narrowing. “Speak.”

“All right, all right. There are a few more things. Although I don’t know why you’re so interested in her. I didn’t think women were your thing.”

Keeping Israel in the dark about her motives was in itself an act of balance. She needed definitive answers from him while making sure he didn’t understand the entirety of the end game. “I told you before not to question our arrangement. You keep me happy and I keep you happy. Remember?”

A server delivering bountiful food interrupted them, setting plates down in front and checking to make sure the tea remained plentiful. Both man and woman assured him of their contentment and went back to their conversation.

Zelda glanced down at the steak, noting immediately that the temperature was off. Instead of sending it back, she touched a finger to the meat and brought it to where she wanted it. Juices sizzled, though the plate remained cool to the touch.

Israel dove into his chicken with vigor. He speared a chunk and spoke through the food in his mouth. “I don’t know what you want me to say. There are little things. Aisanna is jumpier than usual. A lot vaguer about where she’s been and where she’s going. There was something last month with her sister, I know. She wouldn’t tell me exactly what it was but I got the impression it had something to do with the farmhouse explosion. She kept mentioning a fire.”

“Interesting.” Something to consider, at least. Orestes would find the news quite to his liking. She needed more. “Anything else?”

“When she came by today, she said she didn’t remember last night but there was glitter in her hair and club stamps on her hands. Blood on her neck. I didn’t press. Didn’t want her around. I wanted to send her packing Do you think that would have been better?”

“No, you did the right thing. Do you remember what club it was? Constance, perhaps?”

“No, it wasn’t Constance. I didn’t recognize the stamp. Probably one of those newer places downtown where the kids hang.”

“Yes. Perhaps.”

Israel babbled on about other meaningless things, deciding he was done with their conversation regarding Aisanna.

Zelda tuned out somewhere in the middle and was unconcerned about anything outside of his connection with the Cavaldis and their children. Her real interest lay in the wheeling and dealing of information. She traded those tidbits like gold bullions and found Israel to be a ready and willing informant.

She had eyes and ears watching the family. With the approach to the eclipse, patrol should be doubled. Whatever magic those girls dabbled in warranted higher security and around the clock observation. None of them could possibly be the Harbinger, she thought. Orestes and his suspicions be damned.

“Regarding the Cavaldi girl,” Zelda interrupted.

“God, this again?”

“You need to continue whatever it is going on between the two of you. It’s in your best interest and mine. Know that I will continue to reward you handsomely for your involvement.”

“Are you serious?” Israel chewed thoughtfully. “I mean, I guess, if you insist. I won’t tell you no. As long as I still have the freedom to see other people.” His eyes warmed and he reached across the space to tickle her palm with his fingertips.

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