Page 59 of Horn of Winter

Even I have a limit as to how many lovers I can take on without raising suspicions.

Given your history, I find that hard to believe.

That history has benefited yourself just as much as our master over the centuries.Her tone was amused rather than annoyed.

It was a rather illuminating comment, because if Carlahadbeen active for centuries, she had to be something other than just a face shifter. Shifters did have a longer lifespan than humans, but the longest living shifter on record had been just under two hundred years old. From what these two were implying, Carla was far older than that.

Which suggested she was either part elf or part pixie. Knowing our luck, it would be the former rather than the latter, which would give her immunity from pixie truth magic.

And I would hope they will continue to be of benefit in centuries to come,the man replied coolly.

And is that why you have chosen this location? The amusement in her reply was stronger.Because you wish to partake in an aforementioned benefit?

I do find myself in need of your tender administrations.

She laughed, a surprisingly saucy sound, but thankfully, the vision faded on what was the beginnings of a sexual encounter.

I released the Eye and closed my eyes, breathing slow and deep to ease the erratic pounding of my pulse. I was beginning to suspect the cost of using the Eye was the one thing that would never change, no matter how proficient at using it I became.

After a few minutes, I grabbed the chocolate, opened it up, and broke off a couple of rows to munch on while I sipped my tea. I felt a little better once I’d finished both, but tiredness nevertheless hit. I really didn’t feel like moving, so I simply stretched out on the old sofa, tugged a blanket over my body, and went to sleep to the sound of the old building’s song and warm memories of Mom’s presence.

Mathi’s chauffeur picked me up at the appointed time and drove me over to the company’s private airfield. A flight attendant in a dark green suit greeted me and ushered me into the cabin, seating me in a luxurious lounge seat before offering me a cup of tea. Mathi—who was seated opposite—was on the phone but gave me a nod and a quick, tense smile before getting back to his conversation. From what I could gather, the contract hiscompany had missed out on might just be up for negotiations again.

Given what he’d said about his dislike of losing, I did not want to think about howthatmight have come about.

Once the plane had taken off, I was offered a delicious selection of pastries along with a selection of hot foods, all of which were sublime. The Dhar-Vals did not skimp when it came to providing the finest hospitality on their planes.

Mathi didn’t eat and didn’t end the call until the plane had landed at Shannon and was taxiing to its assigned position.

“Sorry about that,” he said. “Got notification of a contract breach by an opposition company and had to jump on the opportunity while it existed.”

So,notthe contract they’d recently lost. “When did it all go down?”

“Got the call at one last night. Been dealing with it since.” Something almost animalistic gleamed briefly in his eyes. Like most light elves, Mathi considered the hunt and securement of a deal one of the great pleasures in life.

“Meaning you haven’t slept?”

“No, but that is of no matter. A good deal sealed is something I find very invigorating.”

“Yeah, I know,” I said, smiling in memory. “But you’ll have to wait until we get back to Deva and your latest prospect before you unleash said vigor.”

“Ah, you’re a cruel woman, Bethany Aodhán.”

“And you, dear Mathi, would take a mile if given an inch.”

He laughed and, with a hand pressed lightly against my spine, guided me down the stairs and across to the waiting silver Mercedes.

Once we were underway, he said, “Any updates since I saw you last?”

I quickly told him about the pixie and what I’d seen in the vision. He frowned. “The ‘that is not our way’ comment suggests we are dealing with a highborn Ljósálfar elf, but there are very few I’m on good enough terms with to talk about the family’s business, let alone council. I don’t even talk to my father about the latter.”

“Whoever this person is, they’re a rat god acolyte, and surely that’s a rarity amongst the Ljósálfar population, highborn or not.”

“Yes, but how does one search for inclinations like that? Given how despised Ninkilim are, even today, it is unlikely they would be vocal about it.”

“Could you talk to your father?”

“Possibly, but remember, it is extremely likely rat followers have infiltrated both the IIT and other government bodies. We’d run the risk of alerting them.”

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