Page 20 of The Gargoyle's Grace
I followed Caster into his smoke-stained office. Gaius joined us, taking a seat on the sofa off to the side. I remained standing as the loan shark dropped into the aged leather chair behind the worn desk.
“What can I do for you?” Caster asked as I closed the door behind us.
“I need to settle a debt.”
“Oh?” His bushy eyebrow raised. “You have no business with me, stone kin. Whose debt might you be covering?”
“Jardin. The entire balance. And I’ll take back any collateral you’re holding as well.” Gaius grunted. “Is there a problem?” I asked, skin prickling from his rapt glare.
Caster laughed, the sound somehow oily. “Gaius here holds a torch for Miss Jardin, I think.”
My nostrils flared as testosterone filled the air. “That’s unfortunate for him.”
“Indeed. And how will you be paying this substantial sum?”
I dropped the pouch of coins on his desk. It had been easy enough to raid one of my troves for the necessary funds, but Caster looked as though he might start crying with joy from the sudden windfall of gold.
“The debt gets cleared, and the family is permanently removed from your books. You’ll refuse their business if they come to you in the future.”
“Yes, yes.” He counted hastily, then started again. “This’ll do fine,” he muttered, opening a drawer in his desk. He dug around for a moment, then produced a necklace and a ring.
“Mark the books,” I demanded, not interested in leaving anything to chance where he was concerned. When he didn’t move to do as such I leaned forward and gripped the collar of his shirt, pulling him toward me. “Mark. The. Books.”
Gaius continued to burn holes into me with his eyes, shifting around as though spoiling for a fight. I’d be more than happy to oblige, I just wanted this done first.
“No need for that.” Caster glared at me, straightening his shirt with a snap once I let go. “I’d hate for there to be bloodshed in my office.” He threw a look over at Gaius who grinned at me as though he’d love nothing more than to paint the room red.
Caster took out the ledger and drew a solid black line through the pages with Grace’s father’s name on them.
It was done.
“Happy now?”
“Not hardly. But you follow through, leave them alone from here on and we have no problem.”
“You have my word,” he promised. “We’re finished here,” Caster muttered, going back in to count the coins a third time.
“My thanks,” I said, snatching up the jewelry and spinning on my heel.
Gaius came after me, the frustration boiling off his skin as he escorted me outside. All the young men had vanished to somewhere else, likely afraid of being turned in to their respective command.
“She was nearly within my reach,” he spat, squaring up in front of me. “I was going to swoop in with the same gesture you just stole out from under me.”
A rattle in my chest followed the knot of anger taking root. “She would not have thanked you for it,” I insisted, bracing myself for the fight I knew was coming.
People were watching us, gathering around doorways to see what was going to happen between the two large men having a noisy disagreement in the street for all to see.
“No? Seems an immense relief to gift her after watching her scramble to make payments all this time.”
I flinched. That he knew something about her that I didn’t rankled. That he’d watched her struggle, knowing he could have done something sooner and was only waiting until she was at her most vulnerable made me unspeakably angry.
“She won’t thankmefor doing it either,” I clarified through gritted teeth. “She’s proud. As she should be.”
“You think I don’t know that?” he barked the words, darting forward with this fist aimed at my nose. I dodged out of the way, my feet in motion as he started to circle. “I’ve spent time in your archmage’s beloved observatory. Eaten her food, been cared for by her hand. I understand who and how she is. I know what I want when I see it.”
My blood began to boil. I returned the punch, landing a glancing blow to his ear as he ducked. “Then you’ll also know she isn’t interested in you,” I snarled. “And she is certainly not an object to be claimed.”
“Why, because she’d preferyou?” Gaius chuckled, striking out several times in succession. I took a fist to the jaw, but only at partial power due to how quickly we were both moving.
