Page 6 of Beyond the Winter Kingdom
I stroked him absentmindedly, hoping he would help calm me. Granted, his loudmouth was part of what stressed me out, but if I pretended he was more like a therapy cat, maybe my heart rate would slow down.
My father took a deep breath, sitting up straight in his chair. His short red hair was just as messy as my mother’s. He looked like he hadn’t slept in weeks, and a sudden pang of guilt stabbed at me. His daughters were missing. Of course he’d be worried and losing sleep. “Atlas is right. We found Meera. Now we find Sadie.” He turned his attention to the leprechaun. “So where is she?”
Lou sighed loudly. “I don’t fucking know where she is. That’s why I came to Meera.”
I scrunched my nose and let out an annoyed harrumph. “Just when I think you can’t go any lower, you take a job from my family to find my sister and me, and then you try to hire me to find her.”
“You’re the best, lass. Everyone knows.” He glanced at my brothers. “Even though they act like you need saving, they know it too.”
“Andyouare the worst.”
Vareck squeezed Lou’s shoulder, pressing his fingers into the muscle. “Tell me more about the tracking spell on the necklace.”
Lou scratched his beard, stretching his neck. “I’d rather not.”
Cadoc flipped the knife up and caught it by the tip. He lifted a brow, angling his gaze toward Lou’s groin so he understood what was going to happen unless he cooperated.
“Fine,” Lou threw his hands up. “Point made. It’s not complicated. Just a simple tracking spell. Nothing more. Just as I said. Believe me or don’t, but it’s true that I wanted to keep an eye on you. Make sure you were safe”—he shifted his gaze toward the king in a once-over—”all things considered.”
I snorted with a huffed laugh. “Please. You didn’t want to lose a valuable asset.”
“Both things can be true, lass.” Lou shrugged, the expression on his face unchanging. “But the king came for a trinket to nullify your powers, and it doesn’t take a genius to see thedanger in that. You might think I’m the worst, but I’m not soulless.”
My mother and father both clenched their fists, and my mother’s voice shook as she asked, “He did what?” Aw shit. As much as I hated that cursed necklace, I understood Vareck’s reasons for putting it on me. Reasons we didn’t have time to go into with Sadie missing.
“It’s not like that, Mom, I swear. He wasn’t trying to hurt me. It was the opposite, actually.” I pointed at my brothers as they opened their mouths. “And before any of you speak,don’t. You don’t know the full story.”
“What exactly is the full story?” Lou asked. “‘Cause from where I stood, it didn’t look good when you told him not to do it, demanded it in fact, and I watched him put it on you anyway.”
“Says the asshole who sold him the necklace to begin with.”
“I’m a businessman. It wasn’t personal, and I already told you I had a tracking spell put on it so I could find you. You act like I’m some heartless con man.”
“You said it, not me,” I replied.
“She wasn’t wearing the necklace when I found her,” Vareck said, cutting in. I didn’t miss the anger radiating from him. “How’d you know we were here at the inn?”
“I tracked the spell to Warwick. Got a portal. Then started asking questions about a curvy ginger. It wasn’t hard. You two practically left a trail of destruction behind. Made quite the impression on Irene.”
At the mere mention of her name, I clenched my teeth. “Of course you know that lecherous quim.”
He made a show of fanning himself after my insult. “A bit harsh, isn’t it, lass? That’s my cousin you’re talking about. Not all leprechauns know each other. Don’t be a speciest.” He tutted, shaking his head in mock disappointment.
My mouth fell open. “I’m not! I’m saying it because you’re both untrustworthy snakes, andshewanted me to work at her brothel.” Vareck’s features hardened, and he turned his neck to the side to crack it.
Lou patted his pocket, looking for a cigarette, but came up short. “And? What’s your point? She’s a businesswoman. Prostitution is the oldest profession. Can’t blame her for wanting to add a spicy redhead to her lineup.”
I placed my hand on Vareck’s trying to comfort him, but it didn’t work. Vareck dug his fingers into Lou’s shoulder again, pushing him further down in the chair.
“Correction, Lou. She tried to force me into it.”
Lou winced under the pressure of Vareck’s harsh grip. “She neglected to mention that.”
Farris came back with a tray full of stew, utensils, cloth napkins, and several pewter mugs. He set it all down, adding a big basket of fresh baked bread. “It’s water for ya’. I’m not givin’ a bunch of angry redcaps ale. Ya’ all look close enough to battlelust as is.” Then he left again, though I noticed him hovering near the bar top by the kitchen door. Eavesdropping, perhaps, or just staying close by to make sure we didn’t destroy everything.
Corvo sat up on my lap, scenting the air. “Oh, I wouldn’t say no to a good venison stew.” He reached his paw up and dipped it in my bowl, catching a piece of meat with his claw before he pulled it onto the table with a splatter of gravy. Instead of being grossed out and scolding him, I let him eat. Better he was occupied with food given his penchant for making situations worse.
Atlas sniffed softly, cracking his knuckles after the innkeeper had retreated to the safety of his kitchen. “I’d like to know more about this Irene.”
