Page 61 of Magick and Lead
“What about your brother?” I asked.
“Ha! He’s off with his boy toy from the Under Isles. We won’t see him until morning, I promise you that. And I’m not thinking about him anyway.”
Suzie brushed the hair from Essa’s face, leaned in, and kissed her.
I blinked, stunned. It was a major shift of mood after fist fights and gunfire. Still, watching both those soft pairs of lips come together sent a ripple of hunger through me. For a second, Essa stiffened.
I tried the simnal again, speaking into her mind.You should play along.Remember, we need her to get Kortoi’s schedule,I said. Perhaps Essa’s guard was down, or perhaps I was more attuned with Parthar in that moment. For whatever reason, the simnal seemed to work. Essa cut me a glance. Then, her shoulders relaxed, her eyelids fluttered shut, and she let Suzie kiss her deeper.
I noticed the driver’s eyes watching them in the rearview mirror. A car in the lane we were drifting into beeped at us. With a jerk of the wheel, the driver corrected course and cleared his throat.
“Uh, I think this is your stop.”
He eased to the curb, and I passed him a few bills while the ladies got out and made their way onto the sidewalk, laughing.
“Keep the change,” I said. “And if anyone asks where you dropped us off…”
He mimed zipping his lips shut. “If you need any help with those two…” he gave me a wink.
“I can handle it,” I said, and banged the door shut.
Suzie’s apartment was a fourth-floor walkup.High up and defensible,I thought.Good.
Inside, it was small, just a tidy living room, bedroom, and bathroom with floral wallpaper and a scent of potpourri. Immediately, Suzie went to the kitchen and began rummaging.
I expected food, and my stomach grumbled in anticipation, but instead she came out with a bottle of whiskey and three shot glasses on a tray.
“My house, my rules. Everybody drinks,” she said, merrily pouring. “So, Esther, you’re interested in working at the State Department?”
Essa nodded. “Yes.”
Suzie gave a loud laugh. “Why? Everyone there is so stuffy. And they’ll expect you to be able to type fast.”
She glanced where Essa’s missing hand and forearm would have been.
“Were you born that way? Sorry, is it rude to ask?”
“It was eaten. By a dragon.” Essa said, throwing back her shot.
Suzie hesitated, and for an instant I thought she was going to realize Essa’s identity. Instead, she laughed. Then, she laughed harder.
“Oh my God. You’re hilarious, girl. I like you. Hey flyboy, take your shot.”
“I’d better—” I demurred, but she cut me off.
“My house, my rules. Take it!”
Essa turned to me, her face flushed. “Her house, her rules,” she said.
“Fine,” I grumbled, picking up the shot glass and downing its contents.
Suzie immediately poured us all another one.
“I heard there’s a visitor in town,” I said casually. “From Maethalia. A Prelate Kortoi?”
Suzie gave a shiver. “Ugh. Yes. He’s so creepy. Honestly, he walks into a room and I get goosebumps. And not in a good way. I mean, he’s nice, but…” she shook her head.
“Do you know how long he’s going to be in town?”
