Page 13 of The Lawgiver's Firebrand
“Maybe he had a guilty conscience?” suggested her boss, Nace.
Ari shrugged. “Could be, but he didn’t give off that vibe. Did your mage get an image of the arsonist, Commander?”
“No. He said another witch or warlock blocked his visions. Don’t have a good feeling about this. But since lawgivers have been targeted most strongly, I’ve ordered a Firebrand to accompany each one home.”
****
Dairegrinned. “I accept the protection. Ari will travel with me to my estate in Amori.”
She jerked her spine straight. No more leaning against the car. “No. No, I won’t.”
Nace arched a brow, his jaguar golden eyes narrowing as he got an earful of her refusal. “Is there a good reason you do not wish to see to Lawgiver Daire’s security?”
Ari’s lids slitted. “No, but…”
“But what?” asked her boss.
“Nothing. I’ll go.” To Daire, she said, “You have a house in Amori?”
“Yes. The condo here is … was for lawgiver business since most meetings are in our Covenkirk capital.”
“Any other lavish, overpriced places?” asked Ari.
“A ski cabin in the Spirit Mountains. A ranch earthside in Idaho.”
She rolled her eyes. “That’s obscene.”
A black town car pulled into the circular driveway in front of the still-burning highrise. It wound around firetrucks, hoses, and other obstacles on-site as if driving across a battlefield of landmines. A chauffeur stepped from the driver’s side to open the back door.
Ari flipped her gaze to Daire. “Really?”
“Truly.” He assisted her into the seat, sliding in beside her. Settled, he opened a bar. “Drink?”
“What you got in there?”
“The most expensive champagne from the ylve region of Aerilon, an aged demon whiskey, wine.”
“Water?”
He shrugged, pouring her water and a glass of pinot for himself. “I don’t see how having various homes is obscene. Is enjoying a comfortable living somehow perverted?”
“Comfortable? You don’t get out among common Aeternals, do you?”
“Should I?”
Ari bent a leg under her, twisting toward him in the seat. “Fuck yes. You make laws for the realm yet don’t know us.”
He smiled. “I can learn from you. You’re quite common.”
She gave him another eye-roll. “Thanks, I think. But I don’t have the patience to work with a pompous, arrogant male like yourself.”
“We’ll see.”
Ari glanced over her shoulder out the rear window.
“What’s wrong?” asked Daire, suddenly alert.
“Not a thing. A witchy bug crawled up my spine, but no one’s following us.”
