Page 34 of A Hint of Delirium

I opened a portal and was propelled through it, landing in Luka’s bar. I quickly glanced around to make sure my brother wasn’t there. Satisfied I was unhampered for the moment, at least, I headed straight to the bar and took a seat.

“Hey Luka,” I greeted my old friend. “How’s tonight going?”

Luka stretched his neck, the iron collar around his neck noticeably uncomfortable. “Eh, it’s been relatively busy. What can I get you?”

“Beer … whatever you have on draft,” I answered mindlessly.

Luka snorted and mumbled, “So much alike.”

“What did you say?”

He shook his head. “Nothing, man.” He filled up a glass and slid it over to me. “What can I do for you tonight?”

I took a gulp of the beer. “What information you got?”

“Your brother was here tonight … with Sage.” He eyed me carefully.

My eyes widened and I nearly spit out my drink. “Sage?” I exclaimed, belatedly remembering where I was. I glanced around and whispered, “Are you sure it was Sage?”

Luka nodded. “You can’t miss that sleek blonde ponytail. It was definitely her.”

I deflated. “Son of a bitch,” I muttered.

Luka narrowed his eyes on me as he cleaned a glass and sighed. “It seems like your brother is still doing the horizontal tango with her.”

I snorted. “Some things never change.” I took another gulp of my beer. “Were they just here flirting, or was it business?”

Luka dropped his rag and leaned across the bar top, making me lean forward as well. “My intel gathered that Alec has been following you around and knows the orb is missing. Or at least, it wasn’t in the last person on the registry. So they know she had a daughter,” he whispered. “Sage is going to start checking public records.”

Luka had eyes and ears all around this place. For seelie like me, I knew better than to speak about anything of importance in his bar because I knew it wouldn’t be private and might be used against me. That’s why this was the best place to gather information, no matter what side you were on.

“Shit,” I muttered.

“I’m assuming that’s going to be a problem.” Luka pulled back and continued to clean glasses.

“I don’t know what you mean,” I hedged.

He nodded, but I knew he didn’t believe me. Luka wasn’t stupid, but he also didn’t deal with information that wasn’t confirmed.

“Just some free advice, Ansel … be careful of your brother.” Luka scrutinized the glass, then turned his eyes to me. “He’s been keeping a very close eye on you and you haven’t seemed to notice.”

Luka was right. I’d lost Cael and his goons, but hadn’t even realized that Alec was on my trail. I was being careless. If I hadn’t killed Marisol, I would have led him straight to her.

I cleared my throat. “Hey, Luka,” I said, catching his attention again. “I need a favor … paid, of course.”

He nodded. “What is it?”

“I need an iron anklet.” His eyes widened. “But it has to be twice as strong as a regular one. Even more, if possible. The strongest you can find.”

He furrowed his brows as he set everything down on the bar top. “Why don’t you just get it from the Seelie Queen—”

“I can’t. I need you to acquire it from the black market. Even have it made, if you can’t find one,” I said.

“An anklet, though?” he questioned. “Wouldn’t a collar be stronger?” He tapped his.

I shook my head. “No. No one can see it. It has to be hidden.”

Luka sighed. “That’s going to cost you, Ansel.”

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