Page 21 of The Elven Spymaster's Thief

“Does this hurt?” His fingers traced my earlobe, sending a shiver down my spine.

“No.”

“Swallow.”

I resisted the impulse.

“Avril, I am just checking to make sure I did an adequate job healing you. Swallow.”

I complied. “I feel fine. Well, except for a slight burning sensation.”

A tingle of magic caressed my skin. With it came the scents I was beginning to associate with Whispier: trees, grass, light, and warmth. They filled my nostrils with heady abandon.

“Master Whispier,” I protested.

“What would Casimir say?” A new voice demanded. A woman stood just out of my field of view, hampered as I was by the hand on my jaw.

“Some comment about something that is not in his purview most likely,” Whispier responded coolly to the new arrival as he released me. “Welcome back, Loriena. It is always a pleasure to see you.” The ice in his tone belied the words.

Loriena stood taller than me. All elves did as far as I knew. Unlike Whispier and the men I had seen since arriving, she was dressed to perfection. Delicate silk flowed over her slender form, elegantly falling into effortless folds and drapes that emphasized the best aspects of her form. Perfectly coifed black curls cascaded over one shoulder. Where the brothers were green-eyed, her pale silver gaze held not one bit of color.

“Likewise,” she murmured. Not even sparing Whispier a glance, she assessed me. “Who is the human? I heard you had obtained a new pet. I thought you had sworn off taking any more creatures into your care after what happened to the last one.”

Whispier took a small step to the side, maneuvering so that I stood behind his shoulder. “Avril, this is my cousin Loriena.” Every muscle in his back tensed as though he were forcing himself to do something he loathed with every molecule of his being. “Loriena, she is my companion. She is not a creature. Do not touch.”

Loriena’s smile was pure mischief and not of the benign variety.

My right hand, the one hidden behind Whispier’s back, slid to the hilt of my knife. I had transferred it to hang openly from my belt. Thanks to the spymaster, it would probably still be a surprise when I cut her if she tried something. The cut of her gown left no room for hidden weapons, not that the elves really needed any considering I had witnessed Whispier produce and disappear things out of thin air.

“You know how I enjoy playing with your pets, Illeron,” she cooed. “The last one squealed so delightfully when I scratched its face.” A set of razor-tipped nails sprouted from her left hand. “And they are so vulnerable to poison.”

“So, you were the one.” His magic seemed to respond to his anger, seething in cloud of in sharp prickles.

“Of course.” She advanced closer to me with practiced nonchalance.

Before my knife left my belt, Whispier stepped entirely in front of me, blocking all access to me as a blanket of sharply tingling magic completely enveloped the pair of us. I hastily stepped closer to Whispier’s back to avoid touching the hard surface of the ward. He reached back and caught my wrist, restraining my ability to move my knife. Despite the restriction, his grip was gentle.

“My previous companion, Hiram, did nothing to hurt you.” His voice had turned far too mild for comfort. The muscles in his back tensed and the ward sharpened.

“Brownies are so annoying.” Loriena rolled her eyes before grinning. “I did you a favor.”

Whispier muttered a word. With a series of cracks, we were surrounded by tall, dark, lethal shadow elves.

“You are no longer welcome in my home or lands. You are shunned from touching, speaking, or interacting with anything associated with me or mine. Begone.”

She shrieked as one of the shadow elves grabbed her sharp-fingered hand. With a final crack, she and her guard disappeared.

“About time you did that,” Casimir commented from next to me. “What did she do?”

“Confessed to killing Hiram and threatened my companion.” The ward melted from around us.

I moved to step away from him, but he didn’t release my hand as he continued to give out orders. Within moments the kitchen was empty again, except for the four of us. Waldorf had not paused in the preparations for the next meal the whole time. I wondered what kind of household this was where confrontations with threatening family members appeared to be a common occurrence.

“I will add her to the bans from the grounds.” Casimir volunteered while observing Whispier’s continued hold on my wrist.

“Please do. And see that everyone knows why.”

Casimir met my gaze with a slightly raised eyebrow before silently whipping away, leaving the slightest breeze behind.

---