Page 27 of Blood and Bonbons

“Not until I get information.” She lifted the hand that she’d slapped on the table, revealing the ring underneath it.

Spawn’s gaze didn’t even flick to the ring. He pulled a knife out of nowhere and stuck it into the tabletop inches from Vena’s hand. She jerked, shock painting her features for a heartbeat before she balled her fist.

I stepped in front of her.

“Miles disappeared,” I said. “We’re trying to figure out why. What was he working on? Maybe the ring might be worth bending the rules about selling information.”

Spawn looked down at the ring and frowned.

“You found this in the fairy hoard?”

“Yes, along with a vampire.”

His gaze shot to mine.

“You stole from the vampire?” he asked incredulously. “Take the ring and leave. Now!”

“It’s just a piece of jewelry,” Vena said, stepping around me to grab the ring.

The moment she cleared the front of the counter, Spawn slammed the bars down over his store. “It’s notjustanything,” he forcibly whispered as he scanned the area. “Vampires never relinquish what is theirs.”

“If you want us to leave, tell us about Miles. What was he working on?”

Spawn narrowed his beady eyes at her. “He was researching things far more dangerous than the ring. And if you’re smart, you’ll stop asking questions before you disappear like the rest of your family.”

“Problem, Spawn?” a deep voice asked behind us.

Vena and I looked over our shoulders at the same time. An oversized troll was lumbering by.

“No problem here, friend,” Vena said with a smile.

The troll grunted and continued on. However, when we faced Spawn’s shop, the little goblin was gone.

“Damn it,” Vena swore.

“Miles has other contacts,” I said softly. “We’ll keep trying.”

Vena stuffed the ring into her pocket. She visibly forced the tension from her shoulders and took a deep breath.

“You’re right,” she said. “We’ll keep trying. One stop down and a few more to go. While we’re checking around, keep an eye out for a reasonably priced sun charm.”

Sun charms were typically used to help winter depression with their mild UV glow and were fairly common. It didn’t take us long to find one at a price we were willing to pay.

During the purchase, Vena asked the shopkeeper if he’d ever worked with Miles. The dwarf didn’t show a hint of recognition at the name. Vena thanked her, and we headed to a vendor who definitely knew Miles. However, the half-human half-goat faun hadn’t spoken to Miles in over a week.

His gaze shifted to me, sweeping me from head to foot.

“I’d love the name of the seller you use for your curve augmentation,” he said. “Mmm-mmm. I could eat you up.”

My eyes went wide, and Vena hooked her arm through mine.

“Sorry, she’s taken,” she said over her shoulder as she led us away.

It took us another twenty minutes to check with Miles’ other contacts and find the other ingredients necessary for whatever solution he’d found. During that time, I was hit on by a man stroking his miniature chupacabra a little too vigorously and was asked for a lock of my hair from a woman who wore so many charms and amulets I was surprised her neck didn’t break.

“Please tell me we’re done,” I whispered harshly. “I need a shower and some chocolate therapy before work.”

Vena’s brow furrowed, which I knew had nothing to do with my comment and everything to do with having no leads on Miles. She stopped at a booth with head scarves guaranteed to regrow hair and pulled out her phone.

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