Charmed Vengeance (25 page)

His arms enveloped her. “I’m not sending you anywhere. You, with your fine manners and pretty dresses, are going to help me deliver some artifacts to a very genteel man who appreciates such things. Then we’ll go have tea, how does that sound?”

Tea sounded quite nice, actually.

And cake,
the sprite added.
Could that be my prize?

Yes, that sounds perfect.

“All right, then. But I want cake.” She looked up at him and he wiped a tear off her cheek with his thumb. “Will you send in Rahel?”

Jeff smiled as he smoothed her hair. “Of course.”

“Which one?” Noli held up two hats, the bonnet which matched the cape and the blue derby with a little bird on it.

Rahel looked from one to the other and back again. “The bird one.”

Noli put the derby on, making sure her hair covered the points of her ears. “This always has been my favorite.”

“I may keep Charlotte? Forevers?” Rahel clutched the doll to her chest.

“Yes. Forevers. Just promise me you’ll take good care of her.” Noli stowed the bonnet and donned her cape. She’d decided to wear her blue dress with the slightly shorter skirt and the bell sleeves. One probably needed freedom of movement when on a drop, and ever her mother had deemed it perfectly proper for daywear.

“Oh, I will. I promise.” Rahel looked up at her with large, solemn eyes. “Will I ever see you again?”

Noli sniffed, she’s already grown so fond of the little girl. “You are going to be reunited with your papa. That’s the most important thing of all.”

Jeff stood at the door, looking ever the dapper gentleman, a black attaché case in one hand. He held out his arm to her. “Shall we?”

She grabbed her parasol and planted a kiss on Rahel’s blonde head. “Be good.”

Rahel gave her a wave, sniffing into her sleeve. “Bye, bye.”

Noli dabbed her eyes with her handkerchief as they walked up the stairs. Thankfully, Jeff didn’t say anything, he just patted her shoulder.

He led her through the bustling San Francisco Air Terminal. They caught a motorcab to a very posh part of town filled will elegant buildings and homes—all newly built after the earthquake nearly seven years before and truly modern with plenty of brass and glass.

How could Jeff move so easily through the city that had stolen their father? Unbeknownst to most, the earthquake had opened up rifts to the Otherworld. Some simply let aether—magic—escape into their realm, but others were large enough for people to fall through.

Kevighn insisted her father was long gone, but Noli held fast to the idea that he still might be alive someplace in the Otherworld.

“Who are we calling on?” Noli asked as they walked through streets crowded with people, streetcars, and autos. A few flying cars and hoverboards swooped overhead. She pulled her cape closer to ward off the chill. At least no snow lay on the ground.

“We are meeting a gentleman named Kyran. He asked us to … collect … some artifacts,” Jeff replied, holding the attaché case tightly.

Collect? He meant
steal.
This man paid the crew to steal things. She nodded toward the attaché case. “A painting won’t fit in there.”

Jeff laughed. “It would if rolled. But no, he’s asked for … other things.”

Noli stopped in her tracks. “Museums. You stole things from museums. Los Angeles … Denver … ”

“Shhh,” he soothed. “You can’t have hysterics right here on the sidewalk.”

She turned to face him, eyes narrowing as she held up her parasol. “For your information, Jeffrey Cornelius Braddock, I don’t have hysterics. However, I do have a parasol and I know how to use it.”

His hands flew up in surrender. “Point taken. They’re just random bits of things. If they weren’t so old, they would be junk.” Jeff gestured to the elegant restaurant in front of them. “Let’s meet Kyran and get our money.”

They entered the place, which reminded her of the establishments they’d gone to with their parents, once. Places where men made business deals and women chatted with their friends over cups of tea or coffee. White linencovered tables filled with well-dressed people eating a late breakfast dotted the room.

“That’s Kyran over there.” Jeff gestured to a man with regal stature and a mop of dark blond curls sitting at one of the tables, reading the newspaper.

“Him?” Noli studied the man from a distance as she smoothed her skirt. “He looks familiar.” The man looked up from his paper, but not directly at them. Noli caught a glimpse of eyes green like oak leaves. V’s eyes. She sucked in a sharp breath. “
That’s
who we’re meeting?”

“Do you know him?” The corners of his lips turned down.

Noli gulped. She didn’t
know
him, but she knew exactly who he was. “His name isn’t Kyran. It’s Brogan.”

As in Uncle Brogan, V and James’ uncle, the current king of the earth court. Her chest tightened. Why was her brother consorting with the likes of him?

“I hardly expected him to use his real name,” Jeff whispered. “Wait—how
do
you know that? Was he the one who kidnapped you?”

“We
can’t
do business with him, we can’t,” Noli hissed, snatching the attaché case out of Jeff’s hand. She ran out of the restaurant and down the street.

And right into someone.

“Slow down.” Kevighn’s arms wrapped around her.

“Kevighn, what are you doing here?” Noli made a face as she stared up into his familiar piercing yellow eyes.

“Following you. What are you doing?”

Kevighn was
following
her? That didn’t actually surprise her since he hadn’t gotten to say farewell aboard the ship. Also, he was the one person who might be able to assist her with her current predicament.

Noli held up the attaché case. “Jeff is doing business with King Brogan.”

“What?” Kevighn dragged her into a space between two buildings where they were out of the way of those going about their business.

“He calls himself Kyran but he’s not, he’s King Brogan and he’s been having Jeff steal things from museums.” Noli examined the outside of the attaché case. “What do you suppose they stole?”

“Jeff’s doing business with Brogan—and he’s calling himself Kyran?” Kevighn rubbed his chin, the sun glinting off his black hair which hung loose instead of its usual tail. “This is serious.”

Parasol tucked under her arm, she flipped the latch, and opened the case. “Oh, Kevighn, look.” She held up a bit of gold. The sun caught on it and she could make out the partial design, which caused her to suck in a sharp breath. “This was the piece from the museum in Denver. This is the high court sigil, isn’t it?”

Kevighn leaned in to examine it, standing far too close for polite comfort. Then again, he always did take any liberty he could.

“Yes, this is.” He stoked the piece with his finger. “What is Brogan up to and why is he using the name Kyran? The real Kyran won’t like that very much at all.”

“We can’t give this to him.” Closing her eyes, she held the piece in her hand. “There is so much magic in this.” Her voice shook as the power from it coursed through her.
Tell me your secrets,
she begged. All she felt was the hum of magic under her skin.

“Noli?” Kevighn sorted through the pieces in the attaché case. “I think I know what this is. It’s incomplete, but you’re right. We can’t give this to Brogan.”

“What is it?” It couldn’t be anything good—not if Brogan was involved.

“An artifact that has been gone from the Otherworld so long it’s presumed to be only myth and legend,” he breathed. “If half the stories are true, it’s probably best if it remained out of the hands of people like him.”

Noli’s belly twisted. No, not good at all.

“What do you think you’re doing, Noli? This is no time for your antics.” Jeff appeared in front of them, a deep frown on his face. He did a double take. “Mr. Silver, why are you here?”

“Magnolia, Jeff has been doing business with Otherworld folk,” Kevighn told him. “Though I’m certain he has no idea who Brogan is or what this is.”

All the air left Noli’s body making her feel as if she would suffocate. Jeff
knew
about the Otherworld? Her eyes widened as she looked up at her brother, suddenly feeling betrayed even though she was just as guilty.

“My word, you
do
know about the Otherworld.” Jeff’s jaw dropped.

“Um, yes, I … I do—and we can’t give this to Brogan. We can’t. Do you
know
who and what he is?” She waved her parasol at him. It didn’t matter to her what the artifact did. It was the principle of the matter. She didn’t approve of doing business with people who betrayed their own family for power.

“It’s just a business transaction,” Jeff soothed, taking a step back to avoid being hit by her parasol. “What he does with it is of little importance.”

“Yes it is, because he’s up to no good.” Kevighn held up another piece from the case and examined it in the mid-morning light streaming between the two buildings.

“The Otherworld is none of my concern. I’m just in it for the money—and if I don’t give it to him, we don’t get our money. No money means an unhappy crew.” Jeff gave her a firm look as if she were still a little girl and had taken his hammer without permission.

Her arms fell to her side, the piece still in her hand. “The Otherworld
is
your concern. It’s symbiotic. If something happens there, it affects our world as well.”

Jeff laughed. “And I suppose you’re going to tell me that aether is really faery magic.”

“But it is.” Noli just stared at her brother. How could he think this was all just business? Or a game. The Otherworld played for keeps.

“Oh, you’re serious.” Jeff deflated. “Wait, isn’t this some sort of odd coincidence? You know Kyran, Mr. Silver being here at this particular moment?”

Kevighn glanced at her in a way that seemed far to intimate all things considered. “Everything is the will of the Bright Lady.”

Jeff’s hand went to his face. “You’re one of them as well?

King Brogan can’t get his hands on this. There’s a reason it was broken up and hidden throughout the mortal realm. Just the fact he’d paying people to track the pieces down is troublesome.” Kevighn’s eyes flashed with passion.

“Do you think he’s doing it by himself or do you think he is in partnership?” Noli couldn’t suggest out loud that Brogan and Tiana were in this together, but it made sense.

“I don’t know.” He turned to Jeff. “Let me have this and I’ll get you your money.”

“Who are you going to sell it to, Kevighn?” Noli remembered his exile.

“No one. I’m going to dispose of these pieces. Thank the Bright Lady they’re not all here, but who knows how many he already has. As for the money, I know someone who would gladly pay to ensure it remains out of the wrong hands.” He returned the piece to the case.

“Who?” Jeff eyed Kevighn and the case as if at any moment he’d snatch it from him.

“The real Kyran.” Kevighn snapped the attaché case shut. “He wouldn’t want Brogan to have these—he could use it to destroy the very fabric of the Otherworld.”

“Wait, are you trying to tell me that this is some powerful faery artifact, one that could start a war?” Jeff’s eyes brightened. “So, it’s worth a lot of money?”

Kevighn nodded. “Quite a bit.”

“Will you actually get us the money? Because if you won’t, I’m not giving you the case.” Sliding the piece into her left glove, Noli strode over to Kevighn and poked him in the chest with her parasol. “I’m not powerless, Mr. Silver.” She recalled what the sprite had done. Noli knew she could do it again herself.

A wounded look crossed Kevighn’s face. “Do you honestly think I’d double-cross you–you, of all people?” She shook her head. “No, of course not.”

He’d done a lot of things, but never had he doublecrossed her.

Jeff put a hand on her arm, his body still blocking Kevighn’s path back to the street. “Noli, you can’t just give him the artifacts. He’s never going to pay us. Since it’s so valuable, perhaps we should bring it to Kyran … Brogan— whatever he calls himself—and request double.

No.” Noli’s voice sharpened and both men looked at her, startled. “Jeff, you have no idea what Brogan is. Kevighn, you have one hour. You will meet us at Miss Molly’s Teahouse with the money.” She met his eyes and narrowed her own, holding her parasol menacingly. “You cannot hide from me. If you double-cross me I will hunt you down.”

A smile twitched at the corners of his lips. “You dare to challenge a huntsman, little blossom?”

His smile, along with that pet name made ire rise within her.

“Oh, I do. Do you have a problem with that?” Dare dripped from her voice and she kept her parasol poised.

“You may hunt me all you wish, I don’t mind.” His eyes danced.

Jeff cleared his throat. “The money, Silver. All I care about is the money.”

“Two hours. I need two hours and I’ll meet you at Miss Molly’s Teahouse. I promise.” Putting a fist over his heart, he bowed.

Jeff drew his pistol and aimed it at Kevighn. “I’m only letting you go with my take because my sister seems to trust you. If you don’t come back with my money, so help me, what I will do to you will make shooting seem like mercy.”

“Point taken.” Kevighn extended his hand to her. “Come with me. That way you may ensure I get your money.”

Now that would be the prudent choice. However, the last time she’d followed him she’d ended up at his cabin and nearly succumbed to his advances. She knew better now than to fall for his charms, but who knew where he’d lead her.

“No.” Jeff’s voice cut through her reverie. “Noli is going nowhere with you, Silver.”

“She’s quite able to answer for herself, Braddock,” Kevighn snapped. “Magnolia?”

Both men looked at her expectantly.

Being put in the middle made Noli seethe. “If you don’t mind, gentleman, I’m going to get some tea. Kevighn, you have one hour.”

Without waiting for either, she brushed past them and onto the streets of San Francisco. She’d find Miss Molly’s Teahouse on her own. As she walked, she slid the piece from her glove into her dress pocket. There was no good reason for keeping it. If she’d thought Kevighn would double-cross her she never would have let him leave with it. After all, she hardly needed Kevighn. Quinn would know what to do—V’s tutor
always
had an answer. If anyone had a dusty old book about a forgotten artifact it would be him.