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Hopelessness washed over the room. They were so close, the rose within their grasp, and yet still unattainable.
“We’ll steal it,” Elyse stated, quiet yet bold. She looked toward Manny expectantly.
Manny stared back at her, his expression incredulous. “You want to steal a magical artifact valued at over ten million gold pieces?”
“I don’t really see any other choice,” Elyse replied, casually raising her shoulders in a shrug.
Killian hated that he agreed with her, but she was right. Their hands were tied, and stealing the rose was their best option of keeping it safe from sinister intentions.
Manny sighed, but his lips quirked into a smile. “I suppose you want me to be the one to steal it?” he asked, a bit of pride simmering beneath his petulant tone.
“Of course,” Sera answered, her grin mirroring Manny’s. “But you don’t know anything about magical artifacts. Elyse should go with you to the auction.”
Elyse looked just as surprised to hear this suggestion as Killian felt. Her shock turned contemplative as she bit her lip. “It will probably be warded as well. You’ll need help to steal it, and Sera’s right. If you’re going to an auction for high-value magical objects, you’ll be expected to know a thing or two about them.”
The thought of sending his best friend alone on a mission with her made Killian’s insides twist. Manny was capable of taking care of himself, but Elyse was ruthless, and he still didn’t entirely trust her. Still, Elyse was his best choice for a partner in this crime, and he took consolation in remembering that she was magically incapable of harming him or anyone else in the Guard.
“Wait,” Jaime blurted out, standing from his chair. “I should be the one going. It’s because of my connections that we know about this auction at all.”
“And we’re grateful for that,” Sera replied diplomatically. “But…”
“It’s not necessary,” Killian stated. “Elyse and Manny will go together, pose as buyers for something else, and steal the rose.” Before Jaime could say anything else, Killian turned to face Elyse. “I assume you can change your appearances?”
Elyse nodded. “No problem.”
“And you’re confident you can break down whatever wards might be protecting the rose?” he pressed.
She laughed, short and haughty, a bit of that arrogant witch he had known shining through. “I’ve never encountered a ward I couldn’t defeat.”
A smile began to pull at his lips, but this time, he managed to suppress it. “It’s decided then,” he said. He shot a triumphant glance toward Jaime before looking back at Elyse. “You’ll need to look the part, though, which means fine clothing for the auction. And we’ll need a replica, something to swap with the real rose.”
Elyse looked more like herself than Killian had seen over the last week as a wicked grin split her face. “Consider it done.”
Chapter 24
- Elyse -
Despite a day full of frantic preparations for the journey to Privya’s, everyone seemed to be brimming with energy. Elyse had barely had a moment to think between creating a replica of the rose, brewing a potion for changing their appearances, popping down to Privya’s clinic to let her know about their stay, and trying on several exquisite gowns that Sera had procured for her. All the while, she and Manny had been refining their backstory as a married couple, Mr. and Mrs. Nottingfeld. Finally, by the time the sun was setting, they were ready to leave.
Elyse, Sera, Manny, Killian, and Jaime all stood together on the lawn, their bags slung across their backs. “Hold hands,” Elyse instructed as she slid her own hand into Jaime’s. Jaime clasped her hand back, then offered his free hand to Sera. She took it and smiled as she grasped on to Manny, who looked to Killian with hesitation.
“Does it hurt?” Manny asked, wincing a bit. He had never traveled by transportation potion before.
“Like hell,” Killian replied with a devilish grin. He took Manny’s free hand and nodded to Elyse.
They were ready.
Elyse threw down the vial of blue liquid and closed her eyes, picturing the clinic clearly in her mind. She felt Jaime’s grip tighten, and then everything disappeared as they were cast into the void. They fell and flew through nothingness for a split second until their feet crashed onto gravel.
Before Elyse could open her eyes, something came barreling into her. She stumbled back a few steps as her eyes flew open to find a mess of auburn hair tickling her face.
“Elyse!” Corin squealed as she hugged Elyse tighter.
“Hi, Corin,” Elyse managed to wheeze through compressed lungs.
As always, Corin’s presence helped subdue Elyse’s anxieties. There was something about her bold hopefulness that made it impossible to be anything but happy around her. That rosy personality had led to a fast friendship when Elyse stayed at Privya’s clinic to heal her widow’s decay. It was a bond that continued as Elyse returned to the clinic several times since, working to train Corin and others in self-defense.
Corin finally let go of her and stepped back, her freckled face bright with excitement. “It’s so good to see you!” she cried. Then her eyes darted to Killian. “And you too!” She beamed as she wrapped Killian in a hug.
