The púca had several awful suggestions so Merlin stuffed a handkerchief in his mouth. “Bryn?” Merlin prodded.
“Right. We got around the corner and I caught a whiff of somethingfoul.” he said, grunting and clutching his gut when it was elbowed.“We doubled back and found this moldy turnip in your neighbor’s trash can.” he said and there was a muffled “Fuck off” or “Fuck you” from the púca.
“Ew.” Nox drew back. “Did you have to bring him into my house?”
“Wasn’t putting him in our van and we couldn’t tie him up in the yard and risk him getting away,” Bryn explained and dodged another elbow jab.
Nox’s face twisted when the púca kicked off his oversized boot, releasing a plume of noxious fumes. “That part, I get, but it’s still not helping me understand theinto my housepart.” He turned to Merlin. “What do we do with him?”
“Kill him?” Merlin suggested too quickly. “This could explain how a certain someone has been spying on us. Púca’s are uncanny in their ability to hear things from great distances, especially things theyshould nothear.”
Nox stomped his foot.“Merlin.We are supposed to be the good guys! And he might have information heshould notshare with us,” he added out of the side of his mouth.
Merlin brightened. “I see! I have a birdcage in my bag somewhere that should hold him. It’s enchanted so we won’t hear a peep out of him while he’s inside and the door’s closed. We can keep it out back, or in the basement, or I could lose it inmy bag, or an incinerator…” he mused, causing the púca to howl behind the handkerchief.
“Hurry and find that cage, Merlin,” Nox said without taking his eyes off the púca. “I have a trick I’ve been working on that I’d like to try out.” He held out his hand and a blue flame leaped from his palm.
The púca managed to break free and dove at Nox’s feet, his muffled whimpers filling the foyer. All of Nox’s guests were awake and had come out of their rooms in various states of dress to watch from the gallery and the stairs.
Nox lowered and took hold of the handkerchief but didn’t remove it. “Ten words or less and Iwillkill you if you lie to me.” He raised his brows, warning the púca and pulled it out when he nodded.
“Dùbhghlas made me spy on ya! I don’t—” he blurted out quickly, then stopped and his head bounced as he silently counted. “know…nothin’.”
“That’s a given. I want something better.” Nox opened his hand quickly next to the púca’s face, making him jump.
He nodded and his mouth moved as he chose his next words carefully. “I’m supposed to report back if ya leave the house.”
“Come on! What else would you tell him? How many times we order takeout?” Nox shook his head at Clancy. “I know púca are supposed to be annoying and thick as bog water, but I’m losing patience with this little turd.”
“Dùbhghlas has a new secret camp but I haven’t been!” the puca said in a hasty babble.
“We already know about the camp,” Nox said with a bored sigh, then glanced at the door when Merlin returned with a large birdcage. It was almost as tall as the púca and Merlin was breathless as he backed into the room with it.
“Here we are!”
Nox widened his eyes and gasped excitedly. “Just in time. You can do whatever you wish with him, Merlin. The púca has nothing to tell us.”
“Oi!” He winced and muttered under his breath about wasting words. “The warlock wants to know why yer not dyin’!”
“Now, we’re getting somewhere! Tell me more about that.” Nox whipped around and crouched in front of the púca. “You can use as many words as you want but I’ll still kill you if you lie to me.”
The púca nodded quickly. “Dùbhghlas said he was expectin’ you to break and beg. He wants to know how you look and if you’re preparin’ for something big.”
“And how do I look to you?” Nox asked him in a threatening purr.
“Good? Like a motherfuckin’ prince?” the púca returned hopefully. “Dùbhghlas also said he’s havin’ trouble with something he stole from you. He thought he could break it but it’s been a pain in his arse.”
“That’s our Nelson!” Merlin pumped his fist before he swiped at his cheek.
Nox felt tears pricking his eyes again but he was appreciative as he stood and gestured at the cage as Merlin opened the square door on its side. “In you go! I’m going to give you a choice, since you were so cooperative.”
The púca made it very clear that hewas nothappy as he bent and climbed inside, then sat on the small golden swing. He crossed his arms over his chest and huffed out an indignant “Well?”
“Think very carefully,” Nox said while planting his hands on his knees and looking the púca directly in the eye. “Remember: once Merlin closes that door, no one will hear a peep out of you so there’s no going back.” He waited until he received a petulant nod. “Okay! We can deliver you to wherever it is that you’remeeting Dùbhghlas when you report back to him, or Merlin can burn your rotten little ass when he’s incinerating the rest of the cursed objects he’s gathered this month.”
The púca snickered. “It won’t do you any good to wait for Dùbhghlas. He travels like a demon now and won’t show up if he knows I’m being watched,” the púca said. “Do you have any idea what he’s gonna do to me?”
Nox held up his hands and shrugged. “You can take your chances and tell him all about how I’m not dying and losing my mind or planning a mystical rampage.”
