“I need a very important package delivered to a friend,” she says and brings the cigarette to her lips. “Do me a favor and deliver it. I’ll give you whatever information you desire.”
It’s an easy enough offer. But I don’t rush to agree. Not yet.
The very first lesson Father taught me about the criminal life is this: never ask questions.
The second lesson was: messengers are always the first to get shot, so make sure you’re not delivering a bad message.
Funny how the first rule prevents you from ensuring the second mistake doesn’t happen.
Madame Mercy watches me with a smirk while I weigh my options.
“Deliver where?” I ask.
“Lynx’s Den. He’ll wait for you at the speakeasy.”
I know Lynx’s Den well enough. Dae works there.
“When?”
“As soon as you agree.”
A heartbeat passes.
“I’ll do it,” I say. Now, it’s my turn. “I need information on the Talbots. Specifically, locations of all their estates in Ekios. Official and hidden.”
Madame Mercy crushes the cigarette bud in a glass ashtray. “You have a death wish, Kregger?”
I chuckle. “I understand why it may appear so.”
She’s not smiling as she eyes me. My heart drops. For a second, I think she’ll deny me the information. But then she says, “What makes you think I know the locations?”
I don’t miss a beat. “Because you know information is the highest-value currency.”
At that, she smirks. “Charming. As always.” She sighs. “I’ll give you the locations. There are quite a few the government doesn’t have on official records.”
I take her hand and kiss the back of it. “I’ll be forever grateful, my lady.”
Once I rise to my feet to leave, she takes hold of my arm and stops me. “You promised the Talbots wouldn’t rule. I didn’t believe you, but your General proved me wrong. Make sure she keeps her seat, Kregger. She has more enemies than she’s aware of.”
Madame Mercy’slast words to me haunt me all the way to Lynx’s Den.
Phoenix knows there are Caligos hiding in plain sight. In her own House Dzuni and the Order of Ezkai.
Are there…more?
I need to warn her.
She doesn’t want you, a dark voice whispers at the back of my mind.
I roll my shoulders and ignore it.
The package Madame Mercy gave me is a small square box wrapped in brown paper. It’s light as a feather. Nothing rattles inside.
I keep it safely tucked under my arm as I navigate the busy streets on my way to Lynx’s Den. The place is crowded once I get there, fae holding drinks spilling out of the doors.
Gracefully, I squeeze past the pretty ladies and ratchet criminals, heading towards the bar where I see Dae whizzing around behind it.
The moment I lean on the bar counter, his eyes meet mine. They widen with surprise.
