Her mother had sketched out the Wandsworth Shield – a circular shield of bronze from a few hundred years before Kyan’s time – which had been rediscovered in the River Thames in the 1800s.
‘Many of them like to nestle onto the crafted object and remain there. Others latch themselves onto different pieces that take their fancy. Human art historians believe the elements to be just decoration, not living creatures. But they are very real, very alive. And very territorial of their treasures.’
Dylan looked like he was about to start pacing, or a vein was about to burst in his temple. ‘So you’re telling me we need tofight adragonto get Kyan’s torc back?’
Remi laughed a little desperately.
‘It’s so adorable,’ Bells said, stroking one of the illustrations, which showed it as a tiny, intelligent-faced little creature.
‘It can literally kill you,’ Dylan said. ‘Don’t even get close.’
‘Only if you threaten their hoard, then they don’t stay so tiny,’ Callum said.
Dylan eyed the drawing with new suspicion. ‘Just how big are we talking?’
‘About the size of a skyscraper,’ Kyan answered.
‘And how do you fight them?’ Dylan asked. ‘A transformation?’
‘You avoid their breath – which is hot enough to flay the skin from your bones,’ Kyan said. ‘They don’t breathe fire.’
‘Oh, good.’
Before Dylan could worry further, their father rose. ‘We need to find it first. Which I’m sure we can do when we get to Ireland.’
‘The family and I will go,’ Nicole said to Kyan. ‘You don’t have to come. You can just tell us what it looked like.’
He met her gaze and the memories of last night’s closeness warmed her skin.
‘I’ll have to track this Druid anyway. I just—’ His jaw flickered. ‘I’ll come. The plan tonight should buy us some time.’
‘I’ll start booking the ferry,’ her father said. ‘We can’t leave the car and all its weapons and books, so we’ll have to take it. After you get your information from the Speakeasy, we’re best all travelling separately, and as soon as possible.’
Remi got up. ‘That means you and I need to go shopping.’
Nicole blinked, confused. ‘What in the world for?’
‘A dress. You can’t walk into the Speakeasy in that.’
CHAPTER FORTY
Nicole
THE SPEAKEASY – NAMED THE MERSEYMERMAID BY THOSEwho knew about it – was hidden at the back of another bar, crowded with humans.
As they entered, Callum slowed to walk beside Nicole.
Instead of a dress, she’d opted for a skirt with a decent slit for easier movement, and lace-like tights beneath. It reached down to her ankles and the patent black heels that clipped across the wood floor. A silky black shirt finished the look, and she’d pinned her hair up in a wavy bun to keep it out of the way, a few face-framing pieces loose. As she’d done her make-up, she tried to remind herself that they still had time.
As long as they weren’t found by anyone else.
‘Thank you, for helping Dylan the other day,’ Nicole said quietly to Callum, referring to the Varian attack.
The magnetic Empyreal at her side smiled. ‘It’s what we do. Besides, I prefer him with his pretty headonhis shoulders.’
That, and Dylan transforming in the middle of the city would change his scent, marking him as a newly transformed Empyreal and triggering any of the Wake’s nearby Empyreals’ oaths to hunt him down.
‘But we should talk aboutmyfamily,’ Callum added.
