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Somehow I didn’t think the Consortium would forgive lies of omission. With these thoughts in mind, I finished my tea, then went into the parlor to try to focus on work.
Chapter 18
Peyton and I were silent as we tidied up the parlor and took our places. I was sorting herbs and gemstone chips into little plastic bags to sell, while she was playing mutely with the cards. The silence was awkward, but what was there to say? I had to keep quiet about what had actually happened at Anadey’s, and I knew she was feeling guilty and angry over the whole incident.
But after a few moments, she broke the ice. “I want to move in, if you’ll have me.”
I jerked my head up. “What?”
“If you have room, I’d like to move in. I’m not going back to the diner, and I’m not going back to my mother’s. The look on her face when I broke into the circle last night was terrifying. I’ve never seen her look so angry, or so . . . secretive. What the fuck did she do to you?”
I shrugged. “I guess . . . what we talked about.”
“She did more than that. This morning, when Kaylin asked if you wanted to go dreamwalking to find the antidote, you shrugged him off like he’d asked if you wanted to go stroll through the forest and take Myst a basket of muffins.”
I sucked in a deep breath. How to handle this? Sometimes avoidance was the best route. “We should talk about something we can control, like the Consortium and how we’re going to go about working with them. I had no clue they oversee magical businesses. It seems odd that they came out here just as we opened our doors, doesn’t it?”
“Not if they’ve been trying to get in touch with Marta. They’re probably running a bit behind, like any bureaucracy. But that aside, how do you feel about joining them?” Peyton brushed her hand across the soft cloth of the table. “Mother’s going to have a fit when I do.”
“I’d rather have a few teeth pulled, but I guess there’s no help for it. And it’s not like we could hide anything—our sign was right out there by the side of the road when she got out of the car.” I shook my head. “I’ve never been good at joining anything or following rules. Creating a society like Marta did is going to be hell on me.”
I preferred to rely on myself. But then again, perhaps we could create a group that was strong against Myst and the Indigo Court. Ysandra had given me no clear rules. What if I wanted to include Fae, or even vampires in it? She hadn’t said that I couldn’t. I was about to say as much when someone walked through the door for a reading. As Peyton invited the woman to sit down, I turned away, focusing on my work.
I sold five protection charms that afternoon, and Peyton had one other customer. She talked to her for a bit, then called me over.
“This is Luna. She has a problem that I thought you might hear.” Peyton introduced the woman, who was probably about thirty-five. She was short and plump, with long dark hair, and her eyes were ringed with silver sparkles. Pretty, in a way that appeared soft on the surface, but beneath I sensed a huge reservoir of strength.
“Hi.” I shook her hand, surprised by the strength of her grip.
“Hello.” Her voice was even and low, sultry almost. She slid back into her chair and as she lowered her head, a sweep of movement caught my eye. I closed my eyes and listened on the slipstream.
She is marked. Her energy is marked. Keep her here, do not let her go out into the wilds tonight. The Hunters are following her—I can hear them on the slipstream. Ulean whirled around me, frantic.
I turned back to Luna. “What’s going on?”
“I feel like I’m being followed. The past day or so, especially during the evenings, I’ve felt something outside my house. I haven’t gone out to check—I’m not stupid—but my cards have warned me that something dangerous is waiting for me. I don’t know what to do. I have nowhere to go. I saw your ad in the paper and thought I’d ask if you could investigate. And maybe fashion a protection charm for me. I can make them myself, but my fear is overwhelming my sense of accuracy.”
I glanced over at Peyton. “They’re after her.”
“Who? Who’s after me? You know already?” Her lip quivered. “I live alone and I’m not sure what to do.”
We couldn’t take in everyone whom the Shadow Hunters were after, but damn it, we had a chance to save her life. And for some reason, Luna struck me as useful. As someone I might want to know better.
“Luna, tell us a bit about yourself. Then maybe we can help you better.”
She let out a long sigh. “I’m single, I’m a singer—well, part time. I work in a little thrift shop to make ends meet, and I occasionally attend a psychic fair and do readings.”
Then it hit me; she wasn’t magic-born like I’d suspected, but yummanii. And she had some very strong magic of her own. The magic-born didn’t bother with psychic fairs, but the yummanii, especially those who had magical abilities . . .
“You’re yummanii.” I held her gaze.
She nodded. “Well, mostly. There is mixed magic in my family. My grandmother married into the magic-born. After that, the abilities of the children and grandchildren grew stronger. I’m the strongest in the family. But it mostly comes out when I sing or play an instrument. My songs . . . I can sometimes make things happen.”
A bard. Luna was an old-fashioned bard. And that would be very useful to Myst. She’d be able to charm in people with a bard-turned-vampire in ways that she couldn’t now. Influential people, who might listen to Luna’s songs and fall under her spell. And if Luna belonged to Myst, then she’d obey without question.
“You can’t go home, not alone. At least not for tonight.” I bit my lip, trying to think of what to tell the woman.
She will believe the truth. Her energy . . . you must not let her fall into Myst’s hands. Ulean was adamant.
