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Did they get it al ?"
"We think so," Mal en said. "In the end, I resorted to cal ing in one of the healers who could charm some of the fragments out--she was getting too sore to use the tweezers anymore. We've put a special ointment on that should take care of most of the healing and leave no marks, but there are a couple places we had to stitch up. No taking a bath for two days and no picking at scabs!"
As we headed out, Sharah smiled and waved. Her eyes sparkled, and for the first time in weeks, I felt at peace about Chase and me as Camil e and I headed out to the car.
CHAPTER 17
By the time we got home, everybody else was there and gathered in the kitchen. It had become our usual hangout for planning strategy. Nerissa was absent--she'd had to go home after her mini-vacation with Menol y, but everybody else was sitting around, drinking tea, eating cookies and chips and whatever else Iris had managed to find for snack time.
I looked over at Smoky, a faint grin on my face, as Camil e settled in between him and Tril ian. Morio sat to Tril ian's left.
"What?" Smoky cleared his throat, cocking his head to one side. "Why are you looking at me like that?"
"I just got wind that a certain magical shop was trashed. Thoroughly." I met his stare. "Did you leave evidence?"
He snorted. "Do I look stupid?"
I wasn't going to answer that. A--he didn't look stupid, he was probably one of the hottest dragons around. B--even if he did, you don't tel a dragon you think they look stupid.
Camil e looked from him to me. "What's going on?"
"Your husband took out the magic shop. Van and Jaycee are going to be so pissed. I have the feeling Stacia didn't have them open it just to snag us in.
Looked like a good way to establish a foothold here. Now, there's not much left but one big junk heap of shelves, bottles, and merchandise."
Camil e turned to Smoky. "Cripes, what am I going to do with you? They're going to know we did it--al the more reason for Stacia to up the bounty to dead or alive."
"Which reminds me," Iris said, "have you thought about hiring a few guards for the house? When you're al home, everything is dandy, but during the day, when you're out, with just Maggie and myself here--and Menol y asleep--we're perfect targets. And I don't mind helping out, I don't mind fighting in this war, but it would seem a wise precaution."
"I'l get on it," Camil e said, jotting down a note on her steno pad.
I covered my ears and rested my head on the table, not wanting to think about al the crap we were facing. After a moment, a hand ran down my back, patting me lightly. I looked up, glaring, and found Roz staring down at me, a soft smile on his face.
"Too much?"
I nodded. "Too much of everything. The past few days have been insane. The only good thing that's come out of it has been Camil e's wedding." As I glanced over, staring at her sitting with her husbands, a thought occurred to me.
"Smoky! You could solve one of our minor problems for us." I beamed at him. "Make your sister-in-law happy, would you?"
"How so?" He looked worried. "You don't want me to start catching game for the house or anything, do you? Because dragon-scorched meat doesn't taste so good to humans and their ilk."
"That steak you caught me when I first came to your barrow was delicious, sweetheart." Camil e patted his hand. "He's lying--his game is always prime choice--"
"Oh for Pete's sake . . . no, I am not asking you to play mighty hunter. But Camil e and I promised a dryad we'd find her another home--one with more wild land she could spread out on. What say we turn her loose on your land?"
Camil e stared at me. "You're right--that would be perfect!"
"Hold on--both of you. What are you up to now, and what sort of creature do you want to turn loose on my land? I just got rid of Titania and that insufferable Morgaine." Smoky looked ready to take a bel igerent stance on the subject.
"She's not a Fae Queen, she's just a dryad looking for a wilder place than Rodgers Park. You could make her happy--and help us fulfil our promise." I snickered as Camil e grinned and lightly rubbed her hand along his arm.
"Smoky, love, it would make me so grateful if you'd do this," she said.
Smoky let out a low rumble that sounded al too much like a growl and gazed at her hand. "You aren't above bribing me, are you?" he asked, his voice husky. The glacial chil of his eyes swam in a whirl of ice floes and ocean mist. Camil e leaned in and kissed him, her lips lingering over his. After a moment, she pul ed away, wincing.
"Damn these cuts . . ."
"My love, you never have to hurt yourself to ask a favor from me," he said, wrapping his hand around hers and holding it against his shoulder. He turned back to me. "You have your wish, as long as the Fae understands it's my territory, and she's a guest there. You may take her there whenever you like. Also: I've insured that Georgio and Estel e are taken care of by . . . a couple of my friends. Warn the dryad not to come close to the house."
