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“Sharah said they’re just finishing up. He was in there so long, Menol y.” Delilah sounded like she was trying not to cry. “Camil e’s a wreck. Sharah put her in one of the rooms and made her lie down. Tril ian slipped her a light sedative and although she’s not sleeping, she’s calmer now.”
“Good. Damn it, I wish Smoky were around.” I frowned at the snow. This was so not the right time for his family to cal on him.
“By the way, where are you and what are you doing?” The sound of chewing told me Delilah was eating something.
“Cheetos or doughnuts? And where I am is none of your business right now.” I glanced at the time on my phone. It was almost time to check in with Roman. “I’m taking care of a little matter, so keep your britches on. I’l check in with you in a bit.”
Hanging up before she could stop me, I dialed Roman and, when his maid came on, asked to be put through to him.
“Why the fuck didn’t you tel me what Ivana is? I so did not expect to be meeting one of the Elder Fae.”
“If I’d told you what she is, you might have opted out. I happen to think your plan is a good one, so I made sure you’d go through with it. When you are finished with her, why don’t you come over for a visit?”
The low, sultry voice told me just what kind of visit he was thinking of, and though the thought was appealing, now was not the time. “I’m sorry, but no. Not tonight. My brother-in-law is in the hospital and we’re not sure he’s going to live. My sister wil need me after I’m done here.”
Roman paused, then said, “Understandable.”
“Wade’s agreed to withdraw.” I realized that in al the chaos I had forgotten to report back. “So you won’t hurt him, wil you?”
“If he abides by his word, he’s safe from harm. I’m surprised you managed it without putting the bite on him. He was hel -bent on the position.”
“Yeah . . . I appealed to his desire to preserve his life. So what about Terrance? What do we do about him?” The last thing I wanted to do was infiltrate the Fangtabula—actual y, strike that. The last thing I wanted to do was head downstairs and hang out with Ivana.
“We shal discuss his situation later. Meanwhile, keep your wits about you. Ivana never forgets a face, nor a bargain. Chances are she wil be sniffing at your heels for more meat in exchange for her services. But be cautious: You may be half-Fae, but the Elder Fae are a breed unto themselves. Make too many bargains with them and they wil own your soul.”
As I hung up, I thought that Roman conveniently left important information out of his conversations, and from now on, I’d ask for more details. I slid my phone back into my pocket and, glancing at the silent street, headed back toward the building.
As I reached the front door of the diner, the ground beneath my feet shook and threw me off balance. I went sprawling to the ground just as a loud howl echoed like a sonic boom over the diner, and then the building imploded in one massive cloud of dust and debris.
I sat there, dazed, covered with white powder, as a chunk of concrete the size of my fist came hurtling down to hit me on the head. The impact knocked me back but did nowhere the amount of damage it would have caused an FBH or one of my sisters. After a moment, I shook off the thunk and jumped up. I started to brush my jeans off, but decided it would be futile.
One glance at the diner told me that nobody would ever be jerking sodas there again. It occurred to me that Ivana might be hurt and I debated going in to find out, but then a figure marched up from the basement stairs. Ivana, in al her freak show glory, leaned on her staff, fol owed by a glistening swirl of spirits.
A sinking feeling in my gut told me that I’d been secretly hoping the implosion had taken her out with the building. Anybody who could unleash enough force to destroy a diner was somebody I wanted either ful y on my side or out of my life total y. I cursed Roman under my breath. If he’d told me who I was dealing with, I would have tried to find another way to deal with this mess.
Ivana marched over to me and gave me a creepy smile. She held up her staff. “I’ve gathered the spirits and they are here, with me. Second part of the bargain—we go now. I do not wish to be abroad when dawn arrives.”
“Neither do I,” I muttered. Frowning at her, I decided to see what she’d do if I suggested altering the deal. The thought of her wandering around in Underground Seattle seemed highly dangerous, as in let’s-bring-the-city-to-its-knees dangerous. “If you’re worried about the time, we can revise the bargain—”
“You are suggesting that I won’t honor the deal, Vampyr ? Offense, I cal offense and claim amends!”
Stomping one foot, the Maiden of Karask began to grow even tal er and it occurred to me that I’d fucked up. Big-time . But I didn’t dare apologize—just like a thank you, an I’m sorry indicated a situation of debt.
“I believe you wil honor the deal. I misspoke.” The lump in my stomach was growing. I had to placate her without promising her something that was going to hurt to hand over.
She squinted at me. “You have a quick tongue on you, dead girl.” Her lip quivered and I could see the desire in her eyes, the lust over what she might be able to cajole from me, but her eyes darted toward the bag ful of beef she carried. She licked her lips. “No offense taken. This time.
Second task: Now lead me.”
I grimaced, dreading the havoc she could wreak on the tunnel where our vampire serial kil er might be hiding, but I had no choice. It was either complete the bargain or dig myself in a lot deeper than I already had.
“I’l meet you a few blocks from here.” I gave her the next address and headed for my Jag. No way was I giving the Elder Fae a ride.
Ivana took one look at the second bag of beef and headed down the tunnel while I waited topside.
I’d given her instructions, but no way in hel was I fol owing her down there. I wasn’t about to get trapped belowground with one of the Elder Fae. So she, her silver staff, and her retinue of spirits vanished down the rabbit hole while I waited in my car, grateful she hadn’t ordered me to come with her.
The more I thought about it, the more I decided that having an Elder Fae in my Rolodex was a good thing, though not necessarily safe.
