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“Hey, cuz,” he said. “How’s Camil e? How’s Morio doing?” He hadn’t ful y integrated into our extended family but was doing his best to try.
“Camil e wil be a whole lot better tomorrow night. If Morio lives. Sharah’s giving him a sixty percent chance to make it; if he passes the twenty-four-hour mark, he should live.”
Iris shook her head. “It boggles my mind how strong some spirits can become. I wonder if there’s a way to cleanse them from the area so you can go exploring without worry.”
“I . . . wel . . . I’ve taken care of that. At least as far as the diner and the tunnels are concerned.” I hadn’t meant to say anything—at least not yet—but Iris had a way of making you feel like you were lying if you omitted tel ing her something.
“And how did you do that?” She gave me a piercing stare.
“I made a bargain with one of the Elder Fae—the Maiden of Karask. She cleared the spirits for twenty pounds of beef.”
Iris gasped, and her fingers fluttered to her lips. “Oh no, my girl. You didn’t. Please tel me you’re joking.”
Vanzir looked confused, but Shamas stared at me, his eyes wide. “Are you mad, girl? The Elder Fae? Even the Lords of Fae let them be. They are our Titans and—often—our enemies.”
I shrugged. “We needed to do something and I didn’t want Camil e trying to take them on herself, especial y with Morio so wounded. You know her—she’s going to feel it’s her duty to take care of this. I put a stop to that before it could begin.”
“But the Maiden of Karask? Girl, her history is terrifying. We have such like her in my own homeland, and the people and Fae give them a wide berth.” Iris stood, pacing. “She knows you now; she wil study up on you. Once you bargain with the Elder Fae, they never forget you and always come sniffing for what else they can gain from you. You’ve bound yourself to her as certain as you are bound to the twilight hours. Do you realize what this means?”
I stared at her. “But the bargain was met and paid—”
“The bargain! The bargain is the connection. You merely paid the first instal ment. She has the right to contact you again. She has the right to touch you for more meat—the kind she longs for, not the kind you’re wil ing to pay. She has the right to ask a bargain of you, now. Don’t you understand? There are no bargains when it comes to Elder Fae. Only enslavement on an unwritten level.” She was seriously upset, and I began to realize I might have dived in over my head. “For the sake of the gods . . . you did not say ‘thank you’ or ‘I’m sorry’ to her at any time?”
“No, that I was mindful of.”
“Thank heavens for smal favors. But girl, you opened a can of worms. The best we can hope for is that she forgets you. That you slid beneath her notice.” With a swish of her robe, Iris returned to the rocking chair and curled up in it.
I didn’t want to tel her, but given how grave she felt my error was, I thought I’d better. “When we parted, she said that I could contact her again.”
Iris let out a long sigh. “Then it is done. She wil remember you. And you wil have to deal with her in the future. Pray she’s distracted for some time.” Iris shook her head. “Don’t they teach you anything over in Otherworld? I’m sure some of the Elders crossed over during the Great Divide.”
Shamas cleared his throat. “Don’t be too hard on Menol y, Iris. We have Elder Fae over in OW, too, but they are usual y left to themselves. In the city-states like Y’Elestrial, they are banned and do not have truck with most city folk.”
“I wanted to go back down in the tunnel tonight, while the ghosts are gone.” I told them what Ivana had done. Iris said nothing but stared at me, a grave expression on her face. Trying to avoid her gaze, I glanced at the clock. “It’s nearing five. I have two and a half hours that I could put to good use.”
“No.” Shamas crossed his arms. “Not unless you take me with you.”
“I can come,” Vanzir said.
At that moment, a sound caught my attention and I looked up to see Nerissa, rubbing her eyes, enter the room. She was wearing a long pale pink gown and her golden hair trailed down her shoulders. Without her makeup, without the skirt suit, she looked vulnerable, soft, and dewy.
Breathless at her beauty, I crossed to her side and gathered her into my arms, pressing my lips to hers, drinking in deep the fragrance of sleep and perfume and the scent of her body. After a moment, I stood back.
“I love you. It’s that simple. I love you. ”
Nerissa stared at me, her mouth curving into a bow. Her eyes glittered. “I love you, too. Now tel me what’s going on? I heard some of it on the way in.”
“Great, ruin a romantic moment.” I sighed. “I apparently screwed up in trying to help out.” I explained what I’d done. “Have you ever heard of the Elder Fae?” I wasn’t sure if the Weres were aware of the differing flavors of the Fae race.
Nerissa frowned. “I don’t know. Venus the Moon Child would have known, but he didn’t talk about stuff like that much. Not before you guys opened the portals and came over. We knew the Fae existed, but they were stil in the closet. It was hard to mingle when you never knew who your enemies were, or who might out you.”
I grinned. “Now you’re out in more than one way.”
“Check and mate. So are you sure you can get down in those tunnels and out before dawn? You don’t want to be caught out of your lair when the sun rises.” She ran one hand along my arm, and I caught my breath. Standing next to my half-naked girlfriend who was al softness and bed-headed made me want to forget al about the tunnels and the serial kil er and spend some serious time exploring her mysteries.
With a sigh, I tore myself away. “I have to. Camil e’s going to be out of it for a day or so, and Delilah wil be exhausted by tomorrow from sitting up with her. Smoky and Roz are gone. I have Vanzir, Shamas—who also has to get up tomorrow and go to work—and Tril ian. And Tril ian won’t leave Camil e’s side, not for this.”
“I’l go with you.” Nerissa leaned down and kissed my lips, but I shook my head.
