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“I do need you, Alice.” I glanced at Eli in alarm. The tears we’d avoided last night seemed like they were coming one way or another.
“No, you like my blood, but you could get anyone to do that.”
“Ally . . .” I opened my arms to hug her.
And she melted into me. Eli watched, silent but obviously realizing what I’d been thinking more and more. I’d had my suspicions, but the longer I knew Alice Chaddock—who had initially annoyed me to the point of wanting to stab her—the more I realized that I’d accidentally bonded her to me. Ally was my Renfield.
Eli met my gaze as I hugged Ally and pretended to bat at invisible flies.
I mouthed, “I know.”
I went from being a woman responsible only for myself, protective of my three dearest friends, but untethered to being a woman with adraugrand a human bonded to me, a fiancé who was the heir of the fae throne, and a dead guy currently coming out of the guest suite.
Iggy and Alice were staring at one another the moment he walked into the room. She wiped her face, erasing the few tears that had escaped without smudging her perfect make-up.
Iggy, charming in the way of men who were expected to be so, walked over to a sofa and motioned to it. “Revolveress?”
“What?” Ally sounded suspicious.
“I find myself in need of knowledge.”
“About?” She walked over and sat, though.
Once she’d done so, Iggy sat at the far other end. “Since the 1880s, women are prickly, wear unnatural hair color, and punch artificial men for fun.” He gestured at my fight dummies. “The fae and the dead ones are exposed, and hexen have no mastery system. What else is new?”
For a moment, I felt bad for him, and maybe a little grateful. He’d defused Ally’s emotions. It was a selflessness I appreciated, and I had a wave of hope that they might become friends. Iggy was dead, and he was suddenly pulled into a future that was markedly different. Ally was at a loss, tethered to me through magic and mourning the loss of her husband.
“Cities are like islands,” I offered. “When the dead exposed their presence, people panicked. Telephones are tiny enough to carry around, and have no cords.” I looked at my kitchen. “And we can cook food in a minute in microwaves, and cars are—”
“I noticed the cars,” Iggy interrupted.
“What do you eat?” Ally asked, whipping out her phone for her grocery list.
Iggy offered a sad smile and then met my gaze. “Nothing, I’m afraid. No food or drink or cigars unless my heart is beating. Today, it is not.”
“So all . . . better?” I asked awkwardly.
“Better? No. But my heart is silent.” Iggy glanced away, and I felt like apologizing.
“Geneviève?” Eli glanced at my wall clock.
“Right.” I took the suit Allie had brought and headed to the bathroom. I knew it would fit.
“Accessories!” she called, jumping up and grabbing a bag. “Sword holster, shoes, and a handbag with room for a pistol and first aid supplies. Designer.”
She didn’t bother trying to tell me brand names any more, but she couldn’t resist telling me it was quality. I smiled, drained my mug, and took the bag. And I darted off to change.
After last night, I felt renewed despite my to-do list, and the Chicory Alice was already helping, boosting the energy of Beatrice’s contribution. It still burned my biscuits that I failed to put Iggy in his grave, but I was starting to wonder if he might be an asset after all. I could benefit from an experienced witch’s wisdom.
Maybe.
I wasn’t sure what would work the same for me as for more traditional witches; I wasn’t working with the same magic most witches did. Sometimes, will and words were enough, and sometimes a single drop of blood roused a full wing of a cemetery. My magic wasn’t predictable, and dead things came at me when I worked any magic. Whatever else I was, I wasdraugrenough to be unpredictable. That would make me decidedly unwelcome in any of the Sanctuary Cities—or leave me dead in a few other places.
After a quick brush through my hair, I changed into the damn near perfect suit.
When I stepped into the room, I admitted, “You are a true gift, Ally. Could I get another mug of Chicory Alice?”
She preened a moment before starting, “I have a voice recorder, spare bullets, and notepad. We can take two cars or—”
