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“I take that as a compliment. She’s a good one.”
Moira nodded. “I can’t give it to you, though. What do you have that is of value to me?”
“I can grant you a favor.”
She had laughed aloud. “Now, what would I want from you?”
“Don’t pretend you don’t have use for someone who could not only find what’s most valuable to you but could summon it to you. I had no allegiance to any faction, and if you give me what I need, that makes us closer to friends than I was to most. Do you want the favor, or do I tell Thorn where you got this and let our lives get messy? It really makes no difference to me.”
Her eyebrow flew up in shock, and that alone was almost worth my pounding heart and sweating palms.
“You aren’t much like your friend after all.”
“I don’t worry about the rule of three as much as she does, but I’d rather do no harm. That said, I’m tired of being a pawn to the factions when none of you give a solitary shit about me. I just wanted to go home and sleep with both eyes closed. If granting you a service keeps you off my back in the meantime, it’s worth something to me, too.”
Her eyes gleamed as she stood and offered me her hand. “One runestone for one favor of equal value.”
The phrasing had given me pause. “Value as I see it, or as you do?”
Her smile had broadened to a grin. “Either you needed it badly enough to agree, or you didn’t. It’s as simple as that.”
The rune had warmed in my lap at her proximity, ringing alarm bells in my head. This attractive, elegant, grandmotherly witch should not be trusted.
Then again, neither should Thorn nor the pack. When it had come down to it, my lack of faction loyalty had probably made me look pretty damned sketchy, too. So everybody in my life, including myself, was on the sketchy side of trustworthiness. But I’m not sure I have a choice anymore. I need that stone, and she has it.
I gripped her hand as a glow brightened and warmed between our palms. Three marks in less than a week. It’s got to be some kind of record. I ignore the voice in my head that’s way too late in telling me to rethink what I’m doing. After all, I said I’d do a favor. I won’t do just any favor. I know how to use words, too.
The heat in our hands grows to an almost painful level of discomfort, leaving me to wonder if the other two would have been this painful if I hadn’t been knocked out for both of them.
Finally, the light cooled, and she released me. In the center of my palm is her sigil, the wardruna. It reminds me of a Klingon Bird of Prey from the top but rendered as a stick figure.
Keeper of secrets. Cool.
“Why this rune?” I showed her my palm, and she grabbed my hand and peered closer.
“Isn’t that interesting,” she mused. “I didn’t choose this, you did. But if you are a protector of secrets, that makes you a trustworthy ally.”
“Or extra conniving.”
She chuckled. “From a different rune, perhaps. But this is protective, not the same as a blackmailer or spy would have. No. For all your “I’m just looking out for me” bluster, in your heart, you are a defender. This is a good trade.” She paused and pursed her lips once more. “The secret you keep tonight, is that Samara must never know that I told you where I got the demon stone. She never said I couldn’t sell it, but I think she was trying to keep it away from Thorn.”
“I’m not Thorn.”
She sniffed at me, her eyes narrowing. “That’s not entirely true, is it?”
I cringed. “A situation I’m working to remedy.”
“Delightful. You certainly have found yourself in a pickle, haven’t you? I owe Samara no allegiance. The other factions always undercut witches.”
“I’m sorry. That’s bullshit. I know how much the witches do to keep the peace.”
She nodded. “Maybe we’ve misjudged you.”
“Maybe you’re starting to think you have a use for me, too?”
She holds up her hand, the mark of the Gemini on her palm. “I’m duality, not duplicitous. I keep my bargains.” She checks the gold-filigreed pendant watch hanging around her neck. “Well, I know you must have things to do.”
I stood, barely suppressing a chuckle, while I stuffed the artifact into my pocket with Chastity’s baubles. “Yeah. Nice to meet you, Madame Sorcière.”
