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“Okay.”
He lifted my chin and gave me a slow, lingering kiss, then pulled back grinning. “Now that wasn’t so hard, was it?”
I snorted.
David smoothed my hair back from my face. “We have to figure out how to get more information about the Ricardo Estate. Inquiries with my own sources have turned up nothing.”
“Collin is out, so maybe I should give Marino’s guy something tomorrow night, even if it’s a false lead. If I string him along, he might give me some helpful information.”
His eyes widened. “Do you hear what you’re suggesting? Stringing along a thug to use him? I think you’d be better served turning him over to Officer Helmsworth.”
“Other than Collin, Marino’s our best lead on the collection.”
“You do know how wrong that is onsomany levels?”
“It’s all we have at the moment. Until I figure out a way to break into Collin’s truck.”
“Let’s not resort to theft just yet.”
“We’ve moved way past theft, and you know it.” I yawned, exhaustion overwhelming me.
“Ellie Lancaster, Curse Keeper and petty thief.”
I closed my eyes and murmured. “That’s me, never a dull moment.”
Before I knew it, I started to doze off.
Several hours later, David woke me with a kiss. “How are your dreams?”
I cracked my eyes, still groggy. “Dreamless.”
“Good.” He kissed me again. “Go back to sleep, and I’ll wake you in a few more hours.”
The next morning, we got up early and headed to the inn. David called the tattoo shop and made an appointment for early afternoon. When we showed up several minutes early, my nerves were a jumbled mess. “It seems like committing my soul to a deity should come with a bit more pomp and circumstance.”
“You want a ceremony?” David teased. “I can give you one.”
I shook my head with a grin. “Just hold my hand. I really have no idea what will happen when this thing is on my back. When Collin did it with henna, I didn’t feel anything until he put his mark on it. But this is real. I’m worried I’ll do something stupid when the needle hits.”
He bent down to kiss me. “I’ll be with you the entire time.”
“Thanks.”
True to his word, David held my hand the entire time, and I struggled not to compare the two experiences—the solemnness and seductiveness of the ceremony with Collin and the sterility of the tattoo application. I only hoped it would work.
We spent the rest of the afternoon and early evening at the inn, coming up with a plan to lure in Ukinim and Ilena and practicing the chant that David had found.
“Daddy said there were many resources I could use.”
David didn’t look so sure. “If I had the choice, we’d hold off and practice this on something less threatening.” His mouth pressed into a tight line. “Are you positive your father said you had to do it tonight?”
“Yes, I told him I didn’t know how to send them back, and he said I’d find a way.” The pocket watch box sat on the kitchen counter, and I opened the lid. “He also said the pocket watches were important, but I’m not sure how.” I picked up the one with the starry-sky background. “I can bring them, but I have no idea how I’d use them.”
He took a deep breath. “I think I’ll bring some holy water for backup.”
My jaw dropped. “You’re kidding, right?”
“No. I’m deadly serious.” He stood. “I can’t believe we’re doing this. Maybe you should call Collin for backup.”
