I wasn’t gwyllgi, but I was plain lazy enough to use them when I got tired of scrubbing out the stains that came with the job and wanted to dump that pleasure into someone else’s lap for a change.
“They’ve expanded to delivering coffee and pastries.”
“I’m impressed, and also hungry.”
Another text reminded me I had been about to read Reece’s update when the lack of caffeine sent my brain into meltdown over the absence of café mocha in this joint.
“Whoa.” I leaned a hip against the counter. “Reece says Doughty has synthesized an antidote.”
“Good news then.” A frown pinched his forehead. “That happened fast.”
“Doughty is very good at what he does, and with magic to speed things up, he delivers results fast.” That’s why he charged a small fortune for consultations, and this went far beyond that. “Abbott elected to stay put, thanks to recent events, but Reece says he’s driving the antidote and their notes to Savannah to consult with Linus and Grier before administering it to a volunteer patient.” I kept reading. “Doughty referenced the formula for creating Atrax robustus antivenom, and it appears to be effective in simulations.” I Googled that real quick. “That would be the Sydney funnel-web spider.”
“How soon do you think he can have it ready for distribution?”
“Within the week.” I set my phone aside. “I’m sorry I don’t have better news.”
“They’re making progress. That’s all we can ask of them. Magic isn’t a cure-all.”
“Sadly not,” I agreed. “What are your plans for the night?”
“I’ve been recalled to the den to brief Mother and the other elders on recent developments.” He waited a beat then prompted me. “How about you?”
“Patrolling the streets, searching for coven members, and hoping not to run into any naked wargs.”
“Bishop going with you?”
“Yes.” I rolled my eyes. “He’s attached at the hip until our heart quota is met. No one else can guarantee they’ll reach the box before they stop beating.”
He’d timed me with a potato enchanted to beat like a heart, which put me off French fries forever, give or take a week. First, I had excised the organ from a dummy, taking care not to damage it. Then I ran like heck or called a Swyft to carry me to HQ. The potato was DOA every time.
“Any new leads on that front?”
While the espresso machine mocked me, I filled him in on the fae at the club, the trail, and the visit from Lizzy. I had been too preoccupied with getting him safely into bed to brief him last night. Then he went and dropped the bomb about wanting to learn more about me, and everything else scattered.
I had worried we would come to this, and I still had no clue what to do about it.
Mortifying as it would be, I might have to ask Linus for romantic advice.
Gulp.
“Bishop is breathing down my neck now that he thinks that fae has a vested interest in me, so I can’t go to him and request another dose of the sight.” I turned it over in my head. “I’m not sure if he led me to the Martian Roaches because he guessed that was my more immediate need, or if he just wanted me out of his hair and figured that was the quickest way since there were so many of them.”
Given the debt we had racked up with Natisha, I ought to nix the idea of incurring more with another fae, but I feared the day might come when I had no choice.
A knock on the door drew my ire away from the espresso machine, which had earned itself a one-way ticket to the new storefront’s breakroom, whenever Remy got it up and running. Assuming I didn’t murder it for denying me that which was rightfully mine before then.
“Listen to Bishop.” Midas headed to the bathroom. “He knows what he’s talking about.”
Unsure if that meant Midas was aware of Bishop’s fae nature, or if he just assumed that since Linus had left Bishop in charge of the final stages of my education that meant he knew what he was talking about when he warned me away from the fae in general.
Ambrose slid toward the door, announcing the arrival of a person of interest, and I could guess who.
“I’ll consider it.” I crossed the room, pitching my voice louder as I traveled. “I don’t want to give him a big head. His barely fits through the door as it is.” I opened the door and gasped. “Oh, hey, Bish.”
“I brought you this.” He lifted a tray with four steaming cups of what smelled too chocolatey to be anything but café mochas. “But since my head won’t fit through your door, I guess I’ll take them and go.”
“How long were you listening in before you knocked?”
“Long enough to know that espresso machine’s days are numbered.”
“I apologize for my rudeness. I haven’t had coffee, chocolate, or caffeine in any form today.”
“Poor baby.” He thrust the tray at me. “That’s why I made a pit stop. I figured you would pout if I didn’t leave the espresso machine, and I also figured you wouldn’t believe it’s a bitch to operate if you didn’t try it for yourself.” He glowered at it. “Do yourself a favor and buy a Mr. Coffee.”
Or a hammer. Or a Mr. Coffee and a hammer. I might need to show the new machine what happens when you hold out on me.
“You got the update from Reece? Good.” He breezed past me. “You did good work last night, kid.”
“Thanks.” I tossed back the first cup and let it burn all the way down. “Do you think we could—?”
“Ain’t happening.” He jabbed me on the forehead, right between the eyes, in the same spot his buddy had touched. “You think Natisha is scary?” He jabbed me harder. “She ain’t got nothing on Ruel.”
Ruel.
“About this money thing,” I began while I filed away the name in case I needed to invoke it later.
“Not this again.”
“I want half of it put into a trust for the next potentate,” I blurted. “I want to pay it forward.”
Bishop measured me for the span of a few seconds, and then he smiled. “Of course you do.”
Halve my debt to Linus and put my future replacement in a position to focus solely on their sworn duty? Talk about your win/win situations. “You’ll help?”
“It’s your money.” He shrugged. “Do with it what you like.”
Remy would probably murder me in my sleep for this, but it felt right. The next person to take office might have fewer resources and less powerful friends than I did. I had grown to love Atlanta in my time here, and I wanted her left in capable hands when it was time for me to pass the baton.
A text chime brought Bishop’s attention to his phone, and a feral grin spread across his face.
“We’ve got a lead on an ex-coven member.” He snapped his fingers. “Let’s go.”
Taking a second cup with me, I went to get dressed for the night in the clothes Lisbeth had bought me.
By the time I had yanked the tags off my new outfit and emerged wearing it, Midas was gone.
“His mom called.” Bishop didn’t snicker, but it was a near thing. “He had to go.”
Mouth thinned while I sipped my third coffee, I asked, “What do we know about this ex-coven member?”