“He would have come through several months ago,” Levet told her.
A speculative expression settled on the nymph’s face. “You can follow a trail that is months old? Impressive.”
Levet held out his hand, exposing the stone. “Only with assistance.”
Cleo leaned forward, studying the small object that continued to glow with magic. “What is it?”
“A bauble that belongs to the Queen of the Mer-folk.”
Cleo reached out her hand. “Can I have it?”
Levet quickly closed his fingers around the stone and lowered it. He wasn’t done with his hunt. He was going to need the stone.
“Inga might be open to negotiations,” he hedged, not about to bluntly refuse the female’s request. Cleo hadn’t earned her position by being a kindly, forgiving soul. She was as ruthless as a scorpion when she wanted something. He hid his arm behind his back. “Once my quest is complete.”
She pursed her lips, as if debating whether or not to simply take the stone, then she sniffed. “What is your interest in the vampire?”
“The Anasso believes that he is the leader of a rebellion.”
“Sounds like leech business.”
Levet swallowed a sigh. “So I’ve been told.”
“Why should I help?” Cleo demanded.
“The King of the Vampires would be in your debt.”
“Tempting.” She didn’t appear particularly impressed with that reward. “What else?”
Levet tried to think of the best means to tempt her. “I suppose there might be a monetary reward.”
Cleo shook her head. “I want a favor.”
Ah. That didn’t seem so bad. Levet owed lots of favors. Most of the creatures forgot the debt in a century or two.
“Very well. I will owe you a favor.”
“Not from you.” Cleo pointed toward Troy. “From him.”
The imp widened his eyes, pressing his hand to his chest. “Me? No way.”
Levet smiled. “Done.”
Troy’s breath hissed between his teeth. “Wait. You can’t barter with me, you ugly lump of granite.”
Both Levet and Cleo ignored the male’s protest. The bargain had been made. It was ridiculous for the imp to continue bleating about it.
“The vampire approached me six, maybe seven, months ago,” Cleo said. “He needed to leave London without being traced.”
Levet felt a tingle of excitement. That had to be the vampire they were chasing. “Did he give you a name?”
“He didn’t offer, and I didn’t ask.”
“What did he pay you?”
The cognac eyes narrowed. “That’s confidential.”
Levet shrugged. How much the leech was willing to pay might give some indication of how desperate he was to keep his identity hidden. Not that it mattered. Levet was hunting him down, one way or another.
“Can you open the portal again?” he asked.
Cleo paused, no doubt considering the odds of being punished by the vampires. Then, with a lingering glance toward Troy, she moved toward the wall. Laying her hand against the bricks, she murmured a word of power.
“There.”
A shimmer of magic spread over the grimy stones, revealing an opening that was large enough for an ogre to walk through. It was a display of her massive power.
“Troy.”
The imp scowled. “What?”
“Don’t forget. You owe me.”
Troy parted his lips, but Levet stomped his foot on the idiot’s toes. He was going to get them tossed into the dungeon.
“Merci, ma belle.” Levet performed a deep bow. By the time he straightened, Cleo and her soldiers had disappeared. Levet grimaced. The fact that she left without saying goodbye meant the clock was ticking. They had a precious few minutes to get out of the area before she returned. And the next time it wouldn’t be so civilized. Levet scurried forward. “Let us go.”
Troy stomped next to him, obviously in a mood. “You are amazing, you know that?”
Levet never slowed. “Amazing in a good way?”
“Amazing that you stroll through the world creating one disaster after another. And yet you remain completely unscathed while everyone around you is shit on,” the imp muttered.
Levet rolled his eyes. What a whiner. Lifting his hands, he shoved the imp forward. Troy released a roar as he tumbled into the portal, cursing Levet in several different languages.
Levet clicked his tongue and followed behind the imp. “And people claim I never shut up.”
Chapter 15
Brigette leaned against a tree, trying to pretend a nonchalance that was betrayed by the shivers that shook through her body.
It’d been over three hours since they’d fled the depths of the tunnels and hidden near the main entrance to watch the demons creep out in small groups and scurry away. Each time a shadow appeared, Brigette’s gut clenched with fear. Eventually, Maryam would crawl out, and the lethal curse would be triggered.
She remained on edge even after Viper arrived with the large coven of witches, who spread through the streets, marking out spells with soft chants as they circled wider and wider.
The theory was that the dampening spell would prevent the curse from leaving the tunnels. But theory and fact were not always the same thing.
It wasn’t until Xi appeared around the corner and hurried to stand next to her on the narrow street that the shivers eased. She swallowed a sigh. Obviously, her fear wasn’t just about Maryam. She’d been afraid that…
What?
She fiercely refused to examine what was rubbing her nerves raw. This wasn’t over. Not yet. She couldn’t allow herself to be distracted.
“Well?” she asked as he stepped next to her, the cool wash of his power a welcome relief as it defused the anxious heat that thundered inside her.
“The witches have finished casting the spell.”
Brigette clenched her hands together. “Do you think this will work?”
Xi reached to grasp her hand, his head turning to watch the old, crumbling building across the street. It had once been an old pumping station, but it had long ago been abandoned. The station remained in derelict condition, but the demons had reopened the access point inside to avoid being seen by the humans as they entered and left their temporary lair.
“Only one way to find out,” he murmured. “Unfortunately.”