Page 21
Francesca places two steaming mugs of coffee before us with a warm smile. “I’ll be back with your breakfasts.”
She places a warm hand on my shoulder, the weight aching my heart from long-dead memories I buried within it. “Good to see you again, Lucas.”
I give her my most dashing smile. “Good to be back. Can you make sure there’s a bear claw in mine?”
“Of course. I’d never forget. A fresh batch is cooling in the kitchens now.”
“You’re the best, Franny.”
Nora is gulping her coffee like it’s a mug of beer. She gasps when she finally resurfaces. “My savior this morning.”
Francesca winks and holds a finger to her lips before leaving us. I wrap my hand around my mug, my rings glinting as my threads inspect the liquid. I nod towards Nora’s half-empty cup. “Whisky?”
Nora’s dark eyes sharpen. “Do not judge me, Lucas Flint. I am in no mood for it.”
“I would never.” I take a slow sip, and my thin threads weave a near-imperceptible barrier around us, muffling out voices. Only Dimitar’s inner circle or Tori could catch the subtle glint in the light. “Trouble at the apothecary keeping you busy?”
Nora points a menacing finger. “Do not start.”
I bat my eyes innocently. “Start what?”
“Dimitar may not be able to stop our friendship, but I’ll tell you exactly what I told him. Our two relationships are completely separate. I tell him nothing of you, and I tell you nothing of him. I’m not a spy. I am your friend, and I am Dimitar’s most valuable healer and potion master. That’s it. So keep your sneaky little probes to yourself.”
I sip my coffee slowly and inspect Nora carefully, lingering on the dark circles under her eyes that even her best brews could not fully hide. “I’m guessing Ivan is in need of you. I’m sure what you learned from me came in handy to save his life.”
She glares. “You sneaky bastard.”
“I’m just pointing out that your divide between us is not impenetrable. Dimitar is clever enough to connect the dots.”
Her full lips purse as she chews over my logic. “Why don’t you ask your little spies?”
“I tried. They didn’t show up last night. Am I right? Ivan survived The Arachnomicon’s bite?” If Dimitar’s second in command is dead, Tori and I might need to flee the city. Ivan has been by Dimitar’s side since he seized power. The fallout will be catastrophic for Tori.
Nora sighs, and I smile victoriously. She spins her cup between her hands. “He’s in rough shape. I’ve been at his bedside nonstop. I have no idea how you survived, but I recognize the damage that was within you as the same he’s fighting with.”
She pauses and chews on her lip. I wait, my gaze trained on her. Her fingers brush against her wand tucked into her twist, and my rings tingle with the fresh wave of magic from Nora. My brows lift, and she lowers her voice needlessly; no one could penetrate both of our wards. “Be careful.”
“Sounds boring.” I smirk, and she glares.
“I’m serious. Dimitar is planning something. There are whispers about him taking meetings with someone even his inner circle don’t know. Do not tell me what you did to piss him off. The less I know the better for me.”
“How do you know it’s me who pissed him off?”
“Because he only gets this violent when it’s about you, idiot. By the way, I chiseled that amulet you fused on him free of his chest. I was sure he was going to transform and slaughter the whole room by the time I was done. I’ve never seen him so enraged before.” She pauses, frowning towards the window.
I turn, my heart pounding, half expecting to see Dimitar staring at us. About ten Magistrate officers with their Guild partners are piled on a truck that is battling its way through the magical snow, a train’s cowcatcher attached to the front shoving the snow free.
Nora mumbles, “I wonder where they’re going?”
“Probably another weird magic flare somewhere.” I turn back to Nora and carefully choose my words to try to pry information from her. “I’m sure Dimitar is planning something while the Order is in-fighting like this. That asshole would never let an opportunity to get more power and influence over the city slip him by.”
Nora glares at me and hisses, “Lucas Flint, do you want me dead? I have no desire to see how far my goodwill with the Amur is stretched. I like my lifespan long, thank you very much.”
“Fair enough.” I go silent when Francesca approaches with two bags. I smile widely, my threads dissolving to nothing with Nora’s lowering ward. “Thank you, Franny.”
She places both bags down on the table, and I pay her extra. She beams at the coin. “Be safe out there, my dears.”
“We will,” Nora and I answer in unison.
