He scoffed, his concern morphing to incredulity. “I think I earned a reprieve. At least for tonight. If I have to fuck you into oblivion again tomorrow to keep you happy. well, that is the burden I bear.”
I slapped his arm. “Was that a joke?”
He kissed my forehead gently and I closed my eyes. “Go to sleep, Zoey.”
For once, I actually listened to him.
Chapter Nine
THE TEXT TO MEET THE strange ‘Helix’ came in the late evening, directing me to get across the city in less than an hour. I barely had time to grab a couple of weapons, talk Fin from the ledge, and drag myself to the car. Fin followed me out.
Since they’d specified, again, Fin wasn’t to make contact with the metalsmith, he volunteered to drive. It might be cutting the edge of the agreement, but I figured as long as he didn’t try to come inside wherever I ended up he’d be fine. Well, as fine as he could be with me going in alone. Something he complained about the entire drive to the meeting point.
We pulled up outside a brownstone set in a neat row of others. Even the flowers in the perfect place spoke of prep schools and housekeepers.
I didn’t buy it for a second. My time with Fin and the Captain had made me jaded, sure, but I’d always been wary of manicured lawns and inheritance funded lives. I’d seen behind the curtain too many perfect lives to take anything at face value. It also didn’t help the façade that magic practically shimmered around the house like a bubble.
“Do you see it?” I asked Fin.
He nodded, his jaw clenched. “I see it. And I don’t want you going in there.”
I reached out and smoothed my thumb over the hard edge of his jaw. “I know you have an entire speech planned out to try and talk me out of going in there, but can we just skip it and assume I said something disarming and sassy that ended your tirade?”
His brow furrowed and he clutched the steering wheel. After a moment, he dropped his hands and finally looked at me. “I’ve lost too many people. There won’t be anything left to live for if I lose you too.”
“I’ll pretend those words were inspired by something soft and romantic instead of fear.” I trailed my thumb from his jawline to his bottom lip. “Don’t worry, I have a good feeling about this. You can monitor me through the bond. The second you feel anything like fear, you have my full permission to rush to my rescue, and I won’t even get mad.”
I jumped out of the car and shut the door, staring up at the house.
Outside the vehicle, the heavy sizzle of magic seemed to waft from the invisible barrier around the house. The street around us was empty save a few vehicles down the road. No other people wandered around.
I reached out to where I felt the magic and dipped my fingers in first. It felt chilly against my skin, but it didn’t hurt, nor did it feel malicious in any way.
I gave Fin a smile and then stepped through the magic to the other side.
The bond tethered tight in my chest cut off. I turned to see Fin step out of the car, watching me.
He could see I was perfectly fine, so I shrugged and headed up to the bright red door. There wasn’t a doorbell, but a huge black wrought iron knocker in the center. I banged the knocker against the door a few times and tucked my hands into my jacket pockets.
It only took a minute for the smooth man we’d met last night to answer. I gave Fin a little wave and stepped over the threshold.
“Nice to see you again, Miss Zoey,” Helix said as he closed the door behind me and waved me into a small sitting room.
The inside of the house looked as perfectly staged as the outside. Did they meet all their would-be clients here to test them before they dove into deeper stuff?
I took a seat on a cream couch and waited for Helix to sit across from me. He arranged himself in a matching chair and gave me a long look. Similar to the one he’d levelled on me last night, it felt like he could see the shape of my bones beneath my skin.
I got straight to the point. “So, I’m here, and my faerie is outside your weird shields. When do I meet your contact?”
He smiled and picked up a low-ball glass from the coffee table. “Shortly. First, I have a few questions for you.”
Of course, he did. Nothing was ever easy with the magical races. There were always hoops and tests and bullshit to wade through. But I didn’t exactly have a choice in this situation. I was the one needing the help.
“Ask what you need.”
He resettled his legs, one crossed over the other. Between his black-on-black suit and the amber liquid in his glass, this felt more civilized than some of the life-threatening situations I’d been in recently. At least if he decided to kill me, I’d have the crackle of a fire and the soft strains of Beethoven to see me off.
“Why do you really need a magical metalsmith? And please don’t bother with the jewelry excuse again. While you may need a catalyst as you described, I know that’s not why you are hunting my friend.” His tone was as stiff as his cuffs.