Betrayal Read online

  His mouth tightened into a flat line. “Yes.”

  “Does that mean she could make a copy of the artifacts? Could she create her own set? A working set?”

  Devanos paused, considering. “She could create a set that looked like the original, I’m certain. But as to creating a functional set of her own, that is not merely a matter of sculpting the gold properly.”

  “He’s right,” I chimed in. “Creating ritual items is a ritual in and of itself. The person creating it would need to know what phase of the moon to work under, what season to gather the materials. Some rituals require items to be gifted and not purchased.”

  “And that is only a handful of the possible stipulations,” Devanos agreed. “There is a reason such items are prized so highly.”

  “Does your family have a set like the one Catherine’s knife is a part of?” Andy asked.

  “No. Such sets were never common, but they are even more rare now. Rumors started some time ago about such sets, claiming that as the magic of the world grew thinner, the sets no longer duplicated a power from the bloodline, but rather stole it. Someone trying to pass on power using the set would therefore risk giving up their power, or the power of one of their ancestors, to the person being served.”

  Peasblossom snorted. “I can’t imagine that went over well.”

  “It was foolish, of course. If you ask me, the rumors were started by the Seelie Court. They resent the fact that they’ve lost power at a faster rate than our people, so they take any opportunity to sabotage us.”

  That was a tidbit I hadn’t known. Everyone knew that magic today wasn’t what it once was, but mostly that applied to creatures who had been worshiped, or otherwise benefited from the power generated by prayer and belief and offerings. As people had moved into cities, feared the weather and wild animals less, they had strayed from the gods and spirits they’d once relied on for food and safety. But I hadn’t known that the Seelie felt the hit harder than the Unseelie.

  Perhaps because fear didn’t die as easily as faith?

  “Are the sets often broken up like this?” I asked. “Divided among different people?”

  “Never,” Devanos said firmly. “Each piece is worthless without the others. I can’t think of a single reason to break a set up like that. Especially when dealing with individuals with such a long life expectancy, knowing they tend to travel. It would be too easy for a piece to be lost, as was the case with the other pieces that go with Catherine’s knife.”

  Long life expectancy. He was talking about sidhe. But the owners of the artifacts had all been human, except for Catherine. And she’d said she inherited it from her grandfather, who would have been human as well. How had humans—different humans from different families no less—gotten ahold of a priceless Unseelie artifact?

  “I love my daughter, Mother Renard,” Devanos said, breaking into my train of thought. “Tell me the truth. Is this thief a danger to her?”

  Andy answered first. “We have to assume they are, yes. They’ve already killed once.”

  “Definitely keep an eye on your daughter,” I agreed. “Whoever stole the bowl will need her knife. I can’t say if they know she has it yet, but they wouldn’t have stolen the bowl if they didn’t believe they could find the other items.”

  “Perhaps I’ll try to convince Catherine to come stay with me until this threat passes,” Devanos said, half to himself. “The security measures at my house are stronger.” He narrowed his eyes. “And she’s certainly safer with me than that charlatan.”

  “Good idea.” Andy held out his hand. “Good meeting you, you’ve been very helpful.”

  Devanos took the offered handshake. “And you as well, Agent Bradford.” He bowed slightly to me. “And you, Mother Renard.”

  I turned around as he got in his car, and just barely caught a hint of movement out of my peripheral vision. I snapped to attention, staring at the door to Catherine’s townhouse.

  “Peasblossom, did the door just move?” I murmured.

  “I was watching Devanos.”

  I looked down at Scath. “Did you see anyone in the doorway?”

  Scath nodded, a slight bobbing of her head. It looked strange, seeing a German Shepard nod.

  “Was it Alicia?”

  Scath snorted.

  “Catherine?” I asked.

  Another nod.

  “Do you think she overheard us?” Andy asked.

  I motioned for him to follow me, and we both went back to the SUV and climbed inside. Andy pulled into traffic, and I waited to answer him until we were out of sight. “Sidhe have better hearing than humans, but not as keen as shifters. I doubt she could have made out what we were saying, but it’s not impossible.”

  “And there’s always the chance she reads lips,” Peasblossom added. “A lot of court sidhe can, you know. If Devanos is training her to succeed at court…”

  “I didn’t get that impression,” I said thoughtfully. “Devanos doesn’t seem in any hurry. It sounds to me like he spends most of his time dreaming of seeing Alicia pay for the murder of his wife.”

  “Can you blame him?” Andy asked. “He goes out of his way to protect his family, and then Alicia kills his wife and manages to steal his daughter in one move.”

  “We don’t know for sure she killed his wife,” I warned.

  “You said sidhe can’t lie. He said it outright, he accused her of killing Ameline.”

  “If he believes it, then it’s not a lie,” Peasblossom chimed in. “But that doesn’t mean he’s right.”

  Andy glanced down at the gas gauge. “I need to stop for gas. Where are we going now?”

  “I want to talk to the people who worked the antiquities show Mr. Masters took his bowl to,” I said, tapping one finger on the armrest of my door. “I need to know who knew about the bowl. If someone knew about it from working for the show or hanging around the show, then they could have easily followed him home.”

  “I wouldn’t mind knowing if Kathy ever went to Treasure Hoarders to follow up,” Andy added. “She acts like she didn’t believe the bowl was worth anything, but we only have her word for it that everyone told her uncle it was worthless. For all we know, someone at this antique show told him what it really was, maybe offered to buy it. If Kathy found out…”

  “That’s possible,” I said slowly. “There are creatures and magic users who specialize in finding artifacts like this, and they like to hang around the antique shows. I don’t think the Vanguard would have told him it was valuable, not if they knew it was cursed and didn’t want him trying to sell it. But that doesn’t mean no else did.”

  “Do we know where to find the people working this show?” Andy asked.

  I took out my cell phone. “I can find out where it was held when Mr. Masters went for a consultation. We can go to the venue, see if we can convince them to let us see the security footage.”

  Andy pulled into a gas station, and while he refueled, I checked the Treasure Hoarders website. My heart skipped a beat when I found the information I was looking for. On the upside, I knew that particular location had the second best security in Cleveland. However, the proprietor was about as likely to let me see the security footage as Peasblossom was to give up sugar.

  Andy opened the SUV door and slid inside. “Did you find it?”

  I gave him a weak smile. “I did. The day Mr. Masters took the bowl to Treasure Hoarders, the show was being held at a local hotel. Suite Dreams.”

  Andy and I had gone to Suite Dreams before. Back when we’d first met. It hadn’t been my finest hour, and it certainly wasn’t a memory I wanted him dwelling on when our relationship was already…strained. Andy’s silence as he pulled into traffic didn’t make me feel any better.

  “Seems he remembers how to get there,” Peasblossom whispered.

  I watched Andy out of my peripheral vision, noted the way his knuckles had gone white on the steering wheel. He was definitely remembering the same night I was. The night I’d used magic to ba
sically roofie him to keep him away from my murder suspects. Suspects he’d later had to watch walk out of his prison cell when he’d arrested them against my advice.

  I started to say something, then stopped. I’d apologized for my actions that night more than once, and if he wanted to hang onto it, then that was on him.

  Majesty climbed into my lap from the backseat. One look into his innocent blue eyes made my pulse race with a fresh dose of adrenaline. Suddenly my mind was bursting with images of all the different ways that Majesty could wreak havoc on Arianne Monet’s precious hotel. The dream sorceress already hated me. If Majesty caused trouble, it might be enough to motivate her to take action. The kind that could end in my death.

  I narrowed my eyes. “Don’t. Do. Anything.”

  Majesty meowed in protest. When nothing horrible happened, I reached a hand out to pet him. He purred as I brushed my hand from the top of his head, down his back, to his tail. As I did, I called my magic, using warm vibrations to calm the power that always roiled and snapped inside him.

  Please, Goddess, don’t let him cause trouble for Arianne.

  Between the foul turn Andy’s mood had taken and Majesty’s looming presence, I was a nervous wreck by the time we pulled into the hotel parking lot. I figured Scath would insist on bringing Majesty inside, so I figured I might as well cut to the chase and carry him myself. Thanks to constant scratches behind his ears, the kitten was a warm puddle of fuzzy goo in my arms by the time Andy parked. Maybe if I kept him happy, he wouldn’t…go off.

  Or maybe I was petting him to keep from wringing my hands as I worked up the nerve to broach a sensitive subject with Andy.

  “So, you probably remember that Arianne really hates having law enforcement in her hotel.”

  Peasblossom smacked her forehead and I winced. Okay, that hadn’t been the smoothest opening.

  Andy didn’t look at me as he took the keys out of the ignition. “I remember.”

  I waited, but he didn’t add anymore. “Do you think it might be a good idea for you to—”

  “Wait in the car?” Andy finished.

  I studied his expression, trying to tell if he was agreeing with me. His FBI mask was firmly in place, but his eyes betrayed him. He was definitely angry.

  “She’s not going to talk in front of you,” I said quietly. “Not about the Otherworld.”

  “We’re not asking about the Otherworld. We’re asking about an antique show. We’re asking to view security footage. Something I’m more likely to have the authority to do since you have no badge, no professional credentials whatsoever.”

  I bit the inside of my cheek to hold back the sharp retort that sprang to mind at that comment. “She hates me, but she’s not afraid of me. And she might even have warmed to me after our last conversation.”

  “That would be during the month you ignored my calls.”

  This time I bit too hard. I tasted blood, and had to concentrate to ground myself before I snapped at him. “Yes. The point is, if you come inside, Arianne’s sole purpose for the entirety of the conversation will be to get you out of her hotel. She won’t listen, she won’t think about it, she won’t consider any request we make. She’ll only care about getting the FBI as far away from her and her business as possible.”

  The muscle in Andy’s jaw tightened. “You think she’ll kick me out.”

  “I think she’ll be polite about it, but yes.”

  “But you don’t think she’ll throw you out.”

  “She’ll try,” I admitted. “But she won’t be polite about it. And there’s always more to learn from someone being rude than someone being polite.”

  Andy fell silent, and I dared to hope I was getting through to him. Peasblossom gave me an encouraging pat on the neck, and I let out a deep breath.

  “Andy, if you want to come in, I won’t stop you. I think you know what the smart course of action is. It’s up to you.”

  “Then let’s go.”

  My lips parted in shock as he exited the car, not so much as glancing in my direction. He didn’t start for the entrance without me, just stood outside the SUV. Waiting.

  Majesty mewled, and I realized I was holding him too tightly. I was almost grateful to have something else to concentrate on as I got out of the vehicle and headed for the hotel. Nothing like a ticking time bomb to take your mind off interpersonal conflict.

  I braced myself for the scent of lavender, a fragrance I’d enjoyed before I’d come to associate it with the dream sorceress and her enchanted hotel. As always when entering Suite Dreams, there was a moment when I had the urge to flop down in one of the lobby’s overstuffed chairs and fall asleep. The enchantments infused in the decor brushed over my senses, coaxed me to sleep. Sleep so the dream sorceress who owned the place could rifle through my memories.

  “Agent Bradford. Mother Renard. What an unexpected surprise.”

  Arianne’s voice was not nearly as comforting as her magic. It was cold and hard, and just the slap in the face I’d needed to shake off thoughts of dreamland.

  I whirled to face her, forcing my mouth into a smile that wouldn’t fool either of us. “Arianne. How nice to see you again. I was wondering—”

  “And to what do I owe the honor of this visit?” Arianne interrupted, addressing her question to Andy. “I hope there’s not a problem?”

  “There doesn’t have to be.” Andy inclined his head toward one of the cameras overlooking the lobby. “On August 2nd, the show Treasure Hoarders filmed here. I’d like to see your security tapes for that night.”

  Arianne’s expression of polite but distant regard didn’t waver. “Do you have a warrant?”

  The vein in Andy’s temple swelled. “I know how eager you are to cooperate with authorities. I came here in good faith, assuming I wouldn’t need one.”

  Arianne looked at Andy. “Are you here in an official capacity then?”

  The vein pulsed. Andy smoothed his hands down his jacket, tugged on his sleeves. “I’m looking for a murderer. I believe they may have chosen their victim here.”

  “That’s good,” Peasblossom whispered. “He’s not answering directly. He’s really getting the hang of it.”

  I didn’t think that was any reason to celebrate, but I didn’t comment.

  “Agent Bradford, as much as I would like to help, I have to tell you that I consider Ms. Renard a threat to my security. As such, I’m sure you can understand why I don’t want to make her privy to any information that could compromise my hotel.”

  Andy shot me a look, but I ignored him.

  “You thought I was a threat the last time we spoke,” I pointed out, unable to keep the annoyance out of my voice. “You were wrong then.”

  “We remember that situation very differently,” Arianne murmured. She smiled at Andy. “I’m sorry, I can’t help you.”

  “Would you be willing to review the tapes yourself?” I suggested. “We’re looking for anyone who interacted with Mr. Jay Masters. He was murdered August 7th, over a bowl—”

  “Goodbye, Mother Renard.”

  I clenched my teeth, scratching Majesty a little harder behind the ears as I watched the dream sorceress retreat behind the front desk. Stubborn woman.

  “Still think I’m the reason she wouldn’t talk?” Andy asked under his breath.

  I stared at him, my hand on Majesty going still. “Leave, and I’ll find out for sure.”

  Andy pressed his lips into a thin line. He turned to face me, and there was a tension in that movement that made me take a step back. Something about Andy’s energy throbbed with the potential for violence. I thought he was going to erupt, lash out physically and finally give voice to everything that had been building inside him.

  Majesty sneezed.

  Chapter 7

  “This is why I don’t take him anywhere.”

  I pressed my back against the seat and stared over the city skyline back in the direction of Suite Dreams. Thanks to Andy’s impressive driving skills, and the fact that we bo
th knew when to run, we were tucked away in a grocery store parking lot at least six blocks from the hotel. Still, I couldn’t help but feel like Arianne’s furious stare was still upon me. In my lap, Majesty gave another pathetic meow.

  Scath leaned forward to brace her elbow on the edge of the driver’s seat. “You’re overreacting. No one was hurt.”

  “He called a bolt of lightning. If I hadn’t rushed him outside the hotel in time, it would have happened indoors. Do you understand how difficult it would be to explain lightning indoors?”

  “Arianne would have said a light bulb exploded,” Scath said dismissively. “Bright flash, not really lightning.”

  “Well, that’s not the point, is it?” I muttered. “That trashcan exploded. Flinging garbage all over the hotel’s front doors. I think one of the lights around the hotel’s sign cracked. Blood and bone, Arianne is going to have my hide.” I glanced back and rolled my eyes. “If you won’t get dressed, at least sit on the blanket.”

  Scath made a face, but she did rise up off the seat enough so she could tug the blanket back into place.

  I remembered our earlier conversation, and tried to keep my voice calm even as I resisted the urge to twist in my seat to face Scath. “You said Dubheasa did this to him. Did she mean for him to end up with me? Is she trying to…help me?” Or hurt me?

  The sidhe’s eyebrows dropped into a scowl and she leaned back. I was sure she was going to retake her feline form, but at the last moment, she seemed to change her mind. She took a deep breath, and when she spoke, she didn’t sound defiant, or annoyed. She sounded…tired. “I would tell you if I could. But there are events I’m forbidden to speak of.”

  “Of course.” Majesty voiced his displeasure as I tightened my grip on him, and I forced myself to relax. It wasn’t his fault. He was a tool, a means to an end. It wasn’t his fault the sidhe were secretive, manipulative, plotting, cat’s paw-loving pains in my—

  “Getting back to the case at hand,” Andy said, interrupting my train of thought, “I still don’t understand Devanos’ refusal to take Catherine to court. Can’t he just do that without her guardian? She’s his daughter, and she’s obviously over eighteen.”