“It’s my dagger.” It seemed impossible, but somehow it was the same dagger, one of a pair. The enchanted blade could cut through almost any material. I’d thought I’d lost it forever. I reached out, tracing a single finger along the intricate design. Then I closed my hand around the hilt.
Magic purred across my palm and an eerie, alien consciousness touched the edge of my mind. But that wasn’t unexpected. The enchantments forged into the fae-wrought blade gave the dagger not so much an intel ect as a sense of awareness. It liked to be drawn, to be wielded, to cut through skin, through magic—and right now, it did not like being driven into wood.
“Al?” Caleb edged closer, the muscles in his legs bunching as if he were a moment from leaping to his feet.
I felt much the same way. I stil hadn’t spotted a trap, but I was ready to leave the exposed position of my porch. After a quick glance around, I tugged on the dagger. The blade slid free of the wood effortlessly, the note moving with it.
Caleb jumped to his feet and I whirled around, dagger in hand. Nothing happened. No magical y constructed hand. Nothing happened. No magical y constructed monsters appeared, nor did a shadowy witch or malicious fae emerge to ambush us. Not even a spel charged the air.
The
suburban
neighborhood
street
was
empty,
nonthreatening. I scanned the dagger and note once again with my ability to sense magic. Nothing. I wasn’t going to wait around for that to change. Clutching the dagger, I hurried inside, Caleb at my heels.
“What does the note say?” Caleb asked as soon as the door shut behind us.
I pul ed it from the blade, trying not to damage it worse than being pinned to the porch had done. The paper was a thick vel um that rustled and cracked as I unfolded it. I recognized the neat script immediately.
“It’s from Rianna.” I said, frowning as I read over the careful y penned letters.
Alex,
I need your help. Please, come to the Eternal Bloom. I’ll be in the VIP section all day and through the night.
Forever your friend,
Rianna
P.S.I heard about the cu sith attack. I had your dagger repaired. I only hope it can help you. Be careful, and please, come see me.
I reread the short note twice. Then I handed it to Caleb.
He read it aloud. While he read, I dug through my top drawer, looking for the sheath enchanted specifical y for the dagger—it wasn’t exactly safe to leave a blade that could cut through anything just lying around.
Why would Rianna pin a note to my porch? It didn’t make sense, though knowing she was the one who’d left the dagger actual y did explain some things. Rianna, my roommate from academy, had been a captive of Faerie roommate from academy, had been a captive of Faerie until recently. The last time I’d seen her I’d freed her from the slave-chains binding her and she’d saved my life. She’d been one of the few witnesses to what happened under the Blood Moon when I’d lost the blade. Also, the dagger had original y been a gift from her.
But why the threatening display? And why hadn’t she just knocked on the door? Unless she didn’t deliver it. Her note said she needed help. Was that the trap? Was someone using Rianna to draw me to the Bloom? Of course, if that was the case, why make a production of delivering the note? Why put me on my guard? The Eternal Bloom was Nekros’s only fae bar, and the majority of its profits were drawn from humans gawking at the unglamoured fae who worked in the bar. But the VIP area was different—it was a pocket of Faerie.
My fingers final y landed on the sheath, its leather buzzing lightly with magic. It was stil in the holster I’d used to keep the dagger in my boot through most of the Coleman case, which was probably best—it looked like I needed to wear it again. Kneeling, I rol ed up my pants leg and strapped the dagger in place.
When I looked up, I found Caleb staring at me, the note stil in his hand. Malik stood beside him, and I started. I’d gotten so caught up in the dagger and Rianna’s note, I’d forgotten about Malik. A new wave of adrenaline flooded my system. I stood, crossing my arms over my chest.
If Malik had planned to hurt me, he’d had the opportunity while I’d been distracted—but he hadn’t taken it. A good sign, I guessed. I opened my mouth to tel him I’d listen to what he had to say, but Caleb spoke before I got a chance.
“You didn’t tel me you were attacked by a cu sith.”
I blinked. “It wasn’t like it was wearing an ID tag.”
Caleb turned to his friend. “And you, you didn’t tel me either. You didn’t think that was worth mentioning?”
Malik’s shoulders crowded his large ears as he cringed, and a tinge of color flared in his pal id cheeks. “I was and a tinge of color flared in his pal id cheeks. “I was holding the information as a bargaining chip.”
“A bargaining chip? I told you that you’d have to be straight with her.”
“Wel , she hasn’t so much as agreed to hear me out yet, has she?”
“Hel o, I’m right here,” I said, giving both men a mock wave. “Hol y and I were attacked by a glamour construct built on witch magic that tried to kil us. Does the shape the glamour took real y matter?”