Antonio sighed heavily as we came to a complete stop a few feet away from the person, taking his seatbelt off, his words barely heard as he opened his car door. “When is it not?”
Turning the Hummer off, I glanced at Ezra. We didn’t say anything, but we both had a gun ready as we unbuckled our seatbelts then stepped out of the vehicle. Behind us, Elder Merrick and Elder Jacobs were already out of their car and walking toward us, their eyes glowing on the individual, whose cloak fluttered softly in the night breeze. Everyone was on high alert as we eyed the silent individual.
Except for Antonio.
I stood stock-still as he bounded forward. He started circling the person, his gaze running up and down their body with way too much excitement. His shoulders even bounced a few times. He seemed…giddy.
Cahal was instantly next to the silent individual, a gun in his hand. But he made no other move, just silently watching the person as Antonio did his little happy dance around the cloaked figure.
The stranger gradually started to lift their head…and the sweetest, softest, most feminine chuckle could be heard. A long, fire engine red curl fell out of the protectiveness of the black hood, laying gently across her cloak. Under the bright moonlight, I stared in silent fascination. It was a Com teenage girl. Maybe around thirteen years old. She was a real beauty: porcelain skin, dark brown eyes, and rose red lips. As she continued laughing gently, she merely watched Antonio as he circled her.
I cautiously stepped forward, being too damn careful for a Com teen. Her gaze altered to mine as I walked toward her. I kept my tone unruffled despite the oddity of the situation. “Who are you?”
She spoke so softly, I had to lean forward to hear. “My name is Julia.”
Grinningly widely, Antonio twirled behind her and shot a fist into the air.
I blinked from him back to her. “Who are you, Julia?”
Calmly, she folded the sign in her hand and stuffed it into a pocket of her cloak. “For you, that is not important right now.” She flicked a finger to Ezra as he stepped beside me, neither of us putting our guns away. “Though I do have something for you both.”
Ezra grunted quietly. “That would be?”
Her words were a whisper. “The cure to your ache.”
My entire body went still, my mind reeling at this Com. “Explain.”
She rolled her eyes grandly. “Elder Harcourt found me exploring where I shouldn’t have been, so I made a deal with him. Apparently, I’m now a courier.” She chuckled quietly, a condescending sound. “And not for whom I originally came for. My deal with the Mage is that I would bring you what you seek.” A long aggravated sigh. “He is way too big on himself. With timing — and many other issues.”
Antonio snorted softly…then gently touched her shoulder, squeezing it.
Her gaze snapped to his. She wiggled her captured shoulder. “Do you mind?”
“Nope.” Antonio studied where he held her. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Julia.”
Another wiggle of her shoulder. “I did not give you permission to touch me. Let go.” She paused for an extended moment. “Or I won’t give them their gift.”
Antonio released her, but he was still grinning like an idiot. “So sorry.” Lie.
She huffed. “Please. I am no fool.”
“No, you’re not,” Antonio murmured, then he continued his circling dance about her.
I waggled my gun in irritation. “What exactly are you talking about, child?”
With pure, haughty teenage attitude, her brows rose. “Are you deaf? I already said.”
I stopped waggling my gun and just flat out pointed it at her head. “What ache?”
She didn’t even look at my gun. She just rolled her eyes again. “Your memory wipe.”
Absurdly, as the air rushed from my lungs, all I could think was that she needed a piece of gum. If she blew a large pink bubble and popped it right in my face it would fit with her blasé attitude. And she apparently held the golden ticket: the cure to my insanity. My blink was gradual as I sucked air. “Excuse me?”
Julia shrugged a shoulder. “Elder Harcourt couldn’t bring it here himself. Something to do with the Laws that bind him on judgments, plus he thought,” a thumb-flick at Antonio and Cahal, “they might try to kill him. So he sent me.”