“Yeah, this one is tough,” I said. “Don’t know why. Maybe the guy is using a concealment charm. Do you know anyone strong enough to make a tracking charm off a bit of blood?”
Connor and Claire looked at each other. They both had different contacts given that Connor stuck to potions and baking for a living, and Claire hunted bad guys and only occasionally helped out at P & P, but their circle of friends was wide.
“What about Mordaca?” Connor asked. “She’s a Seeker, right?”
“The one you have the hots for?” Claire asked.
“That’s the one.” Connor grinned.
“She’s scary, but yeah, she could probably do it.” Claire met my gaze. “I’ve got one friend I can call. Give me a sec.”
She got up and moved to the window, then pulled out her phone.
“Mordaca?” I asked Connor as Claire made the call.
“Yeah. Sexy Blood Sorceress with some Seeker talent like you. Bit scary like Claire said, but she could probably use her sorcery to make you a charm.”
“Sounds perfect.”
Claire returned a second later. “All right. She’s in LA tonight, but she’ll be back by morning. She said she should be able to make you a charm, but it’ll cost you.”
I glanced at Aidan, but I figured he was good for it.
He nodded once. “Thank you.”
“Can’t we meet her tonight? We can fly to LA.”
“She insisted she was busy,” Claire said.
“And you need to rest,” Aidan said.
“I’m fine.”
“Actually, you look like you’re melting into a puddle,” Claire said.
I glanced down at myself. Okay, yeah, my posture was so slumped that I might look like I was about to pass out. That coffee hadn’t fixed me as much as I’d thought.
I turned to Aidan. “What if the guy who stole the scroll reads it?”
“For one, he might not be able to read old Irish. And if he did and poses a threat, we’ll kill him.”
The threat in his eyes was so real that I believed him. And he was right, I could barely walk. Without sleep, I’d be worthless. “Fine. We’ll wait.”
“Why are you so interested?” he asked. “You seem to be taking this more personally than a normal job.”
My heart jumped into my throat. He couldn’t be onto me. “I take all my jobs personally. That’s why I’m the best.”
“Uh huh,” Aidan said, suspicion still in his eyes. He turned to Claire. “When do we meet Mordaca?”
“She said to meet her at eight at the Apothecary’s Jungle in Darklane.” Claire glanced at her cellphone. “I’ve got to run. A client is waiting on me.”
“I thought you just finished a job?” I asked, glancing at her hair.
“Yep. Nasty Sorabug infestation at a rich guy’s house over in Enchanter’s Bluff.”
“Ew.” Sorabugs were gross. They were the size of ponies—hence the reason for hiring a mercenary instead of an exterminator—and had giant pincers. Even the nicest neighborhood in town wasn’t immune to their gross invasions. Fortunately they stuck to magical cities or else humans would think aliens had invaded.
“Yeah, this job should be better. Protection detail for a visiting aristocrat,” she said.
“Protection from what?”
“That’s the thing—I’m not sure. And I don’t like that.”
It was that wariness that kept my friend alive. Claire was one of the best mercs in Magic’s Bend. Mercenaries were hired for all kinds of jobs—not just killing. Though she did that too, as long as she thought the client deserved it. No kids or innocents. Our world was full of all kinds of dangerous jobs you could hire a mercenary for. It was Claire’s selectiveness that kept her alive.
“Be safe,” I said.
“Always.” She grinned, then headed out the door, straightening her ponytail as she went.
A pair of pink-haired old ladies walked in after she left, no doubt out for a day of antiquing at the shops down the street from my own. Those antiques had no magical charms, however.
“Good luck with your tracking spell,” Connor said as he went to help the women with their order.
I turned to Aidan. “I’m beat. I’m going to go get cleaned up and hit the hay. I’ll see you tomorrow morning?”
“We have more to talk about.” His voice was commanding.
“Not now, we don’t.” I stood, trying my damnedest not to sway. The last thing I needed was him carrying me down the street.
Aidan surged to his feet and put a steadying hand on my shoulder. “Fine, not now. Go rest. I’ll see you later.”
“Pick me up at seven.” Though I wanted to try to beat him to Mordaca, it was highly unlikely that I could afford her fee.
We parted ways outside P & P. I had to insist that he not carry me back to my apartment, but by the time I walked in front of Ancient Magic, I was about ready to fall over. The door weighed a hundred pounds as I pushed inside.
Nix looked up from behind the counter. “Whoa, you look rough.”
I leaned against the door. “I feel it. Will you help me up to my place?”
“Yeah. It’s almost five. I’ll just close up.”