“A discussion between Beverly Nyx and probably a few other members of the SBW. It most likely took place last week and itwas about Milo and his application for the funding they offered him.”
“Oh, was there a problem?” Jon was no fool.
“Yes. They require a test from him, one he won’t have a chance of passing on his own. A test they have never done with any other prospective recipient. I want to know what’s going on.”
“You think they want to mess with Milo?” Now Barion’s tone had a dangerous edge. Milo was part of their family and Barion was highly protective of him, just like all the other paranormals in the group surrounding Sammy. Probably because as a human, Milo was the most vulnerable of them all.
“I very strongly suspect it.”
“Give me a sec.” Barion closed his eyes, flipping through the past like humans did through TV channels. Quirion knew his brother was able to see the weaves of time and manipulate them a certain degree. How he did that he still had no clue. It vexed him to no end, but so far, all his studies had led to the conclusion that Barion’s talent should be impossible. Knowing that pondering this specific topic would only distract him, Quirion put it very firmly out of his mind. Hewouldfind the answer one day, he had no doubts in that regard, but at the moment, he had bigger fish to fry. Or vampires and ice elves, if his assumptions were correct.
“Ah, got them.” Barion grinned, then waved his hands. Silvery streaks followed his fingers, floated in the air, then solidified to a picture. Beverly Nyx, the old bat, and Rasputin Icebringer, the insufferable ice elf who had once dared to suggest the scrolls about the wood elves’ secret rituals to create new plants, which Quirion had unearthed from a Mayan temple deep in the jungle, should go to his people because elves were much better suited to guard such knowledge. Well, the old wrinkle-skinned wannabe librarian had learned theveryhard way to never mess with Quirion’s books.Idiot.
In the middle of the living room, Beverly and Rasputin stood frozen, waiting for Barion to animate them. Quirion nodded at his brother. It was Beverly who spoke first.
“Rasputin, dear friend, you look troubled.”
Dear friend? Since when?Last time Quirion had seen the two, they had been like two homopolar magnets, constantly rejecting each other.
“Well, I do have reason, my dear Beverly.” Rasputin stepped closer to her, lightly touching her hand. Quirion felt himself puking a little in his mouth, especially when Beverly smiled at Rasputin in a way that could only be described asalluring.Beverly,alluring!
“What seems to be the problem?”
Rasputin held out a paper, a print-out as it seemed. Beverly scanned it quickly.
“Do we know this Devon Merrybone?”
That jerk? What does he have to do with anything? Except for being a pain in Milo’s ass?
“Apparently he’s a scholar as well, just like Milo Abber, though lightyears away from his genius.”
Finally, something Rasputin got right. Had to be the first time.
“Is there any credence to his claim?” Beverly looked pensive.
“Initially I didn’t think so, but in order to uphold the SBW’s impeccable reputation, I decided to do some digging, just in case there was anything we should be aware of.”
“What did you find?” The impatience in Beverly’s voice was much more what Quirion was used to.
“Milo Abber is every bit the genius we definitely want in our society.” Rasputin hesitated.
“But?” Beverly’s eyebrows would have probably crawled right over the top of her head if she’d had that much skin to move around.
“But he did have help, nothing unseemly or substantial enough to accuse him of fraud, but the problem is more the person who helped him.”
“Rasputin, dear, I know we’re both very long-lived, but I do not wish to waste precious minutes on you building the drama.”
Yeah, that was Beverly through and through. Rasputin though didn’t get angry. He pouted.Pouted!Which looked ridiculous on his sharp face, which was dominated by his pointy ears. Beverly on the other hand smiled indulgently.And we’re back to what the fuck?
“I’m sorry. You know how much I love my drama. And this is juicy! And potentially alarming.”
“You’ve got me hooked, Ras. No need to draw it out.”
Gah. Quirion would have never, not in a million years and a trillion alternate universes have seen this coming. Beverly, with her aloof vampire lady persona and Rasputin, the arrogant ice elf whose heart had never melted once in all his years of existence as friends and very obviously in a courtship. Quirion just wasn’t sure if this was a miracle or the exact opposite of one.Well, if it makes them happy….
“His mysterious helper is Quirion.”
Rasputin blew the bomb short and to the point. Beverly’s eyes widened. Quirion cursed. How had they found that out?
