“Good,” was my only response to his plea. “How, then, were you sending the information you stole?”
“Same method, basically. I simply returned the item for a refund.”
I glanced at Mathi, my eyebrows raised in silent question.
“An old but reliable method,” he said. “Especially in an age where everything is done on the phone or online.”
I returned my gaze to Eljin. “I take it that box you were shoving into your bedside drawer when I arrived at your place the other day was one of your so-called purchases?”
“Yes—”
“Then you must have gotten it from someone else—Carla killed Jarvil at least a week ago.”
He blinked. “Why would she do that? She was fucking the man.”
“An interesting comment, given you claim never to have met the woman in the UK,” Mathi commented.
“No, but I did meet Jarvil on a regular basis at his shop and scanned him on several occasions.” He smiled, though it held little warmth. “It always pays to uncover what you can about your employer’s minions, just in case things go ass up.”
“Does that mean you saw Carla’s true form via his thoughts?” Mathi asked.
“No. I only know the form she presented to Jarvil.”
“And that was?”
“Carla Wilson.”
Surprise flitted through me. For some reason, I’d been expecting her to use a different surname with Jarvil, especially given there were multiple arrest warrants out for that identity. But maybe Jarvil had valued sex with her more than he had the law. He was a dark elf, after all, and while they were generally far more law abiding than Ljósálfar elves, they did basically own the black market.
Or was I being unfair to a dead man? Carla possessed a blade that allowed her to control the actions of anyone whose flesh it tasted, so maybe shewasn’tas busy in the bedroom as we were all presuming. Maybe her “conquests” were fed the belief of sex rather than the actuality.
A sudden change in the building’s song caught my attention. I slipped into the golden rivers and studied the approaching movement; it was light, and spoke of earth and stone.
I glanced at Mathi. “I think Bodhrán is here.”
“I’ll go get him.”
As Mathi turned and strode toward the loft ladder, Eljin said, “Who is Bodhrán?”
“The Myrkálfar coming to collect your ass.” I approached him, stopping when only a few feet separated us. “You really should have broken the contract and walked away the minute you discovered who Cynwrig was, Eljin.”
He snorted. “Why? Do you honestly think you are more than a plaything to him?”
“I’d rather be a plaything than an assignment. At least with Cynwrig, I knew where I stood. Whereas with you?—”
“Oh, do not try to tell me that I hurt your feelings, Bethany, because I’ve been in your head and your dreams and know the truth.” His tone was harsh. Derisive. “Your feelings were never engaged when it came to me. Even if I hadn’t been paid to fuck you, you would never have chosen me. You want what you cannot have; you and I never stood a chance.”
I opened my mouth to deny it, then closed it again. As he’d said, he’d been in my head, and heknew. “Truth or not, it does not negate what I said. Cynwrig considers me part of his harem, and you do not mess with a Myrkálfar’s ladies.”
He didn’t reply. His chest seemed to be rising at a more rapid rate, suggesting he was having trouble breathing. Which I guessed was logical, given that not only was he bent in half but upside down. All his organs and intestines would be squished togetherandpressing down on his lungs.
That small snake slipped through me again, whispering,Who really cares?
I flipped him upright. I wasnotgoing to be what my father wished.
Once his breathing had eased, he said, “You cannot give me to the dark elves. It is unconscionable.”
“Unconscionable would be handing you over to the IIT and letting Carla kill you. The Myrkálfar will keep you safe.”
