Cha signed off and switched to the gold channel.“Hola Black Thirteen riders.Bandit here.Anyone spot a bit of a burr on Betty’s tail?”
No response.Well, a few “nopes,” but those counted the same.Most of their fellow transports, strictly legal or otherwise, could spot a law-hound drunk and with their eyes closed.Dy, being a sorceress, had an edge on knowing what most people didn’t.Still, it was downright odd that no one else had copped to scrutiny.
“Huh,” she said aloud after the box went silent.Dy was right about the coincidence—picking up a clandestine tail when they’d done nothing to attract attention and the border being closed for no discernible reason added up to nothing good.The possibility that the fae had been tipped off about their jaunt concerned her deeply.Surely this couldn’t be a set-up.Who would benefit?
“Problem?”Azul asked, a line between his brows.
“Won’t know till we know,” she replied with forced cheer.“This is when it gets interesting.”
“It hasn’t been interesting so far?”
“Moreinteresting,” she qualified, sliding him a sly smile as she slowed Katu.“This is when I do my real job.”
“I was wondering if you had a purpose besides looking hot in a race-carriage and flirting with everything on two legs.”
“Aww, you think I’m hot!”
He rolled his eyes.“I can’t believe that was your takeaway.”
“I excel at takeaways that flatter my vanity,” she replied absently, moving Katu to the slower outside lanes and trying to make it look natural.Several more carriages passed them, some hooting and honking.Big Betty sped past, Dy making an obscene gesture with the hand dangling out the window, and Cha chuckled.“Back at ’cha, babe.”
“You two have a decidedly odd friendship.”
“The stuff dreams are made of,” she agreed.“What about you—any Azul besties out there?”
“No,” he replied shortly.“My life is not one that lends itself to the acquisition of ‘besties.’”
“How sad,” she said, meaning it.She slid Katu into a gap, looking for the tail.Dy hadn’t described the carriage, just in case they were listening in, but it could only be one of several.They knew the rhino transport lumbering steadily along, as she was a regular on the cargo runs between the Obsidian depot and Rockton.Kinda nice to see her still on the job after all this time.The carriage train of bison carrying loaded crates couldn’t be the culprit—not nearly fast enough.That left the stork single-rider carriage, the zebra sedan, or the lemur.
“What happened to your staff anyway?”she asked, settling Katu back so she could observe the behavior of her three most-likelies from behind.
“What?”Azul sounded evasive, rather than surprised by the question.
She tsked at him.“Don’t take me for a fool.Your people, the ones you called to come fetch you at Giant Jo’s.The ones who didn’t show and left your ass hanging in the wind for hellboy and his pet wolves to grab.”
“Ah, those people.”
She waited.He said nothing more.
“They fucked you, didn’t they?And don’t say ‘excuse me’ in that poncy tone.You know the what-what here.”
Azul sighed, eyeing the carriages drafting Big Betty.“It’s the zebra.”
Oh now, that was interesting, even if he was avoiding the question.“How do you know?”
He flicked her a glittering blue glance.“I can see it.Or rather through it.There’s a glamour on it.”
“See?I knew you’d be useful.”She clicked to marcasite.“Keep a finger on my pulse, Goldi, I’m going for a spin.”
“I’ve got you,” Dy replied, and Warg burbled as she drew on him to ground her ley magic.Dy was ready to give Cha whatever she needed to draw off the zebra.“A word to the wise—all this pure black might be a bit much in the wild.If you lose me, that’s why.”
“Understood.I’m a big girl.”Back on the gold, Cha said, “Steer clear, jockeys.The Bandit is stretching her legs.”
“Is that wise to announce your intentions?”Azul asked, obviously a quick learner, bracing himself for the move to come.
“Being wise isn’t part of my job description,” she answered, revving Katu, and finding the slim line of white Dy had begun to subtly weave into the black.She ignored Azul’s snort of derision and grinned at him.“Being bait is.”
Sensing they’d fully centered on the white, Cha pulled up parallel to the zebra.Goosing Katu, she let out a defiant whoop, pumping her fist in the air.They leapt forward, Azul’s screech sounding enough like a joy rider’s to be convincing.
