“Asleep?”Cha spun in surprise, glancing at the bright sun out the cheerful kitchen window as if she might have lost track of time.“It’s late afternoon.”Cha had timed her arrival for Dy’s happy return home to a pretty cocktail and Phinny’s home-cooked meal.
Phinny grimaced.“They’ve got her on the night runs,” she admitted.
Cha gaped, not having to exaggerate for effect.She pointed at Phinny as if this was somehow her fault.“The whole point,” Cha said slowly, punctuating her words, “of Dy taking this stupidday jobwas so she could be at home at night with you and the kids.”
“I know that,” Phinny ground out, then pressed a hand to her swollen belly.“Do you think I love this development?Well, Idon’t,” she bit out before Cha could reply.“I hate it.I hate everything about it, but this is what we have.And it’s still a hell of a lot better than me worrying about her being out on those runs with you, maybe getting arrested, thrown in jail, mutated by angry fae, or worse!”
“Neither of us ever got mutated,” Cha protested.Though it had been close a few times.
“Luck!”Phinny nearly screeched.
“Skill,” Cha corrected calmly.“A combination of smarts, experience, and talent.That’s what Dy and I always had.That’s why you fell in love with her.”
Phinny stared at her wildly, then let out a little sob, pressing shaking fingers to her mouth.“Damn pregnancy.It’s got me all over emotional.”
Cha risked putting a hand on Phinny’s shoulder.Once they’d been friends.Once they’d all been friends, thick as thieves, as the saying went—and which had been far too accurate, with Phinny serving as their fence, alibi, and lookout in the later years.Until Dy got arrested in Obsidian and nearly gained a few appendages, before they bribed their way into having the sentence reduced.“Maybe you’re emotional because you’re in a shit situation, hon.”
Phinny nodded, face averted, not shrugging away from Cha’s comfort, even leaning into her hand a little.“Dymphna is miserable.Oh, she won’t say so, but I can tell.She’s restless.The ley magic required for this job… It’s not enough for her.She wasn’t made for this life.She’s too good of a sorceress and she’s restless not being able to use all her talents.I’m… afraid she’s going to leave me.”
“Never,” Cha said with easy conviction.“Dy loves you and the kids more than her own life.”More than the smuggling life, that was for sure, or she wouldn’t have given it up—along with her best friend—for Phinny.Not that Cha was bitter.Or not much.She wanted Dy to be happy.She just hadn’t realized Dy’s marriage would spell the end of their friendship.It had happened so slowly…and then all at once.
“I only wanted her to be safe,” Phinny whispered.Then she lifted her head and gave Cha a flinty stare.“This is about a job, isn’t it?”
Cha eyed her warily.“You told me I’m not allowed to propose any more jobs.”
“Yes.So why are you here, wanting to do exactly that?”
“It’s really good money, Phin.Big money.Once in a lifetime money.”
Phinny gazed at her, clearly torn between hope and dread.She shook her head wearily.“Fine.Go ask her.”She turned to survey the spotlessly clean kitchen.“Since you’re here, you might as well stay for supper.I’ll make some bread to go with it.I suppose you still love my rosemary twists.”
It was a peace offering, one Cha hadn’t even remotely expected, especially not this fast.Things must be even worse than Phinny had let on.“Nobody in all the realms makes ‘em like you do, Phin.I’ve fair starved without them.”
“You go on with your charming ways,” Phinny protested, blushing.“I’m wise to your flattery, Arantxa Evermore.”
Cha clapped her hand to her heart as if struck.“My full name, twice in one morning!If you speak it a third time, will I be exorcised from your home?”
“I only wish,” Phinny retorted, but without venom.“Go wake her up.Say what you have to say.Then we’ll talk.”She gave Cha an impish smirk, the first real smile she’d produced so far.“Better you wake the fang-beast than me, for once.Consider it another penance.”
~5~
Facing the Fang Beast
As was typicalof her, Dy had the blankets pulled up over her head, her petite body so perfectly cocooned that she resembled a chrysalis.The big difference was—and Cha knew this well from years of being Dy’s roommate back at the magic academy—instead of a beautiful butterfly emerging from the covers, a newly-wakened Dy was a slavering monster of epic proportions.It had been a test of true love when Phinny first persuaded Dy to spend a full night in her bed.
Cha had tried to warn her, but did anyone listen to her?Clearly not, or the world would be a better place.Being a cautious soul—and experienced—Cha snagged a pillow and hurled it at the narrow lump in the bed, deftly hitting her mark despite the darkened interior of the room.
Dy burst from under the covers, golden curls snaking with life, a sparkling green fireball hurtling past Cha’s head to smash into glitter, searing itself into the wall.Cha turned and observed the singed spot, whistling low.“Impressive.”
For a moment Dy didn’t reply, her pretty, snub nose screwed up, golden brows lowered in a black scowl.“Why areyouhere?I’m sleeping.”She burrowed back under the covers like a worm going to earth.
“Oh, no you’re not.”Satisfied that her old friend was awake enough not to accidentally kill her if she didn’t duck fast enough, Cha ventured close enough to the bed to jerk the covers away.
“Arantxa Evermore!”Dy shrieked, writhing as if the exposure to daylight would shrivel her to ash.
“Ah, it remembers me now,” Cha returned cheerfully, ignoring yet another blunt-weapon use of her full name, drawing the heavy curtains back from the windows to allow the sunlight to pour in.“Time to wake up and smell the coin, sweetling.”
“Does Phin know you’re here?”Dy asked, wedging open one baleful, summer-sky blue eye.“Because she will absolutely cut me off from sex if she finds out you snuck in behind her back.”
