“Is there someone you trust to handle this?” Aofe asked, reading a few of the terms before deciding it was better she didn’t know why Tholvich was so determined to sponsor her.
“Argeth and Rosalind took the initiative to set up the sponsorship, but I doubt he’d have the horns to fight something like this when it shows his failures.” His gaze went distant for a moment, and when he refocused, there was a new determination within. “Karroth.”
Aofe cocked her head. “Your father?”
Kizros nodded. “He wants the Kosteri name to have some meaning again? Well, this would help. We’ve never really seen eye to eye, but he’s trustworthy, and a respectable enough name to have sway.”
He pressed his forehead against hers, arms squeezing tighter. “I’m so sorry, Aofe. This is awful, but I promise, you’re not going anywhere.” He went stiff, then added, “I mean, you can, if you want. Just… I want you here, if you’re happy, and I think?—”
“I don’t want to be anywhere else, Kiz.”
Aofe wondered if that would be the moment she got her courage back, the excitement she’d had just prior to Tholvich arriving, but there was a small pit in her stomach. A fear that he had tainted something special about today, and words like hers deserved their own moment. It would be the first time she said them, after all.
Instead, she kissed him, holding on until it was just shy of being improper, hoping that was enough. But as he collected the documents and envelope, lingering at the doorway, she almost caved.
Perhaps he was considering somethingprofound, too. He lingered, tapped the jamb with his palm, worry creasing his brow.
“I’m okay, Kiz,” she said from the counter, smiling as Attie paced at his feet.
Kizros opened his mouth, closed it, then finally said, “I really don’t want to leave you, but there’s something else I need to check on while I’m out. A… surprise.”
Her throat tightened. “Um, okay.”
“It might take a little longer, but it’ll be worth it. Will you be okay? You can come with me if that’ll make you more comfortable.”
Aofe shook her head, trying to remain casual as she gestured toward the six-eyed silver fox. “I don’t think I have the energy today, but I’ve got Attie. Think good things from afar, and I’m sure Tim will keep us company.”
Kizros seemed to relax at that, then tapped the center of his chest before pointing at her. “I think you’ve figured out that warms when I’m thinking of you.”
Her hand went up to the necklace, fingers curling over the charm as she frowned. “It’s always warm.”
“Exactly,” he said with a wink.
Her mouth parted, those three words bubbling from her chest to sit on her tongue, but by the time she was sucking in a breath to say them, he’d slipped out the door.
20
DEMONS PAY WELL
Aofe
“Darn demon,” Aofe huffed, slumping into the chair behind her.
Attie whimpered at the door, glancing over her way, but Aofe waved off the creature.
“I’ll stay sitting; you can demon watch.” Just as she was doing, watching Kizros disappear down the next street.
She sat up again, fiddling with the charm on her necklace. Always warmer than an average metal, but she’d attributed that to the magic he’d imbued into the gold. It was the little flares of heat, the ones that Kizros had just admitted were his connection to the piece, that made her squeeze it tighter in her palm, wondering if he could feel that back.
With Attie fixated on the passersby, Aofe turned herattention to the desk. There wasn’t much she could do here, but cleaning up some old papers and notes seemed like a good start. She’d only made it through three scraps when she tugged out a receipt from under a stack of books. She scanned the details, noting the date as earlier that morning.
“I bet,” she mumbled to herself as she reached for the ledger, “Kiz got distracted and forgot to enter you.”
Sure enough, the line was empty, so she grabbed the quill and added the marks underneath his handwriting. Knowing he probably hadn’t had the chance to adjust the inventory either, Aofe intended to flip the page, but her gaze caught on the parchment he’d hastily shoved inside earlier.
Particularly, her name on a bank note.
She frowned, sliding it closer in confusion. And then Aofe recoiled. Printed neatly on top were all the details of the transaction, along with a sum of money large enough to make her mouth pop open in shock.
