“Loan,” he said, immediately regretting it. “When I acquire a new familiar, Ceri returns to me so I may release her as was our original bargain.” It had been over a thousand years ago, but it still stood. “And I want the book as well. Repaired. Ceri is worth more than that.”
“You intend to release her.” Newt grimaced, knowing what that really meant. “Such a waste. Fine. But Ceri is mine from the moment your wizard triggers the spell. You get her back only when you have your new familiar.”
“Done.” Guilt flashed through him. Ceri would suffer. But her end would be as he promised.
Humming a nonsense tune, Newt drew the book closer, cradling it. “What did you have in mind? To teach your potential familiar respect, I mean.”
A smile, wicked and inviting, found him. He had always enjoyed working with Newt, never fully agreeing to the others’ plan of keeping her ignorant and helpless. He would take heat for giving her the tools to slip Minias, but this would help both of them. They had been friends, once.
His smile vanished. “I’m so pleased you asked.”
Part 3
Six days,Al thought, slumped in his high-backed chair, feet outstretched to his peat fire, brooding with the book Newt spelled for him at his hand. He was beginning to question whether the slavering dog from hell had been too much for the wizard to handle and he had accidently scared him off. Surely he had not underestimated his greed. It had to be cowardice, not guilt, that stayed Nicholas Gregory Sparagmos’s hand in summoning him, but it was hard not to feel as if he had made a mistake.
Two mistakes,he mused, seeing as he had brought Newt back to herself in order to teach Nicholas Gregory Sparagmos the error of his ways. Minias was already searching to find out who and demand restitution or assistance in dulling her again. But if Minias had been serious about minding the insane demon, he wouldn’t have left her hiding in a cupboard to sneak out for a cup of bad coffee.
Al’s gaze flicked to the untouched pot of tea on the side table. “Not that I blame him,” he grumbled, eyeing the bitter brew at his elbow. It was all Ceri had given him since he had left that dog-eared, water-stained book with Newt. Heneededa new familiar. If not Nicholas Gregory Sparagmos, then Rachel Mariana Morgan herself.
Almost as if on cue, a sneeze threatened, grew, and slipped easily from him. Smile widening, he waited for another, his anticipation heady as the pull on the pit of his soul grew. A second sneeze burst forth. It was a summons.
“Ceri?” Guilt flickered, immediately quashed. “Call Newt. Tell her I need her to serve as witness and to come immediately. I’m being summoned, or I’d do it myself.”
Ceri appeared in the doorway, silken robes rustling, her face ashen. “You want me to call Newt? Gally, she’s insane. Wouldn’t Dali—”
“Scrying mirror,” he said, pointing at it in the corner of the desk. The summons was becoming painful. “Call her. Tell her. I will be back shortly. This won’t take long.”
“Gally!” Ceri exclaimed, but the pull across the void had become too much, and he took the spelled curse book in hand and let the summons pull him across time and space.
“Stupid wizard,” he muttered, guilt twining about him again as he felt himself dissolve. He would have what he wanted tonight. All of it, and everything. That is, if Nicholas Gregory Sparagmos was as greedy and foolish as Al thought he was.
The soft, almost forgotten sound of rain slipped into his awareness first as he felt himself become solid again, and for a moment, longing hit him, hard and unexpected. Lip curled, he opened his eyes, good mood spoiled at the reminder of what he had lost, what they all had.
“Nicholas Gregory Sparagmos.” He practically bit the words off, hating the memories that the smell of rain in the dark had unearthed. Even the sound was wasted on the likes of him. “Does the witch like to be on top or the bottom? Or does she prefer something more adventuresome?”
The wizard stood and stared at him as if wondering if he had made a mistake. Chin high, he ran a hand over his hair to slick it back. He was dressed better than usual, the scent of detergent and pasta making it through the protection circle.My God. Have they just been on a date?
“You wish,” Nick said softly, but a thrill shivered through Al as he saw the cracks in the wizard’s resolve. Six days to search his soul…The man was predictable, and with that came success.
“You brought a book,” Nick said, eyeing it. “Same deal as before? A day for each piece of information.”
Al stifled his smile, then let it flow. “You think she’s worth all that?”
The wizard’s lip twitched, and he rubbed at his stubble. “I think you wanting to pass as her is worth more than you’re giving me. Don’t think I don’t know what you’re doing. But, Algaliarept, there’s no way you will ever know how she kisses. You will never be able to be her, no matter how much I tell you.”
Six days for a coward to find his greed,he thought. “Perhaps you are right.” Motions smooth, he opened the book, angling it so Nick could get a glimpse—and nothing more. “The cost has gone up. Twelve hours for each answered question, provided you answer them to my satisfaction.”
Almost had him, and his need to avenge his damaged library swelled.
Nick shifted from foot to foot in indecision. “Okay,” he finally said. “What do you want to know? Within reason.”
A thrill sparked through him, hidden behind a twitch of his coattails. Nick would want it for two days, bare minimum.Best to bait the trap with trifles.“Coffee. Does she have her coffee before or after she gets dressed and her pixy vermin braids her hair?”
Nick licked his lips, his gaze on the door making Al wonder if Rachel had just left. “Before,” Nick said softly. “Unless she has to leave, and then it’s after.” He held out his hand. “That’s enough. If I want it longer, I’ll call you.”
Al shook his head. “Two questions. I can’t return until dark to retrieve it. Besides, you’re going to want at least two days to copy the text. As before, a picture will show nothing, and there are countless spells here.” He hesitated. “Favorite curse word?”
“Crap on toast,” Nick blurted. “Unless she’s mad at Jenks, and then it’s damn it back to the Turn.”
