Page 128 of Quiet Burn

I blink at his dark eyes for a moment, mesmerized, then finally remember that I’m not supposed to be a girl. “Um, yeah. That would be great. I’m not… as into clothing as X.”

“No oneis as into clothes and shit as Xerxes is outside of the fashion world.” Oriel chuckles as he leads me away, nodding at Salem as we move to another display.

The panda keeps his gaze on me for a moment, then turns to watch X as they gather up armfuls of stuff. Smiling to myself, I look up at the crow shifter curiously. “You know, we’re notfollowing the protocol you guys set. We’re in twos, but Jasper told you guys twice that Slash and Salem are supposed to guard me or whatever.”

“He and the big guy got be-spelled by the armory display. Hard for the asshole to complain about us breaking the rules when he’s the one who decided to stay there so he can buy some obscene fucking sword or whatever.”

Grinning, I nod as I turn back to the booth full of crystals and gemstones. “Are these used for spells or something?”

Oriel nods, picking up a beautiful red stone in the shape of a heart. “This one is for absorbing negative energy and promoting tranquility.”

“What’s it called?” I ask as I take the palm-sized piece.

“Red jasper.” His smirk makes me scowl and I swat his arm. “What? It is.”

Frowning, I set the stone on the display and sniff haughtily. “The verylastthing in the universe Jasper promotes is tranquility, Oriel. For fuck’s sake, he’s damn near an advertisement for blood pressure medicine.”

Laughing, the demon shrugs and picks up another item off the table. “I agree it doesn’t seem to work with you, Kit Kat. Perhaps this would be more useful.”

I blink, looking at the choker made of some kind of dark metal in the shape of spiky thorns. The combined beauty of the design and the deadliness of the points makes it hard to take my eyes off of it, especially when I get to the gleaming coffin-shaped stone in the middle. The iridescent stone looks familiar, but the onlything that comes to mind is an opal and I don’t think that’s what it is. “Holy fuck, O. That thing is amazing.”

He winks at me as he waits for what I’m pretty sure is a dwarf to come stomping over to glare at us. “Merry meet, sir. Tell us about your creation.”

The stocky red-headed man furrows his brow. “Why should I entertain a child of the Underworld and his pet?”

“Excuse me?” I blurt before I can stop. “No need to be fucking rude.”

“It’s not common for your kind to mingle with ours in this realm.” The dwarf shrugs, tilting his head as he studies us with zero repentance. “However, if you’d like me to answer yer pet hybrid, I will. But be cautious how you receive the answer, demon. I won’t be slighted on my own lands.”

What the fuck? He meant Oriel was the pet?

The response makes Oriel snicker as I gape at the rude as fuck vendor. “Uh, okay, I guess. Reply to him and we’ll see what happens.”

“Fine. That is a collar of titanium with a kite-shaped coffin rainbow moonstone. It has been cleansed of impurities that would prevent those from our realm from wearing it and its design mimics an ancient relic the world has not seen for a millennia.” The dwarf crosses his arms over his chest, looking at me pointedly. “It would cost a small fortune outside of this event, but we do not barter with money at an Apalachin.”

Oriel arches his brow, taking in the odd terminology without comment. Obviously, we’ve stumbled into an event steeped in weird ass traditions that we’re going to bump against all night.At least this mysterious jerkwad gave us information we didn’t have before while he lectured us. “And, what, pray tell, would you be willing to barter for if the pet would like to obtain this well-crafted replica?”

At his question, the dwarf walks away, then comes back with a stool. Climbing onto it, the ginger creature is now tall enough to look me in the eyes directly. “If yer pet wants my vision of the Collar of the Three-Headed Beastmaster, he will have to give me a possession that he holds dear in exchange. I can scent what he is, and I know that to be a more appropriate cost than secrets or favors. Crows treasure their hoards more than most shifters—but for dragons, of course.”

“I don’t think so. That seems?—”

Before I can finish, Oriel grins wickedly. “That’s the deal? An item I hold dear from one of my hoards for this collar in its entirety? You will lift any curses or hexes you’ve cast on it as well?”

Well, I never would have thought to fucking ask that. I’m so screwed in this damn place.

The dwarf growls, squinting at my caliphate brother as he scratches his beard. “You drive a hard bargain, pet. Yes, I will remove all magics from the piece if your item has enough tangible value to you.”

This haggling is making me nervous, but I swallow it as I watch the two of them stare at one another combatively. Finally, Oriel nods, pulling a small velvet bag out of his pocket. He takes out a shiny ruby that must be expensive, rolling it over his knuckles as he looks at the merchant. “This ruby was…acquiredas part ofmy training as a child. It comes from mines far below the earth and owned by those of my name. I almost died retrieving it.”

“Oriel, don’t! There’s no way this thing is worth something like that.”

“Ahh, young denizen of the Underworld, you are wrong. Yer pet knows what he is doing; I can see it in his eyes.” The dwarf clears his throat and claps his hands, nodding in satisfaction. “I accept your payment, Duke Bloodstone, and relinquish all rights to this piece and any boons associated with it. Be safe in yer travels this eve.”

Turning to Oriel as he shakes his head, I grab his arm and lead him away from the booth before something else insane happens. “Oriel, heknowswho you are. How did a random… dwarf… know who you are?”

“The register, KK. Pretending not to know was just one of their stupid games. It’s part of why demons hate the fucking Fae and their realm. Too much pretense, and obsession with outsmarting one another. Now, do a little turn for me so I can put this on you.”

I scowl at him, batting his hands away. “Hell no. You guys said I’m not allowed to eat or drink here like Alice in fucking Wonderland. Why in the name of Dante’s seven layers would I let you put some piece of jewelry with anameon me?”

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