Page 11 of Bargains with Benefits
“I wasn’t sure where all of that was heading.” She gestured wildly. “You know what they say about love and loathing. Someone needed to keep an eye on you until you both decided if you’d end up fighting or fuc?—”
Earl snorted before Seraphina finished her tirade, giving up any pretense that he and Daisy weren’t listening. My cheeks heated. We might have had a moment there at the end, but we were nowhere nearthat.
“I don’t know if I would have bet on that,” Daisy hedged. “He’s quite reserved at work.”
Seraphina laughed. “Luna had him wrapped around her finger.”
Her defense of my supposed charms was priceless, even as Daisy extolled the fae’s stuffy nature. I no longer listened to them, wondering what to do with the information that our rude customer was the city’s taste-maker and possibly the solution to my problem. Vincent Andiveron might not take suggestions for his column, but I only had six weeks to fill the inn. Cliff House wasn’t miraculously going to end up with guests, no matter how many people came to the city for solstice festivities. I’d been clear—full occupancy. I needed every room spoken for. Seraphina was right. I did have a list of ideas to implement. Being the manager was all I had wanted since I’d moved to the city. The property felt like home, and I wantedothers to experience the same thing I did. I couldn’t let this opportunity slip away.
At least eight out of ten recommendations in his column ended up as hits. The less successful ones were the human ones, like my boots. But, as Seraphina had harshly reminded me, I was as much old fae as I was human. Maybe I could lean into my old fae side for an article. I might not have magic, but the typical old fae never showed theirs off anyway.
My gaze strayed to the hook with the sweater Nora had given me. My skin prickled at the idea of putting it back on, but I steeled my resolve. I couldn’t ignore a lead on that kind of publicity. I’d do whatever was necessary, regardless of Vincent’s recommendation policies or what he thought of me.
Cliff House Inn was too important.
6
Vincent
Ididn’t sleep, too wound up and too sure that I wouldn’t like the answers I found when searching for information about the bartender.
Her name was Luna Pierce.
That couldn’t be a coincidence.
I might not be well acquainted with all the old fae families of Sandrin, but I generally knew who they were and the family members. Darius Pierce did not have children. He didn’t have a partner. It was only him and his mother currently residing in Pierce House. His father was in the north somewhere on some family business. The name Luna Pierce was unfamiliar, but I was determined to find out who she was.
Something like a strong gust blowing over rough water circled in my chest, as if my wind was determined to remind me of her beauty. The fact that she was beautiful was now irrelevant. My magic disagreed, as it usually did, but with her, its outbursts were…more. I was used to my wind partnering with mein more tasks than another old fae might care for, but usually, I could control when that happened. It had slipped its leash twice with her last night. I might have found her attractive, even by fae standards, but if she was my ticket to gathering intel on Darius Pierce, that had to be my priority.
My wind surged as if to question why she would help me. I hadn’t sorted out all the details yet, but I would start with figuring out who she was to him. While that happened, thoughts of her beauty needed to be off the table.
That’s how I ended up in the Central Circle at the records office when they opened the following morning. Other than Compass Lake, this was the only place I could think to investigate the members of each fae court and their relations. The austere building was white stone, like many of those in Sandrin, and three stories, like the newspaper office. The third floor was the governor’s office, while the first two held records of all humans and fae in the city. Its real draw was the fae court records. I needed access to the Norden Court list. From there, I could look up the Pierce family and place the mysterious Luna.
I only needed access to the records. They weren’t strictly private. Court affiliation was technically optional, although anyone who understood the fae would find that statement laughable. Either way, the humans considered it public information, and the fae, well, we expected anyone who mattered to know already.
This meant the records were open to anyone with a valid inquiry. I wasn’t sure my reason was valid, per se, but I was confident I could come up with an acceptable query.
“May I help you?” the woman behind the desk in the large entrance hall asked as I approached. My fabricated story spilled from my lips before I could think twice.
“I met someone last night and only caught her surname. I know she’s of the Norden Court, though. I hoped to review the court records and find her name.”
Her heavy dose of side-eye said my story was weak, but the rules were in my favor. She waved her hand, and another man strode forward from the back of the room. “Take Mister...” She paused, waiting for my name.
“Andiveron,” I offered.
“Take Mr. Andiveron to the fae court records room. Make sure he signs in.”
I couldn’t believe it was that easy. The associate walked me up a flight of stairs into a large room filled with thick wooden tables and shelves of books. He pointed toward four giant tomes in the center. I didn’t need further explanation to understand there was one book for each fae court.
“Sign here.” He held out a much smaller book at the room’s entrance.
I did. Since they’d granted me access, there was no reason not to follow the rules.
“I’ll sit here.” He pointed to the chair. “Only those four books are public. Everything else in the room requires a better reason thanI met someone.”
At least I knew where we stood. The rule was fine with me. I had no interest in the other documents. My focus was solely on the woman I’d met last night and her relation to Darius Pierce.
My wind slid along my arm as if to askIs that really youronlyinterest in her?
