Page 107 of House of Ruin
Rusted Gnome was empty this close to nighttime. The whole of Venefica was at Sparkling Hoof.
Alecto ordered two house spiced black coffees and settled next to Norse on the leather couch. She rubbed her hands together, trying to warm her frozen hands. Of course, it wasn’t working.
When Caliope brought their drinks to their table and whizzed away, Alecto decided it was time to get down to business.
“So, what is it I hear about with you not coming to our party next Saturday?”
Norse took his time pouring one packet of sugar after the next one into his coffee. He didn’t use the spoon to mix it, instead murmuring a spell and drawing circles with his long finger over the cup.
“Associating with the Snakes is bad PR right now,” Norse said. He leaned into the couch, dropping one arm over the back of it. “It’s a fortunate thing nobody is here at this time. I shouldn’t be seen with you in public either.”
“Go fuck yourself.”
“Oh, I hope I didn’t hurt your feelings.”
“Couldn’t even if you tried.” Alecto smiled, flashing all her teeth at Norse. “I’m a half-breed at the university with all the biggest privileged assholes from around Inathis in one place.”
Norse hummed, sipping his coffee. “Ouch.”
“Oh, I hope I didn’t hurt your feelings.” Alecto batted her eyelashes at Norse.
Norse smirked. “Why are you asking about me attending the party?”
Alecto draped one leg over the other and shrugged. She took a long sip of her coffee, the hot liquid burning her tongue. “Maybe I thought you were different. Maybe I expected you’d be above petty drama like not showing up at the party. But maybe I was wrong.”
It was a long shot playing this card, but Alecto was desperate enough to try anything. From the way Norse narrowed his eyes, she hoped she nailed it.
“You sure know how to poke at someone’s ego,” Norse said. “I tell you what, Black. I’ll come to the party under one condition.”
Alecto managed to keep her face bored, her voice passive. “And what’s that? You’d like the royal treatment? Maybe a foot rub or a back massage? A witch to feed you grapes while you’re at it?”
“Close. I’ll only go if you take me as your date.”
Alecto could see it coming, the condition. Yet she’d still hoped it would be something else.
Val had told her to do whatever it took. Blaze would be furious if Alecto walked into the party with Norse as her date. He’d be jealous. Fuming. Maybe even a little bit hurt.
Maybeit wasn’t that bad of an idea after all.
“It’ll be my pleasure, Fox. What time should I pick you up?”
39
Blaze hated to be back home in Avalon Hills.
He hated that the lawyer was there and wouldn’t shut up.
And he hated that his mother was there, standing with the lawyer and pretending to care.
But it was probably better to deal with Auburn than Galliermo, Blaze had to admit.
“We submitted the evidence Mr. Black supplied,” the lawyer, a goblin with an expensive navy suit and polished black leather shoes, told his mother. “It appears the young Mr. Leveau is lucky. Traces of the same poison was found in the systems of all the dead witches, which helped us petition that instead of being the murderer, young Mr. Leveau was to be the next victim.”
“That’s wonderful news, Joseph,” Auburn said. “Does this mean Blaze is cleared from all charges?”
“I’m in the process of fixing all the documents, Ms. Leveau,” the lawyer said. His black pupilless eyes were gleaming. “I’ll make sure to update you once everything is finished and young Mr. Leveau is cleared.”
After twenty more minutes of meaningless conversation, and a dozen of thank-yous, the lawyer was finally escorted out of the Leveau penthouse, and Blaze was left alone with his mother.
