Page 55 of Suspicions on the Stage
“Um…” I look at the members of my new family nervously, but Morgana’s steady, supportive gaze helps me ground myself. “I’d like to ask if there’s a clause concerning failure. When my parents were working with… people like her, there were always tiny caveats about what happens if they cannot provide the services contracted to a satisfactory conclusion. That was often a rather important sticking point that had to be negotiated.”
The broker’s smug expression flickers for a microsecond, and I know I hit pay dirt. Turning to the prince, I gesture at the parchment. The longer the silence stretches, the more I cansense our crooked companion’s defense rising. It’s clearly where Celestara traps people and she’s unhappy that I figured it out before anyone signed.
“Read it again, Li. It’s probably buried somewhere deep in legalese and cloaked to prevent your magic from detecting it. My mother was adamant that theSonscould sign nothing that had only been scanned and read by magic alone. Someone with a great eye for detail had to physically read every word.”
“I wouldn’t have expected that from her.” Morgana arches a brow as she crosses her legs. “But I think Slade has a point.”
Iggy nods, his eyes narrowed on the demoness now. “Azul is crafty and old enough to have learned from a great deal of mistakes. If Slade says she’s run into this problem before, he’s right. Go ahead, Prince.”
A luminous glow comes from our Daybreak royal as he glares at Celestara in indignation. “Your job may depend on trickery such as this, but I promise you that when I am able, I will make certain no one takes your contracts for granted ever again. The word will spread throughout Faerie, and I will also ensure that our new allies below know, too. You cannot use this ploy again.”
The broker shrugs as he looks down at the scroll, her lips quirked up at the corner. “Perhaps you will, Prince. However, you’ll have to prove your accusations before that becomes an issue for me.”
Her ego will be her downfall—if not with us, then certainly with someone else. But that’s not my problem.
“I think she should find our target now while he reads it as a show of contrition for her audacity,” I say with a small smirk. My gaze leaves the tricky demoness, moving to my mate forconfirmation. “It seems like a small price to pay for her affront to a Fae royal, right?”
Iggy’s chest puffs up and I’m surprised to see naked pride on his face. He’s usually more reserved than that, but it warms my heart that it’s happening. “Slade picked up a lot from his shady folks, mm?”
Celestara huffs visibly, but she doesn’t outright reject my demand. The room is silent again for a few moments while Liam carefully reviews and the broker stews. I don’t mind; my profession is often filled with quiet as I digest music or care for instruments. Lucas, however, shifts in his seat with an annoyed look, impatiently tapping his fingers on the arm of his chair. He finally rolls his eyes and slaps his palm on it.
“So what’s the verdict, woman? Gonna prove your prowess or what? I mean, the stories were nice and informative, but a real demo? That’s gold.” The bear grins lazily, but I can see through him. He’s hoping to provoke her pride, and if it works, I’ll be impressed.
The whole family is contributing to this negotiation, and it’s kind of awesome.
Liam looks up from the document, nodding. “I believe that will be a very good show of faith.”
“If you do not sign when this is complete, I will be forced to charge you for my services and register complaints with the appropriate people if I am not compensated for my time and efforts.” The broker’s expression is firm and I have no doubt she will follow through with her threat.
“That’s fair,” Morgana says calmly. “We aren’t looking to scam you, so I agree to your requirements.”
Celestara waves her hand, creating a ball of dark, pulsing energy in the air. “This will locate your person and compel them—and whomever they are with—to find their way to this room immediately. I am not responsible for any negative impact those who arrive may mete out in response to my magic’s compulsion. Do you understand?”
“Understood.” Iggy nods, so Liam doesn’t have to stop. “Please locate Kaspar, personal bodyguard to the Prince of the Daybreak Court, and member of the royal contingent of the Daybreak armed forces.”
Her eyes widen, and a soft groan escapes her lips. “You are all fucking insane. His charge is sitting here reading; why would you waste my powers on such a stupid request?”
That’s not why she’s saying that and I’m uncertain what the real reason is—but it’s bad.
The energy ball careens toward the door, zipping through it with ease as it heads off to capture its prey. Liam frowns for a moment and I assume it’s because her words are as puzzling to him as they were to me. The Prince didn’t know Celestara before we arrived or it would have been obvious, but there’s something about his guard that is making her emotional vibe feel off. It’s very slight, and you’d have to be gifted like me to sense it. No one else but the Fae royal and I feel it; I’m certain.
“What’s your problem? This should be easy, and you should not care why we are seeking someone that will not resist.” I frown at her, studying every minuscule move of her body and facial features as she stares me down. “It was our boon to choose.”
“And your destiny to discover, I suppose. Because of that, I am unsure how it will play out. I dislike the odds.”
No one likes to hear that kind of shit from someone who has mucked about with primordials and made deals with deities—no one.
The others areunnerved by the quiet once more as we wait for either the prince to finish or the magic to return. Deep down, I’m worried that it’s taking a while because Kaspar isnothere, which could be good or bad depending on why that’s the case. Lucas and Morgana are tapping their fingers in synch, and Iggy is pretending to scroll through his phone. I am watching our ‘host’ for signs of deceit, though, because I know Liam cannot. His focus has to be on the text to ensure my feeling about it is correct. We won’t get another chance to review it; that is very clear.
“Does it normally take this long?” Morgana finally says with an acid tone. “I must say I expected more, given your descriptions of your massive influence.”
Celestara focuses on us again, though I have no idea what she was thinking about before. “There are many beings in this building providing services. If your guard is here to procure them, it may be hidden in a multitude of ways. I will find them and bring them to us, but my magic must unweave any powers attempting to cloak their presence or dealings. Sometimes that is easy, and others, is it less simple without them knowing what we’re attempting. You are too old to be this impatient.”
“Hey,” Lucas says as he leans forward. “Lady M’s time is valuable. She doesn’t enjoy wasting it, either. It’s a valid and fair question, demon.”
“He’s bold; I’ll give you that. Bold and loyal for one who could have turned out so differently.” The demoness grins as her eyes sweep over us all slowly. “Then you have older and wise, brilliant and brash, and young with such a beautiful soul that he shares with everyone in his orbit. Your mates are so complimentary that it would be difficult not to wonder what plan placed them in your path after your unfortunate past.”
Morgana sneers at her, “None of your business, that’s who.”
