Page 22 of Vicious Little Vows
“My imp will come for the contract.” She had lowered to where only her head was above the water, and she still glanced around warily. “And next time we meet, it will be on neutral ground.” She sunk down out of sight with nary a splash.
After a moment, the bullfrog resurfaced, blinking at us.
“That felt a little too easy,” I muttered.
Sebastian finally removed his hand from me as he turned around. “We already know to be cautious with her. Nothing has changed.” He pulled me against him suddenly.
I braced my hands against Sebastian’s chest as Ringo gripped my braid to keep from falling. “What the—”
Giggling behind Sebastian cut off my words. Still holding me, we both turned to see a nymph standing in the water, a dainty hand lifted to cover her laughter. I hadn’t seen Seraphina’s sister, Aaliyah, since the incident with the well. She was looking a lot better now, with healthy color in her cheeks and less worry on her shoulders.
“Sorry for spying,” she said, not looking at all sorry. “But when my father said you’d be coming, Seraphina asked me to make sure you didn’t need any help. Will you really be able to create new pathways?”
With Sebastian still pressed against me, it was easy to feel his flash of irritation. He didn’t like that someone had bested his eavesdropping bubble.
I patted his chest, and he abruptly released me so I could face Aaliyah. “Yeah, any chance you want to keep that to yourself?”
“Of course. I owe you my life.” She curtsied.
“She’ll tell her sister,” Sebastian hissed in my ear.
“Well maybe you should have thought of that before setting the meeting here,” I hissed back.
“I only wanted you to be safe.”
His words struck me, prompting me to meet his eyes. He gave me a dark look, then tore his gaze away. “We’ll simply have to act quickly.”
Aaliyah’s eyes had drifted up, and I had the impression she was looking at the boundary of the eavesdropping bubble, though it was invisible to the human eye. I had no doubt she saw things differently. Her gaze returning to my face, she smiled.“No one here will stand in your way. We are of this earth—we care not for the pathways.”
Sebastian gave me another dark look, then turned away, crossing his arms.
“It was good seeing you,” I said to Aaliyah. “Tell your sister hi for me.” Now that Seraphina could openly visit her sister, she no longer needed me for deliveries. “And remember,” I added, then pantomimed zipping my lips, locking them, and throwing away the key.
Aaliyah beamed at me, then dipped back into the water, disappearing.
I watched the surface of the water until the bullfrog popped back into view, letting out a few a low, rhythmic croaks. Aaliyah seemed different now that she could connect with a water source on earth whenever she wanted. She seemed happier—and more powerful. I was glad for her.
My ears popped as the eavesdropping bubble abruptly dissolved. The dreaded meeting was over, and I still had an expensive potion in my pocket. Things were looking up.
“I imagine you want to go to the Bogs.” Sebastian’s voice behind me was closer than expected. I could sense the warm line of his body, almost touching.
“How’d you know?” I asked without turning around.
“Something has happened there. Has the magic grown more unstable?”
He must have guessed after Gabriel was willing to leave us alone to return to Mistral.
When I didn’t answer, he huffed, then his presence was gone. I turned around to see him already walking off.
I glanced at Ringo on my shoulder. “Tell me you understand him better than I do.” I nodded in Sebastian’s direction.
Ringo shrugged, then changing the subject, asked, “What about the cookies?”
I laughed. “Maybe Gabriel will bake some for you at the Citadel.”
He shrunk down, horrified even though Gabriel had grown more tolerant of him. “No, thank you.”
Shaking my head, I followed after Sebastian. Part of me felt bad that Crispin got to know what was happening in the Bogs, but not Sebastian. Then I considered how many secrets Sebastian still kept from all of us, and I told that little part of me to shut up. Figuring out how to keep the goblins safe was the priority. Hurt feelings would have to wait.
