Page 24 of Disabling Relics for Dummies
I was with Key on this one, and Killian knew it. We needed to know what was so important that the Cult of the Aether Sisters hid it in a magical puzzle box.
“Maybe we can lie and say we found something else in the box. I might have something I can swap,” I said.
“Leave that to me,” Key said. “I’ll sneak it in tomorrow.”
What was Key doing with ancient Viking relics, and why would he part with them like this? I liked him the more time I spent around him, but I also had a million more questions.
Chapter18
Ravyn
Killian had breakfast prepared again when I woke up. He must have been trying to make a point because he made enough for Key, but not Valentine. Man, no one here liked that wolf. He packed it up in his backpack, and we walked over holding hands.
Valentine and Key were waiting. I smiled sweetly and hugged Valentine. I turned my head when he tried to kiss me. Gross. He was a decent kisser, but I knew where that mouth had been. I got through one chapter of that book he sent me before I heaved it across the room and shrieked to the cosmos. Valentine grunted in frustration that he didn’t get my mouth.
“Is there any way we could get a key to the warehouse?” he asked.
The last time he was here, he started staying with me at my cottage after a few days. He walked over with me and didn’t have to wait for anyone to let him in. It was pretty standard to give contractors keys if they were helping us in the warehouse, but Valentine didn’t know that. I had no problem giving one to Doctor Key, but I didn’t trust Valentine in my warehouse.
“Sorry, rules,” I said, unlocking the door.
Killian and I still shared our telepathic bond, even with his body back.
“You’d better spread the word among the staff to keep that and the grimoire a secret.”
“Sasha knows. She’s dating Graham, so he knows. If Graham knows, then everyone does.”
“Good point. I guess his gossiping is good for something.”
“He’s one of our best tour guides because he gives them like he’s gossiping with his girlfriends. But, he’s not malicious about it.”
Killian started unpacking breakfast and slid a bento box over to Key.
“Ooh. I grabbed something quick at the hotel, but I require a lot of calories. Thanks.”
I’ll bet he did. He was massive, and I saw how much he ate when he cooked for us. I was glad Killian included him because I felt more and more like he was one of us.
“Where’s mine?” Valentine demanded.
“I’m not your bloody servant,” Killian said, biting into his scone.
“Clearly, you’re just insecure that Ravyn is going to come back to me.”
Killian started choking on his scone. I realized he was laughing. I’dneverheard him laugh that hard in my entire life, and Ripley and I definitely had our fun at the academy. I was trying so hard not to join him. There was an insecure man baby in this room, and it wasn’t Killian.
I processed a few things when I found out Valentine was coming back. His cheating didn’t have a damned thing to do with me. He probably did that to countless women. Valentine created this entire persona about the dashing, exciting archaeologist he plagiarized from the Indiana Jones movies to draw women to him.
I was sure I wasn’t the only one who fell for it, but he did it because he wanted pretty women hanging on his every word and telling him he was special. So I guessed he had some mommy issues, and she didn’t have his back when he got booted from his pack.
“These scones are divine. I’d leave the warlock alone, Valentine. He’s already beaten your ass once, and there are priceless relics in here that could get broken. Don’t be stupid. Everyone hates the Cult of the Aether Sisters. People are probably upset with you that you disturbed their resting place. The ones that don’t recognize the historical significance of these items. You’d be blackballed if you broke something challenging a warlock over his woman.”
Valentine grunted and sulked. Key was pretty much a master at Valentine management. How did he do that, anyway? It wasn’t all roses the first time he was here. Iadoredgoing out. There was nothing better than bumping and grinding in a club or drinking with friends in a shifter bar where the drinks were strong and the live music was banging.
I quickly learned that wasn’t an option for dates with Valentine. If he thought I wasn’t paying attention to him, he started a fight with someone who he thought had mine instead of him. If someone accidentally splashed his shoes with a drink, he punched them in the face. He ruined my good time vibes at my happy places, starting fights every time we went out.
He certainly wouldn’t listen to me when I tried to stop him. He just did it anyway if I asked him not to when we were getting ready to go out. If he wanted to go out, the only safe place seemed to be dinner or movies. That wasn’t my favorite date, but I thought it was a better option than not having him in my life at all.
Yeah, I was a little dick stupid. I wasn’t proud of it.
