the tube the picture was now stashed in. "Whoa," she said, nose wrinkling. "Elf porn?"
"It's my ticket out of this life," Nick said, and Ivy grabbed his wrist when he reached for it.
"Hey!" I said as he twisted out of her grip, frowning at her. "We're not here to steal a statue. Didn't you learn anything from last time, Nick?"
Expression angry, he picked it up, the small statue fitting neatly in his palm. "I'm not walking out of here without something to show for it. And don't tell me you didn't expect me to help myself. That's the only reason I agreed to this, and you know it." His blue eyes were mocking, daring me to say anything. Just once, I wished I could be wrong.
Pissed, I barked, "Put it back!"
Jenks rose from the shelf, and Jax chimed out, "Uh, Nick? An alarm just went off."
Chapter Thirty-one
Ivy's eyes went a deeper black. "You son of a bitch."
"Put it back!" I shouted. "Put it back now!" Nick shoved it into a jeans pocket, where it made a small bulge. "Doesn't make a difference. Let's go."
"You idiot!" I exclaimed. "It does make a difference. I'm not here to take anything I can't return!"
He smiled from the keypad, using only half his face. "You won't get caught. Promise."
Promise? What in hell is that supposed to mean? With a satisfied smirk, he dropped his card into the reader, hit two buttons, and the doors slid open to show the first empty room.
Ivy was a blur of motion, picking him up and throwing him to slam against the closed twin wooden doors to the hall. The gadget swung from the reader, and I lunged for it before the wires snapped. Almost crosseyed, Nick gasped for air as Ivy pinned him, her cast under his chin. The hidden door started to close, and after yanking the card free, I slipped through. I had time for one glance at the hoof pick, and then the door shut. Jenks was a blur beside me, and Jax was already with Nick, screaming at Ivy to let him go.
"Ivy, we might need him to get out!" I exclaimed, dropping his equipment by the closed hall door. "I've got a spell to make him look like Trent. Don t give him a bruise you can see!"
Scowling, she thought for three seconds, an eternity for her. "We're not using those."
I touched my belt pack, my heart pounding. "Yes, we are."
Shoving him into the doors, she dropped him. "You know I don't like your magic."
The faint honking of a claxon was obvious, and my pulse was fast. It felt good, and I rocked to the toes of my feet as Nick rubbed his neck, his cocky mood now sullen as he gathered his equipment. God, I was not going to get excited about this. But it had been ages since I'd done anything even remotely resembling a run, and I was riding the high already.
"I'm carrying the picture," I said, snatching it from Nick and draping the tube over my back. "Everyone, take what I give you and swallow it. Ivy, I mean it. Don't give me any crap."
The room went silent but for pixy wings as I pulled out a vial, gave a sniff, and imagining the faint scent of tea mixing with the reek of burnt amber, I downed it. All eyes watched me as I made a face. "Tastes like lemon pop," I lied, shoving the vial away and bringing the next out.
"I'm not drinking that," Ivy predictably said, but this one smelled like horse under the burnt amber stench, and I handed it to Nick.
"Nothing happened," he said, and I made a face at him like he was being stupid.
"I've not invoked it yet." Dummy.
"Who takes the smut?" he asked as his fingers encircled the tiny vial, and Jenks bristled.
"I do, now drink it!" I said, handing Ivy the last one. "I'll invoke them together. You uninvoke it by saying the invocation word again, so don't say it until you mean it. Got it?"
Ivy hesitated, and Jenks got in her face. "Do it, you chicken-shit vamp!" he yelled, and she did.
My breath exploded out of me, and I touched the line, strengthening my grip on it. The thing was right next to me, and the hair on my arms was standing on end. Maybe the demons were watching, getting a good laugh.
I put my hands on Ivy's and Nicks shoulders, and said, "Quid me fiet!" What am I becoming?