Dead Man's Deal The Asylum Tales - By Jocelynn Drake Page 0,107
miss the study of magic, but I couldn’t live that life.
“Maybe that’s all we need to do. Force everyone in the Towers to live among the unwashed masses for a few decades. That’ll make them come to their senses,” I said, trying to lighten both our moods.
Sofie made a noise in the back of her throat that sort of sounded like a strangled laugh. “That or get everyone killed.”
“True.”
We sat in silence for several minutes. Sofie was curled up against me and I was mindlessly stroking her soft fur, trying to calm both our nerves while desperately searching for some kind of solution to this latest dilemma.
“Are you going to tell her?” Sofie asked, jerking my attention back to her.
“Huh?”
“Trixie. Are you going to tell her?”
I stopped petting her and sighed. “I have to. I’ve kept way too many secrets from Trixie for too long. I’m trying to be more open with her. She deserves it.”
“Please, don’t,” she pleaded. Sofie stood and climbed into my lap so that she was standing with her front paws on my chest as she stared into my eyes. “I love Trixie. She’s my friend and I don’t want to lose that. If it takes the rest of my life, I’ll make it up to her. To her and her people. Please, don’t tell her.”
Clenching my teeth, I frowned at the cat who had become as dear to me over the past several years as Trixie and Bronx. She made a mistake. A horrible, ugly, painful mistake, but a mistake all the same and she regretted it. I knew what that was like well enough and I wasn’t about to start casting stones.
“I have to tell her it was a spell,” I started, and then groaned, inwardly cursing myself and my stupid soft heart for talking cats. “But I’ll keep it to myself as to who created it. I’ll leave that for you to handle.”
“Thank you,” she said around a loud purr. She bumped the top of her head against my chin, rubbing against me with relief. I rubbed her back one last time before picking her up and putting her on the cushion beside me.
“Don’t make me regret this,” I said as I shoved to my feet. Putting my hands into my jeans pockets, I grimaced as one hand ran over material roughened by my dried blood. I needed to change into clean clothes. Maybe I’d even try food and a shower while I was at it. You know, act like a normal, civilized creature who understood the basics of good hygiene and nutrition.
“I’m going to head home after Bronx gets in. Are you good to head home with Trixie tonight?”
“That’s fine. Are you okay?” she asked, motioning with her head toward the side of me that was covered in dried blood.
“Yeah. Just a little scuffle.”
“That’s good.”
I had walked to the door and grasped the knob when a thought occurred to me. “I’ve got a meeting soon, I think. Someone a friend thinks might be able to help with the elf problem.”
“I don’t know of anyone who can help with it,” Sofie murmured. “You on good terms with another witch or warlock?”
“No, this is . . . something else,” I said, and then paused for a second. I shook my head, pushing aside other worries and doubts. “I don’t have high hopes, but it’s worth a try. This friend has never steered me wrong. Anyway, if I don’t show up tomorrow, I want you to promise me that you’ll at least tell Gideon what you told me. Someone else needs to know what’s going on. I know he’s got a lot on his plate right now, but if things ever get quiet again, maybe you and he can start working on a counterspell.”
“I will, I promise. Where’s this meeting at?”
“No idea.”
“Who are you meeting?”
I gave her a sly little smirk as I pulled the door open. “Mother Nature.”
Sofie’s mouth hung open for a full two seconds before she snapped it closed. “You’re kidding, right?”
I snorted. “I wish.”
Slipping out of the apartment, I closed the door behind me and suppressed a groan. By all that was sacred and holy, I wished I was kidding. I was putting all my hopes on a creature that thought it was the essence of life and the earth. If anything, I prayed that she didn’t have a grudge against the Towers as well or I was in for a very short visit.