I Regret Nothing - JB Trepagnier Page 0,5

and throw you in Scorchwood to rot, but until they finish upgrading it, all the nasties that were in there are currently in Silverhold.”

Well, shit. I was a criminal and a thief, but I wasn’t a snitch. If I ratted out a client, I’d never be able to show my face in the supernatural community as a thief again. Besides, I didn’t know. The whole reason people came to me was anonymity.

“I couldn’t tell you where the Grimoire was if I wanted to. I stole it for an anonymous buyer. I never met them in person, even when it was exchanging hands.”

Adina looked wholly irritated with me for not ratting out my client. That was the entire purpose of my online store and why people trusted me. It was one of Hauser’s rules—they don’t know my name, and I needed to do everything I could not to get theirs. Just because I wasn’t a snitch didn’t mean the people I stole for weren’t. If they got caught with my loot, they’d sell me out as the one who did the deed stealing it if it meant a lesser sentence. Hauser and I had a lot more honor as thieves than the people who paid us to steal shit.

“It would really help if you could get that Grimoire back, Rei. The coven you stole it from is wealthy and has the means to make your life very difficult.”

I just shrugged.

“It’s a Grimoire. I wouldn’t have stolen it if another coven hadn’t wanted it. They should look at other witches.”

Adina pinched the bridge of her nose.

“The witch population is enormous. You were the one that left hair and stole the thing, so they are mad at you. Is there anything you can give me to bring back to make this plea deal work?”

“I’m not a rat, Adina. All I know is that they asked me to steal it, so I did. Since it’s a Grimoire, it stands to reason it was witches that asked me. Based on my research of the Grimoire before I took the job, it’s got some specific spells in there that I wouldn’t be able to cast since I’m not a witch. If they want to find out who has it, track the magic. They do know I’m not a witch, right?”

“That’s why it was so upsetting to everyone. A fox shifter stole a powerful Grimoire from an ancient coven of witches, and no one could understand why. Did you even know what that Grimoire could do when you took the job?”

They didn’t know. I was in a magical prison, and they all still thought I was a fox shifter. I wasn’t about to correct them. Demons rarely came to Earth, and no one knew why. Someone set fire and destroyed the only means to force a demon to appear. It stood to reason the magical community did some awful shit to demons. Hauser met one, and he told me to guard this secret with my life. I wasn’t about to correct her. I still didn’t know how I ended up here with human parents, but I’d never met another demon in my entire life. I wasn’t about to spill that, even to my lawyer.

I just shrugged. I knew exactly what was in that Grimoire. I didn’t take just any job. Some things needed to stay where they were, and I didn’t steal everything I was asked to.

“The Aether Circle was using it to cause natural disasters so they could get richer. Did they tell you that when they were getting all butt hurt I stole from them? Maybe it’s in better hands now.”

Adina just glared at me.

“You’d better hope I can work this plea deal because if we have to go to trial, a prosecutor is going to have a field day with you. I think the only thing you’re sorry about is getting caught,” she said, storming out.

Well, yeah. I was fucking pissed about getting caught. I should have just left instead of trying to get the amulet off Venus in the parking lot. Thinking back, I should have only followed her and stole it much later.

I regretted nothing about all the shit I’d stolen.

Chapter 4

Rei

I

t was always nice to have a Vampire in your pocket, even if they couldn’t stand you and thought you were an awful criminal. Adina might have wanted to heave me in jail and throw away the key, but she was being paid to make sure I spent as little time