Bloodlust - Helen Harper Page 0,44

ask whom Corrigan was referring to. “Alex is there now. I’ll get him to put a ward in place. That’ll give me enough warning to prepare, even if he manages to break through it. I had quite a bit of success with Tom this morning.”

Corrigan’s face was emotionless. “I heard. We will have a service for Staines on Friday morning, then travel up to Scotland after that. It would be good if you were there.”

“Of course I’ll be there. I’ll be ready and waiting by the water’s edge for the fucker to show his face.”

“I mean at the funeral. Come to the funeral.”

I looked up at him. His expression remained blank, but there was an odd note of pleading in his eyes. I’d be back from Russia by Thursday night, one way or another. I would make it. I nodded.

“I’m so sorry, Corrigan.”

There was a flicker of acknowledgement in his eyes, then he turned and started to walk towards his car, his normally perfect posture sagging ever so slightly. My heart ached.

“I should go too,” said the Arch-Mage.

“Okay. You will contact the Fae, won’t you?”

His eyes were flinty. “The faeries and we might not like each other, but we do all have the same goal here. Yes. I will talk to the Summer Queen as soon as I get back.”

I guessed I had just laid doubt on his honour. He needed to get over himself. I watched as, one by one, the cars all drove away until I was all alone again. With a heavy heart, I then turned back towards Clava Books.

Chapter Thirteen

It had been barely any time since I’d been within the safe warmth of the bookshop, but it felt as if the world had been tipped upside down in the intervening minutes. The door jangled its familiar tune as I pushed it open. I looked at it lying open for a moment, not really in an entirely conscious fashion, and then slammed it shut with such force behind me that the glass inlaid into the centre cracked.

Slim came flapping around but, for once, kept his mouth shut and his expression serious. He watched me carefully, I guessed in case I decided to try setting the interior alight or something like that. Eventually, I spoke.

“Sorry.”

He nodded, then turned around and flapped back to the counter where he busied himself with the till. “I always thought a glass door was a fecking stupid idea with you around anyway.”

I smiled faintly.

“Mack Attack? I’m guessing the sound of destruction means that’s you,” Alex called out from behind one of the shelves, then craning his head around, he beckoned me over. “We’ve got something.”

I walked around to join him, noting once I’d rounded the corner that both he and Aubrey were sat cross-legged on the floor with several books and an open laptop strewn around them. I had to admit that I was surprised. They’d only communicated by phone before, and Alex had most definitely not been a fan of the ex-vamp’s. Perhaps they were bonding over the excitement of research. It didn’t seem likely. Then I spotted two empty tea-cups on the floor next to them. Interesting. Had Mrs. Alcoon been giving the pair of them some kind of ‘friendly’ herb to drink? I wouldn’t put it beyond her.

“So,” Alex said, “we know where the mine is, and that it’s an entirely human run organisation. It would be easier if we could find some Otherworld connections which we could put to use, because it’s by far the closest mine to travel to, but no such luck. However, that doesn’t mean we can’t introduce some Otherworldly action of the sort that will help them rather than hinder them.”

“How so?”

Aubrey tapped at the screen on the computer. “The Karzelek.”

I must have looked blank because Alex jumped in to explain. “A breed of dwarves. They live in mines and act as guardians of gems, precious metals, that kind of thing. Traditionally, the Karzelek will protect miners and help them locate the most bountiful veins of ore. This mine doesn’t have one. We find one Karzelek to help us out, and we’re gold.”

Aubrey’s eyes were shining. “You see the company is looking for some mining experts to help them make sure they’ve completely plumbed the depths of this area.”

“And I’ve already contacted them and offered our services.” Alex beamed. “We use a Karzelek to find the best palladium ore in the entire mine and ask for a small amount of it as payment in return.”

Aubrey