Page 64 of Made

“Because they’re criminals,” I said.

“Undoubtedly, they will not agree.”

“You think they believe disappearing a person without their consent is above board?”

He sighed. “Word on the street…” He smiled slightly at his use of modern lingo. Whether he thought that made him clever or cool was anybody’s guess. “… is that eons of never being questioned could lead a person or group of persons to believe they’re always right. Reportedly, they govern themselves with a self-imposed code of integrity. But granted, that report might be the result of good public relations. How about this? If you want to be sure everything is accounted for contractually,” he smiled, “I know a lawyer.”

I smiled tentatively, feeling like we were getting somewhere. “A good one?”

He chuckled softly. “And another thing. If Esmerelda continues to make trouble, they may see her departure as less and less a sacrifice and more a blessing.”

“I feel confident vouching that Esme will continually remind them that they’ve borrowed trouble, but that doesn’tmean they don’t have their own hidden agenda. If the proposition is on the up and up, or if you’re able to account for all variables in a contract, aside from getting Esme out of their hair, what do they stand to gain by testing Kagan?”

“The answer is simple,” Max said. “All creatures love to be entertained.”

I couldn’t have hidden my surprise if I’d wanted to. “They want to be entertained at Kagan’s expense?”

Max was nodding. “Essentially. Yes.”

After a protracted pause, Keir leaned toward Kagan. “What do you think?”

Kagan had been mostly still. And quiet. He looked at Keir. “What doyouthink?”

His slight hesitation told me he was thinking carefully about how best to answer. “I might guess how you feel, but I can’t know. If it was Rita, there’s nothing I wouldn’t do,” Keir told him.

I knew that without needing it said. But hearing it still made my heart skip several beats in a row. My mind flashed on a shabby hotel room with a strange letter, a passport, and a plane ticket.Thank the gods I took a risk for once in my life and got on that plane!

Kagan turned to face Max. “Get the best deal you can, and that includes me comin’ with to get her.”

The kettle began to whistle just as Max was standing to leave. “I have some paper cups,” I offered. “If you’d like to take a tea to go?”

He laughed. Later Keir told me the joke was because of my naivete about the ways magic kind travel from one place to another. Not conducive to carrying hot liquid.

“I’ll get back to you as soon as…”

Max’s sentence was interrupted by Kagan. “Fast.”

“What?” Max asked.

“She should no’ stay any longer than necessary.” Kagan’s delivery was forceful as if he thought he could make his thought true if it was powered by enough intensity. His next words were so quiet I had to lean in. “She’s causing trouble because she’s scared,” he said before swiping at his face with his forearm.

Oh, wow. He knows her. And he loves her.

CHAPTER THIRTEENThorn

Vidar followed Niall from the tavern to the massive doors of Maeve’s castle using the typical, most efficient form of transportation. Magic. Niall’s fast-moving trace would appear invisible to the human eye, but Vidar clearly saw a pinkish collection of cells temporarily separated and held in shape to reclaim density on arrival at the host’s destination.

Two elaborately dressed guards flanked the doors at the head of a wide bridge lit by torches with a magical fuel source. The guards’ function was spectacle and not purpose, even though it was late.

“Here we are,” Niall said, waving at the immense stone structure in front of them.

“Is this where the king lives?” Vidar asked, knowing perfectly well that it was not.

As was the Irish fae tradition, the previous head of state moves out of the capital castle upon their successor’s coronation.

Niall’s expression changed from triumphant to uncertain. “This is Mum’s. Did you want a peek at Diarmuid’s?”

“Well, I’m your guest and am happy to see what you want to show me because all of it is a new experience. But since you ask, I was hoping to see the seat of power.”