Page 99 of As Above, So Below

“That the male you met at The Lioness?”

I nod.

“Based on what I just witnessed, he’s got you.” She laughs, throwing an arm over my shoulders. “You better offer him a contract before you can no longer bear the thought of damning his soul.” She begins down the street, in the opposite direction of Ryc, laughing.

My hands race to my brow. “I don’t understand,” I breathe the words, reeling even still. “I’ve never met someone who drives me to absolute madness in such a way. I am a fool to allow myself to be so easily distracted.”

Eve’s brows raise in surprise with my scathing admission.

“Is he the one?” She asks and my head swivels to meet her stare. “The one you want to offer?”

I stammer.

Yes.

But no?

Good gods, I don’t know anymore. I didn’t accomplish anything I’d planned for our next meeting. Again, I’m no closer to knowing what I need to negotiate a successful contract.

“Sounds like you need to figure that out.” She huffs a small laugh. “Sooner rather than later. It’s clear he’s interested. The longer you wait in offering him a contract, the more territorial and aggressivehe’ll become. Fae males delight in the chase, Ves.”

The chase?

Is that what this is?

Have we been hunting one another these last couple weeks?

“I’m not going to tell you how to live your life, Ves,” Eve says and I swing my head to meet her stare. “But I hope you know what you’re doing.”

I scoff a laugh, a mixture of bewilderment and disbelief.

Truth be told, I have no fucking idea what I’m doing anymore.

Especially when it comes to Ryc.

CHAPTER TWENTY

Several blocks away, in a less populated area of the South Ward, Eve and I come to a stop before a bright yellow door. The shop sign hangs over me, forcing me to step back to see it. Craning my neck, I read over the bold yellow painted script.

The Djinn and Tonic.

What in the nine hells does a djinn have to do with tonics?

Perhaps my translated understanding of the sign is inaccurate.

“Cora’s waiting inside. I sent her ahead when I saw you with your fae,” Eve says, reaching for the door.

Her use ofyour faesharply reminds me of Vaelyn and his incessant teasing. I open my mouth to argue, but she swings the door open and ushers me inside.

As I enter the shop, my sense of smell is immediately assaulted by the overpowering scent of pungent herbs and spices. Unlike the calm scent of Ember and Ashes, this scent is sharp and stings my eyes. It’s a poorly proportioned concoction of every potion, flower, herb, and spice in the shop. I can see why Eve isn’t fond of this place.

Covering my mouth and nose with a hand, my eyes begin to water. Eve strides past me, sporting a cloth mask over her face. Despite hiding the lower half of her face, her eyes gleam with amusement. She would be grinning right now.

“Where did you get that? How do I get one? And why didn’t you warn me?” I hiss at her and she laughs.

“I did warn you!” she counters, laughing. “The first time I came here with Cora I learned I needed something to block the scents. I picked this up from a shop down the street.” She juts a thumb inwhat I assume is the direction of the shop she’s referring to.

“I thought we were friends, Eve,” I mutter flatly and she cackles.