Page 20 of White Little Lies (Four Ways to Fate #3)

20

While I still thought going to the Silver Quarter was our best bet, Gabriel had convinced me to at least visit a few gargoyles and see if they knew how to reach Lucas first. Then there was also the Circus. That was where I had first met him, and also where he had tried to abduct me. I wasn’t sure what other business an angelic would have at the carnival/casino, but he did seem to frequent the place. We still hadn’t heard from Sebastian, and I had done everything short of setting his card on fire.

Elena looked up at the sign for Lapis Brews, the periwinkle sign with deep blue lettering matching their enchanted cups. “Coffee? There’s nothing exciting about coffee.”

“I beg to differ.” I reached for the door.

Even though we were heading into evening, the place was packed, standing room only. I squeezed into the crowd, looking for the end of the line.

Elena and the guys filtered in after me. Even Braxton had come along, with Ringo riding on his shoulder for a better view than I could afford. The best view would be with Gabriel, but he was waiting out on the street, keeping an eye on things.

I grabbed Elena’s hand so she wouldn’t get lost and pushed a little closer to the counter. A female gargoyle, her skin a stony, dappled charcoal, worked the register, taking orders and flashing smiles. Her bat-like wings were tucked close to her back, protruding above the scoop neck of her blue tank top.

Two male gargoyles made the orders as the female took them, their periwinkle aprons looking tiny and out of place on their huge frames. They were both even bigger than Gabriel. I had a feeling the counters had been built specially to accommodate them.

“A far different crowd than the Dark District,” Elena commented, pushing close against my side.

And she was right. It was a cashmere sweater and diamond jewelry type of crowd, though mostly magical. A few humans braved the line, but not many. Even if you weren’t intimidated by the gargoyles, the rest of the crowd was a lot to take in.

Braxton’s chest bumped into my back. I didn’t see Crispin anywhere.

“We might have been better off at the Circus.” The closeness of Braxton’s voice startled me since I hadn’t realized he had leaned forward.

“You’re probably right.” But what I wasn’t saying out loud was that I was hesitant to take Elena there. I was under her dad’s protection. I really didn’t need to piss him off.

Eventually we reached the counter, and the female gargoyle flashed us the same smile she had given everyone else. I wondered if her face ever got tired, or if it was easier to hold an expression when your skin could turn to actual stone.

“I’ll take your honey and rose latte with oatmilk.” I’d had plenty of time to look at the menu while we waited.

The gargoyle shifted her smiling face to Elena.

“Citrus and tomato vine cappuccino please.” Elena beamed at the gargoyle, her earlier disappointment over visiting the coffee shop long since forgotten.

Braxton ordered a run of the mill hot chocolate, then backed up a little as planned, giving us space from the next people in line, who would probably be pissed when we didn’t immediately step aside.

I leaned forward across the counter, lowering my voice. “I’m also looking for the angelic, Lucas. I need to talk to him. It’s important.”

The gargoyle’s smile wilted. “You know we don’t all know each other just because we have wings.”

“Really?” I asked. “Because I’m pretty sure you were all talking about him just the other day.” Maybe they hadn’t been the ones working when Dawn had gotten her information, but I was guessing at least one of them had, and both male gargoyles stilled at my words.

Her dark eyes narrowed. “You know him?”

“Far too well.”

She glanced back at the two guys, one of whom was already looking at her. She nodded for him to take her place at the register, then gestured for us to walk further down the counter to where people picked up their orders.

Elena and Braxton both followed.

“Look,” the gargoyle braced her elbows on the counter, “I don’t know who you are, but you better not tell Lucas we were talking about him. It won’t end well for you.”

Gods, I already had half the city after me. I did not need to get on the bad side of the gargoyles. “Hey, I just want to talk to him. Point me in the right direction and I’ll never bring it up again.”

She studied my face like she was trying to decide whether or not she could believe me. When another customer stepped too close, she glared at him until he stepped away. “Fine. I don’t know where he is right this moment, but I heard he’s been going to the Dark District lately. A place called,” she furrowed her stony brow, “something about kisses. I don’t remember. The vampires always have such silly names for things.”

“Crimson Kisses? ”

She snapped her fingers. “Yeah, that’s it.” The fingers she had just snapped shifted to point at me. “But you don’t tell him I told you.”

“I won’t tell him a thing.”

“Good.” She half turned as one of the male gargoyles brought our order. She took the three periwinkle cups, then set them on the counter in front of us.

“We didn’t pay yet,” I said.

“Don’t worry about it.” She smirked. “If you have dealings with Lucas, this is probably the last blessing you’ll ever get.” She turned away and sauntered back toward the register, giving her wings a little flick behind her.

Elena reached for the cup with her order scribbled on it. “Well she was… charming.”

I handed Braxton his cup, observing his lowered brow.

“Do I need to remind you what happened last time we went to the Dark District?”

I started shuffling through the crowd toward the door. “Oh come on, getting chased by a pack of vampires was so not the worst thing that happened to us.”

“I was talking about me being held hostage,” he grumbled.

Crispin found us just as we reached the door. He looked forlornly at our coffee cups. “You already ordered? ”

I shifted my coffee to my left hand as I went for the door. “Yeah, where were you?”

He took the door from me to hold it open. “I saw a woman with an antique enchanted amulet. I had to know more.”

“Of course you did.” I walked outside to find Gabriel waiting for us, and realized maybe I should have ordered something for him.

I gave him an abashed look, then offered him my coffee, even though I knew he preferred tea.

Smiling, he put an arm around my shoulders instead and started us walking. “Where are we going next?”

“Ever been to the Dark District?”

“It always comes back to the vampires, doesn’t it?”

“It would seem so.”

But at least Ivan was dead, and the head vampire of the city, Elizabeta, was allied with King Francis. Going to the Dark District shouldn’t be a problem.

“She didn’t offer me her coffee,” Crispin muttered behind us.

“That will teach you for being too curious for your own good.” Elena said haughtily.

“That’s the pot calling the kettle black,” Crispin argued.

“ Elves ,” Braxton sighed.

I grinned at Gabriel, and he was already smiling back at me. But I didn’t miss how he kept part of his attention on our surroundings, always looking for threats, and my smile fell. If something bad had happened to Sebastian…

Well, it would take a pretty big threat to take out a devil. A threat I would focus all of my attention on, ignoring the gnawing feeling at the pit of my stomach, hinting at how I might actually feel if he were truly gone.