Page 66 of Beauty At Stake
“Will someone please tell me what she is?” Star grumbled.
“A sorceress,” I whispered.
“What?” Star scowled at me.
“The bitch is a sorceress,” Killian said. “A human who can manipulate the magic left in Fey remains, amulets, or artifacts. They're basically magic scavengers, not better than vultures. No, I take that back. Vultures serve a purpose and behave as God intended. Sorcerers are just fucking evil.”
“Ah,” Star murmured. Then, in a louder voice, “Yes, sorcerers. I thought they had died out. It's been so long since I've heard of any.”
I eased out of Kill's embrace. “I'm all right, babe. It just threw me.” I glanced at Pichai. “Must have been far worse for him.”
“There are remains of all the Himmapan,” the female hunter said. She glanced at the shelves and then away. “All our clans.”
“I'm so sorry.” I went to her and crouched beside Pichai. “Do you think I should revive him now?””
“Maybe take the guy outside first,” Kill suggested.
The hunters carried their leader out of the room and down the hall to the living room. As far from those terrible remains as possible. Once they had him on the couch, I revived him with an uncrossing touch.
Pichai blinked and sat up. He looked at his hunters, then at me. A second passed, and then his eyes filled with tears.
“I know.” I took his hand. “And I promise you that you will have vengeance for your people. We will not just track thatsorceress. We will also find the people who supplied her with those remains and anyone who has been helping her. They will all pay for this.”
Pichai bent his head—not in thanks but to compose himself. When he met my stare again, he asked, “Can we have them? I'd like to give those fairies a proper burial.”
“Of course. But we're going to need them to track the sellers first.”
Behind me, someone cursed.
I looked back to see Killian prowling back and forth, his shoulders so tense that his swords—specially made for him by an Oni—rose higher behind him to look like the remains of wings.
“I thought we handled this shit.” Kill waved back toward the room. “Remember that fucked up shop in the Underground?”
“Of course, I remember it, Kill. Just because Daxon took over the Fairy Undergrounds, it doesn't mean he can prevent the black market from popping up somewhere else.”
“Well, he needs to fucking try harder then!”
“I'm sorry, Lord Pichai.” I patted the man's hand. “My husband and I have some history with sorcerers. Why don't you contact the local Fairies and see if any are missing or have been attacked?”
“Yes. We will contact them and discover who those remains belong to. Thank you, Ambassador.” Pichai squared his shoulders and got up. He said something to his team in Fey, and they left the house.
I looked back at Kill.
“He's responsible, Twilight,” Killian said. “This is his fault.”
“Who?” Star asked as he pulled out a chair beside the wide-eyed extinguishers at the dining table and sat down.
“Daxon,” I said. “He's King of the Fairy Undergrounds. That's where sorcerer supplies used to be sold. Or at least, that's where they came from.”
“He was also the fucking fairy mob boss of the fucking black market!” Killian swept out an arm. “This is his type of bullshit!”
“Killian, stop,” I said gently. “You and I both know that Daxon does his best to keep things legit now. He has to rely on his Princesses and Princes to run the Undergrounds. He can't be everywhere at once.”
Killian shook his head. “I have to touch those things, babe.”
Oh. So, that was it. He feared what he'd see. And his fear needed an outlet.
“Do you want me to call in some help?”
