Bound by Faerie: An Urban Fantasy Novel (Stolen Magic Book 1) by WB McKay Page B
Book: Bound by Faerie: An Urban Fantasy Novel (Stolen Magic Book 1) by WB McKay
Read Free Book Online
Authors: WB McKay
Ads: Link
Ava wouldn't be cowed. If we were becoming friends, well, I decided she was all right. "I guess I should get to work then."
Ava promptly stood. She walked from the room and came back several times, carrying different outfits, all the while repeating the details I needed to keep in mind for my second attempt at Smoke and Mirrors. I couldn't bring myself to say thank you. The words were so big. Everyone was careful with them. Granting favors was a serious business; saying thank you committed me to doing something whether I wanted to or not, no matter how the request hurt my honor or dignity. It was a catch-22, because refusing to fulfill a favor owed was one of the greatest hits to my honor possible. Still, that wasn't why I didn't say it. I owed her thanks. Whether I said it or not, a debt was owed for her help, especially since it came without ever a word said about doing anything in return. It was that, more than the acts themselves, that put me in the red.
"What's your plan for tonight?" asked Ava, looking dubious.
"I have some ideas. I've got it covered," I said, liking the confidence in my voice. I could do this.
CHAPTER SIX
I went back to my place and rooted through my work box. Phoebe didn't put in an appearance, for which I was grateful. If she started messing with me, I'd get distracted and botch the job again. I needed that book. I had to know what that ball of light was and how to control it. I needed to know I could trust myself again.
My work box was a two foot cube and contained all the magical items I used on my jobs. It was carved with runes that kept it from opening for anyone other than me. It was a present from Belinda when I'd moved to doing fieldwork. I rooted through it until I found my disguise charm. They were handy little things that cast a glamour over my physical appearance. I didn't have the money for a full body change charm, but this one was reusable, and allowed me to change a couple of my features so I wasn't easily recognized. I didn't trust it, or myself, enough to try the same approach as last night, so I would have to play it by ear when I got to the club. I may have exaggerated my level of preparedness to Ava. I'm sure she would chastise my fly-by-the-seat-of-my-pants attitude, but it had always worked for me in the past. The few times I'd tried a detailed plan everything had blown up in my face.
I tossed the charm on the bed along with the clothes Ava let me borrow. Dresses weren't my favorite—I was uncomfortable fighting in them—but when I told Ava that, all she'd asked was why I was preparing for a fight. She didn't understand I was always prepared for one.
I wasn't going hungry again tonight. The pan sizzled and popped while the burger cooked. Sauteed mushrooms always smelled like cozy fall days. I thought I'd eaten the last of my smoked Gouda, but found just enough hiding in the fridge. I couldn't afford to go shopping until I got paid again, and this was the last of the best stuff in my fridge. It would have been nice if that necklace job hadn't been a bust the other day. I could have used that money. Something tickled in the back of my mind, a definite sign I'd forgotten something. I finished my burger with a sigh. It was good, but it was the same meal I'd had a dozen times before. If I had gotten the bonus from that job, I would have been able to go some place nice and try something new.
I walked back into the bedroom and stripped, preparing to put on my club clothes.
"Oh, damn it," I muttered finally recalling what I had forgotten. "I need to file that object lost report before Hammond tears me a new one. Stupid dragons." Lou disappearing into Faerie with the necklace had been quite a surprise. It had been so strange finding his cave empty like that—no necklace, no Lou, not even his hoard. My contracts didn't cover retrieving items from Faerie. "He'll be back, and I'll get another shot at it."
Phoebe faded into existence on my bed, eliciting
Ava promptly stood. She walked from the room and came back several times, carrying different outfits, all the while repeating the details I needed to keep in mind for my second attempt at Smoke and Mirrors. I couldn't bring myself to say thank you. The words were so big. Everyone was careful with them. Granting favors was a serious business; saying thank you committed me to doing something whether I wanted to or not, no matter how the request hurt my honor or dignity. It was a catch-22, because refusing to fulfill a favor owed was one of the greatest hits to my honor possible. Still, that wasn't why I didn't say it. I owed her thanks. Whether I said it or not, a debt was owed for her help, especially since it came without ever a word said about doing anything in return. It was that, more than the acts themselves, that put me in the red.
"What's your plan for tonight?" asked Ava, looking dubious.
"I have some ideas. I've got it covered," I said, liking the confidence in my voice. I could do this.
CHAPTER SIX
I went back to my place and rooted through my work box. Phoebe didn't put in an appearance, for which I was grateful. If she started messing with me, I'd get distracted and botch the job again. I needed that book. I had to know what that ball of light was and how to control it. I needed to know I could trust myself again.
My work box was a two foot cube and contained all the magical items I used on my jobs. It was carved with runes that kept it from opening for anyone other than me. It was a present from Belinda when I'd moved to doing fieldwork. I rooted through it until I found my disguise charm. They were handy little things that cast a glamour over my physical appearance. I didn't have the money for a full body change charm, but this one was reusable, and allowed me to change a couple of my features so I wasn't easily recognized. I didn't trust it, or myself, enough to try the same approach as last night, so I would have to play it by ear when I got to the club. I may have exaggerated my level of preparedness to Ava. I'm sure she would chastise my fly-by-the-seat-of-my-pants attitude, but it had always worked for me in the past. The few times I'd tried a detailed plan everything had blown up in my face.
I tossed the charm on the bed along with the clothes Ava let me borrow. Dresses weren't my favorite—I was uncomfortable fighting in them—but when I told Ava that, all she'd asked was why I was preparing for a fight. She didn't understand I was always prepared for one.
I wasn't going hungry again tonight. The pan sizzled and popped while the burger cooked. Sauteed mushrooms always smelled like cozy fall days. I thought I'd eaten the last of my smoked Gouda, but found just enough hiding in the fridge. I couldn't afford to go shopping until I got paid again, and this was the last of the best stuff in my fridge. It would have been nice if that necklace job hadn't been a bust the other day. I could have used that money. Something tickled in the back of my mind, a definite sign I'd forgotten something. I finished my burger with a sigh. It was good, but it was the same meal I'd had a dozen times before. If I had gotten the bonus from that job, I would have been able to go some place nice and try something new.
I walked back into the bedroom and stripped, preparing to put on my club clothes.
"Oh, damn it," I muttered finally recalling what I had forgotten. "I need to file that object lost report before Hammond tears me a new one. Stupid dragons." Lou disappearing into Faerie with the necklace had been quite a surprise. It had been so strange finding his cave empty like that—no necklace, no Lou, not even his hoard. My contracts didn't cover retrieving items from Faerie. "He'll be back, and I'll get another shot at it."
Phoebe faded into existence on my bed, eliciting
Similar Books
