Ever After (The Hollows #11)(92)
Author: Kim Harrison

The woman looked from me to Nick. "Someone better tell me what’s going on," she threatened, and I leaned back, gesturing for Nick to say something, dying to find out, myself.

"This is Le’Arch, the notorious art thief from the United Kingdom," Nick said, pointing at me as he came in. "Have you searched her yet?"

"Oh. My. God," I said, not sure I’d heard him right. "Nick, please tell me you did not just make an anagram of my name. Please. Just please."

His jaw clenched, and he took another step forward. He was almost far enough from the door that I had a good chance of making it through, but without the rings-which were not even here anymore-I was dead anyway. "She has a history of claiming to be agents of big corporations and walking away with priceless artifacts," he said, and the woman’s hand came away from the phone.

How long had he been listening at the door, and where in hell were Jenks and Ivy?

Well, Nick wasn’t the only one who could tell pretty stories. "Marcie, this jerk is my old boyfriend. He doesn’t work for the FIB, and he’s been stalking me all week. The man is a thief."

Nick stiffened. "I’m a thief?" he said, looking odd in his new clothes as he advanced another step. "I’m not the one stealing ancient elven artifacts to break the ley lines. You are a menace, and I’m trying to stop you."

"How dare you blame me for that!" I shouted. "I’m trying to stop him!" His jaw clenched, and I turned to Marcie. The woman hadn’t picked up the phone, but she was ready to. "Marcie, I’m sorry," I said, still trying to turn this into a stalker boyfriend issue. "I’m going to file a restraining order as soon as I get out of here. He doesn’t work for the FIB, and he’s lying to you to get me in trouble with my boss. If I don’t get those rings out of here, I’m a dead woman." True enough.

Nick made an exasperated sound when Marcie looked at him with doubt, starting to believe me. "Neither of you move."

"Has she taken any pieces yet?" Nick said, but it sounded desperate. "What rings did she ask after?"

Marci’s eyes narrowed, her belief swinging back to him. "Riffletic’s."

Nick leaned to see the ring case. "There’s a pair missing."

"There is not!" I said, affronted, but Marcie had already pulled away from her corner, rushing to look. "No!" I exclaimed when she lowered her head to see and Nick grabbed a heavy vase. It hit the back of her head without breaking, and the woman hung for a heartbeat, eyes wide as she slowly collapsed.

"You son of a bitch!" I said, lunging forward to catch her, my bare feet burning on the carpet squares as I struggled with her weight. "What in hell are you doing? Now it’s assault!"

The door beeped, and Nick barely got out of the way as Ivy yanked it open. "I say we return the favor and get the hell out of here," she said as Jenks flew in, sword bared and his dust a dismal blue. Something bad had happened. Where is Jax?

I carefully lowered Marcie to the floor, rising up mad enough to plow my fist right between his smiling teeth as Nick backed out of Ivy’s easy reach. He was still Ku’Sox’s toy. I could tell. "What are you doing down here?" Nick said idly, his head tilted so he could eye a row of artifacts and me at the same time.

Jenks landed on Ivy’s shoulder, clearly distressed. "Can we just get out of here?"

But I didn’t have the rings yet, and at a loss, I shook my head.

Nick’s smile widened. "Don’t have what you came for?" he mocked, running a finger on a glass case to leave an obvious mark.

"You got Pierce and Ceri killed," I accused. "How dare you smile at me."

His smile vanished, but I couldn’t tell if his sudden contriteness was real or contrived. "I’m sorry about that. I didn’t know he was going to kill them."

"He’s a psychotic demon!" I shouted, then lowered my voice when Jenks’s wings hummed a warning and he darted into the hall. "He doesn’t need a reason to kill people, just a reason not to. You are one dumb warlock," I said with a sneer. "Ku’Sox is going to kill you, too."

Nick chuckled, tugging his sleeves down to cover his cuffs. On Trent, it looked good; on him, it looked nervous. "Ku’Sox needs me." Hands on his knees, he leaned over the case of rings. "Mmm. Riffletic rings? I understand they were pulled. Weren’t they the elven wedding bands? Seriously?" He straightened. "Better than chastity, I suppose."

Ivy had inched closer, and seeing it, Nick shook his head, stopping her. He still belonged to Ku’Sox, and I didn’t want the demon showing up. If we were going to take Nick out, it would have to be fast. But I didn’t know if that really mattered anymore. My plan was royally flushed. Ku’Sox wasn’t stupid. Three seconds after Nick told him what we were after, he would have it figured out. Maybe I could make that work for me.

"Ku’Sox doesn’t need you," I said caustically, and Nick looked up from the display as if I was being stupid. "Or maybe I should say he won’t. Thanks to Trent, those Rosewood babies don’t need your lame enzymes. The only reason he hasn’t eaten you yet is because you’re spying on me."

Nick smiled as if giving a benediction. "As I said, he needs me."

"Yeah? For how long?" I said. Clearly distressed, Jenks hovered just outside in the hall at the ceiling. He tapped his wrist like a watch. Ivy wasn’t close enough, though. "Maybe you haven’t noticed, but I’ve got an expiration date," I added. "You’re going to be deadweight after tomorrow, whatever happens."

Nick frowned, his fingers twitching.

"Didn’t think about that, did you, crap for brains?"

His head came up. "You know nothing." He looked at Ivy. "Stop moving, vampire."

Ivy rocked back. "Cut it short or bring him," she said. "We have to go."

"Bring him?" I barked, my chin lifting. Then I said to Nick, "There is no hole deep enough or dark enough to hide you when Ku’Sox decides he’s done with you and pulls your plug."

Arms swinging, I headed for the door, figuring he’d get close enough to smack him if he thought I was leaving.

Sure enough, he reached for me, and I let him grab my arm. "We used to be good," he said, eyes angry.

"Yeah? Well, I used to be stupid!"

Grabbing his wrist, I spun to put my back to his front, and levered him right over my shoulder. He hit the floor in front of me with a groan, and Ivy was there, her long arm against his neck even though he was out. Jenks flew in at the noise, hovering over us.

"When do you want him to wake up?" she said, and my lip curled.