Suzanne Lazear - Charmed Vengeance

“Boston?” Noli and Vix said in unison.

“The last place anyone would look for us is Boston, and well, Vix, don’t you think it’s time you met my mother?” Jeff’s voice went shy.

“I—” Vix’s eyes widened as she paused, money in her hand.

Boston? It might be nice to see Mama.

“As long as you don’t leave me there,” Noli retorted, looking up at him.

He shook his head and patted her shoulder. “No, I won’t leave you there. Promise.”

“You’re not going to stop until you’ve made an honest woman of me, are you?” Vix looked stricken, hand paused over one of the piles of money.

“Would being my wife truly be so bad?” Jeff let go of Noli and walked to Vix, taking her hand. “Being my wife won’t mean giving up your ship, being captain, or our work.”

Noli dropped her gaze and leaned against the counter, not wanting to intrude on such a private moment. “Promise?” Vix’s gaze seemed more like a threat than anything.

Jeff kissed her. “Promise.”

“All right then, I’ll say yes. At the very least so you’ll stop asking.” She continued counting and gave him a sharp look over the bills. “But I’m not going to settle down.”

He toyed with her short hair. “I wouldn’t have it any other way. It’s settled then, as soon as everyone’s onboard, we’ll go to Boston for Thanksgiving.”

The idea of seeing her mother made Noli’s heart leap with joy. At the same time, part of her feared that Jeff and Vix would sneak out in the dead of night, leaving her to be someone else’s problem.

“Congratulations,” she told them. Her brother was getting married. That made her and the sprite happy. “What’s everyone else going to do while we’re at Grandfather’s?”

Jeff gave her a wide, mischievous grin. “Grandfather does have a very large house.”

Noli laughed. Jeff was going to bring his trouser-wearing wife and a bunch of air pirates to Grandfather Montgomery’s for Thanksgiving? “Boston’s never going to be the same, is it?”

“Probably not,” Jeff chuckled, giving Vix a fond look. “Probably not.”

“Rogue or not, this is very generous.” Vix packed the piles into the case. “We’ll have payday later. Let me put this in the safe for now.” She and the case disappeared into her quarters.

Noli turned to Jeff. “I can’t wait to see Mama.”

“Captain Vix, Captain Vix, I need to speak to you right now,” a voice boomed from outside, sending shivers down Noli’s spine.

“Come out, come out, Captain Vix,” the man shouted again.

Jeff arm shot out in warning as his other hand fumbled for his pistol. “Noli stand back.”

Vix barreled out of her quarters, pistol drawn, just as King Brogan appeared in the common area, still in his morning coat and top hat.

“Why are you on my ship, Kyran … or should I say Brogan?” Vix kept her pistol focused on the blond earth court king.

“Ah, what’s in a name, Victoria?” King Brogan raised his hands in an empty gesture.

Noli craned her neck trying to see who lurked behind Brogan. One thing she’d learned was that Otherworldly monarchs liked entourages.

“I contracted you for something and I expect it to be delivered. Promptly.” He tapped his walking stick on the floor for emphasis.

“You gave us no payment in advance. We aren’t bound to sell it to you.” Vix held her ground. “Perhaps we found a higher bidder … ”

“Kevighn Silver stole it from us,” Jeff blurted, still blocking Noli with his body. “He masqueraded as a crew member and stole it. I think he works for someone also named Kyran.”

“Kevighn Silver took it? And he’s working for another Kyran?” For a split second worry crossed King Brogan’s face. “We can’t have a rogue like him with an artifact like that.”

“No, we can’t, but we don’t have to resources to find him,” Jeff apologized.

Noli looked on in horror as Jeff blamed this entire debacle on Kevighn. “How could you?” she hissed, taking a step forward. “Kevighn—”

Jeff put a hand over her mouth as if she was a naughty girl. “You’ll have to forgive Noli, she’s not feeling well.”

King Brogan focused on her. His eyes might look like V’s, but they lacked his soul and insight.

“An earth sprite on airship?” he cackled. “Whose ingenious idea was that? Kevighn didn’t have to steal my artifacts. He probably traded her something shiny for them.”

Her heart fell. She wasn’t ready to reveal that particular mistake to Jeff and Vix.

Did he give us something shiny? I want something shiny, the sprite whined.

Shush, Noli retorted. “I’m not an earth sprite. You, sir, must be mistaken.”

“Is that any way to speak to your king?” He took several menacing steps toward her. Brogan greatly resembled Mr. Darrow, but he had James’ hair.

“You aren’t my king,” she spat, heart pounding. She treaded on dangerous ground. The high queen would kill someone for speaking to her like that.

“Stay away from my sister.” Jeff fixed his pistol on Brogan, using his body to shield her.

King Brogan’s eyes unfocused then refocused, lips curving into a deep frown. “You aren’t part of my court, yet you aren’t dark court, nor high court—how did that happen? Who do you belong to? You look familiar … ”

Taking a deep breath, she gathered every ounce of courage she possessed and looked right into his eyes. “I belong to no one.”

“What is going on? You need to get away from her,” Jeff yelled, striding toward him.

Vix grabbed his arm. “Jeff, wait.”

“You are very much out of your element, little courtless earth sprite.” King Brogan smirked. “It’s not good to be out of your element.”

What did that mean?

“You need to get off my ship, Brogan. Now. We don’t have your artifacts.” Vix kept her pistol focused on him.

All these pistols and Brogan didn’t seem fazed.

“Your weapon won’t hurt me,” he shrugged. “How about your little sprite gives me the piece in her pocket and I don’t kill you all? I think it’s more than a fair trade. What exactly does a sprite do on an airship? They’re not very good at practical things.”

Noli’s hand went to her pocket. How did he know?

Don’t give it to him, please, a female voice echoed in her mind.

It wasn’t the sprite. Unless she was truly going mad, it could only be the Bright Lady herself. She didn’t know who else it might be.

“I won’t.” Her jaw set. She wasn’t about to defy the Bright Lady.

“Noli, you have a piece?” Jeff’s brow furrowed and he didn’t put down his pistol.

Her hand reached into her pocket and wrapped around it. “You can’t have it.”

“Guards, seize the sprite,” King Brogan called. Two large men, clad in gentleman’s clothes, entered the room and stormed toward her.

“Leave her alone.” Jeff charged. One of the large men tossed him aside like a doll.

“Jeff.” Vix ran to him.

“Leave my brother alone.” Noli looked around for something she could control.

Just push them, the sprite told her. Like they’re a ball.

Holding out her hand she pushed with her mind, like the sprite had when volleying the cannonballs. One of the guards stumbled backwards into the wooden table.

“Do you dare use magic against me?” Brogan roared, holding out his hand and sending her flying backward into the wall. The air whooshed out of her body as she smacked against the wood.

“Noli!” Jeff stumbled up off the floor.

“Wait,” Vix hissed, holding out her arm.

One of the guards peered at Noli. “Your majesty, do you know who this is?”

“Who?” Brogan looked down his nose at her as she lay crumpled against the wall, ribs smarting, though nothing felt broken.

“She’s Stiofán’s. I remember her from the House of Oak.” The guard looked familiar.

Noli sucked in a breath, which hurt, as she remembered where she’d seen him. “You worked at the big house. You’re a spy.”

Brogan’s hands clapped under his chin. “Stiofán’s little mortal—well, not so mortal anymore. Tiana’s work, I’m sure. What should we do with her? Bait? Or perhaps we should just kill her. After all, she’s not wearing his sigil anymore which could only mean—”

“Leave. Me. Alone.” From her spot on the floor, Noli sent out another blast, this one aimed directly at King Brogan.

He sidestepped, strode over, and grabbed her by the throat. “You are very much out of your element, little sprite, and lacking a protector. You best watch your step. Also, are you sure you’re well? Your color looks off.”

Her throat grew warm and tingly and for the briefest second his hand shimmered as she struggled for breath. Wait, she had her knife. Kicking up her foot, she fumbled for it.

“Now, give me that piece,” he demanded.

Don’t give in, that other voice told her as her hand wrapped around the knife handle.

“No.” The word barely escaped her lips as he choked the air out of her. Grasping the knife, she jabbed it in his hand, praying it would force him to release her.

His face contorted in pain. “Why you little—”

“Leave my sister alone,” Jeff roared. Boom. Boom. Boom. Jeff fired his pistol several times into King Brogan leg.

Again, she jabbed him. Take that. His grip lessened and Noli dropped to the floor with a jarring thud, knife falling to the ground. The knife went back into her boot, then her hand found the piece in her pocket. She must keep it safe.

Several other pistol clicks echoed through the room. Brogan didn’t look up, a hand over his bleeding leg.