Chapter 7 #2
“Easy there.” Jarek lifted both of his hands in defense and held his ground, not even flinching beneath the harshness of her stare. “I have no problem with witches, it’s only that?—”
“That what?” Zoryana spat, drawing out each word with an intentional pause between them.
Jarek nodded toward Everinne, the afternoon sunlight splintering in between the rise and fall of rooftops, dousing them in gold and cloaking him in shadows.
“I would imagine a place like Belladonna’s requires a certain type of disposition, and Everinne doesn’t seem like much of a people-pleaser, does she? ”
Everinne huffed out an annoyed breath.
She wasn’t that terrible.
“Well…” Zoryana weighed Jarek’s words. “When you put it like that…”
“Zory,” Everinne admonished, lightly jabbing her friend in the ribs with her elbow.
“He’s not wrong,” she fired back, pretending to swat her away. Her lips pulled into a small smile. Not a real one though, this one didn’t reach her eyes. She was wearing a mask in front of Jarek, and likely for good reason.
“Then what else do you have in mind?” Everinne liked to think a chocolatier would be a good option for her.
She could work in the back of the shop, not have to deal with customers, and be surrounded by raspberry chocolate creams all day long.
They were her favorite candy, after all.
She shook the dream from her mind, her stomach grumbling in protest. “Because as of today, my brother told me I’m officially on my own. ”
Zoryana sighed, shaking back her spiraling curls from her face. Her shoulders dropped and she gave a half-hearted shrug. “I suppose there’s always the Dancing Nymph.”
Everinne stared at her friend for a full minute before a laugh escaped her, loosening the knot of anxiety in her chest.
“Honestly, Zory.” She sucked in a breath of the cool winter air tinged by the scent of sugared toffee scones and the sea. It was hard to remember the last time she’d laughed. Fully. Freely.
“I might know a place,” Jarek mused, running his knuckles just beneath his left eye so the ruby gems of his skull ring glinted faintly.
“Oh yeah?” Everinne tilted her head and tapped one glittery silver fingernail against her chin. “What kind of place?”
He ran his teeth along his bottom lip, his gaze skimming above her and Zoryana’s heads. The next time he spoke, his voice was lower, barely audible above the hushed call of the wind. “Have you ever heard of the Mystic Obscura?”
The Mystic Obscura.
The name was familiar, but it was the sort of place that could never be found.
Unless one was invited. Whispers of its magic were shared in murmured conversations, stories of its mesmerizing shows were surrounded by gasps and shrouded in awe.
She’d overhead some of the Mystic Obscura’s captivating performances involved females who breathed fire and males who danced on water.
There were contortionists. Illusionists.
Those who partook in a dazzling feat of the death-defying and sensual, a dramatic display of alluring acts.
The Mystic Obscura was an emporium of the extraordinary.
“I hear it’s fantastic,” Zoryana said quietly, her jade eyes wide and sparkling with wonder. “It’s exclusive and enchanting, and entry is only available to those willing to pay the price.”
Jarek nodded. “It’s all those things and more.”
The Mystic Obscura sounded like the perfect place for her. Yet a tingle of apprehension pricked its way down her spine and she shivered. She pinned Jarek with a pointed look. “And you think I should work there?”
His grin was devastating, but the tiny hairs along the back of her neck stood on end.
“I know you could, especially after your performance last night at the Grand Cru.” He leaned close, then winked, his dark lashes highlighting the gold of his eyes. “They have the most beautiful chandeliers you’ve ever seen.”
Everinne eased back, peering up into his face. The handsome planes of his cheekbones gave no tell. There was no hint of mockery, no jest. He truly meant what he said, he thought she could do it.
Intrigued, Everinne considered the demon summoner’s proposition.
Perhaps Veros forcing her to make her own way was more of a blessing than a curse.
She would much rather perform in front of an audience than sell magical baubles to haughty customers all day.
Besides, if the rumors she heard were true, the Mystic Obscura was only open in the evenings, and Everinne thrived at night.
She ducked her chin, burying into her loose sweater, then shifted her weight from one foot to the other. “Do you think you could introduce me to someone? Preferably someone with the authority to hire?”
Jarek adjusted the rolled sleeves of his cuffed shirts, where tattoos of skulls and unrecognizable monsters marked his flesh.
“I can do you one better. I can introduce you to the owner.” Again, he scraped his teeth along his bottom lip, but she forced herself not to look. “She’s a friend of mine.”
“Is that so?” Everinne swallowed the bubble of hope, toying with the tiny amethyst daggers dangling from her ears. She couldn’t show her excitement or her gratitude. Not yet. “If you’re certain you think you can help me, I’d appreciate?—”
Jarek raised his hand, silencing her. “On one condition.”
Her breath caught and Zoryana sidled closer to her. Of course there would be a price. Nothing was ever free.
Wary, she eyed him coolly. “And what’s that?”
“You let me take you out tonight.”
Zoryana snorted, her laughter caught between a giggle and the inability to breathe. She waved a hand in front of her face, fanning herself. “A date. He only wants a date as payment.”
But Jarek’s piercing gaze was latched onto Everinne, holding her captive. “Let me take you to dinner tonight, then we’ll go to the Mystic Obscura to meet Reine.”
Reine.
Everinne filed the owner’s name away in the back of her mind, then she stuck out her hand. “Deal.”
Jarek caught her wrist, slowly letting his cool fingers slide over hers like icy silk. He raised her hand to his mouth, pressing a gentle kiss to her knuckles. “I’ll pick you up at sunset.”
With that, he turned and walked away.
“You don’t even know where I live!” Everinne called after him.
He stilled, tossed a glance at her from over his shoulder, and winked again.
Then he gradually vanished into the sea of merchants, vendors, and patrons, disappearing from sight completely.
Once he was gone, Zoryana grabbed both of Everinne’s shoulders, spinning her so they were face to face. “When did you meet him ? I want to know everything.”
“There’s not much to tell, at least not yet.” Everinne shrugged out of Zoryana’s hold. “Though I imagine I’ll have a story or two tomorrow.”
“Oh, you better.” But then the amusement faded and her eyes darkened, her pupils nearly devouring the pools of brilliant green. “Be careful there, Everinne. His intentions seem genuine enough, but there’s something about his aura, about his vibe, that doesn’t quite sit right with me.”
“Don’t worry,” Everinne assured her, looping their arms together and continuing their stroll through the market square. “I’ll be careful.”
The lie tasted slightly bitter on her tongue.
Everinne might not always be cautious, but no male, demon summoner or otherwise, would dare fuck with her. Not if they knew what was good for them.