Chapter 63
CHAPTER SIXTY-THREE
JAX
It feels good to be needed. To work with my girls towards something greater as a team.
What an unusual feeling.
But the most lucrative thing about this whole rescue mission is causing trouble for Talbots. It’s the least Daegel Talbot deserves after forcing me to be his puppet, on and on again.
I was supposed to have my freedom back after the assassination.
Then it was after getting Phoenix kicked out of the trials.
Tomorrow, it’ll be something else.
It’ll never stop. Not unless he’s dead.
While sabotaging this business deal won’t make that happen, at least I hope I’ll cause enough trouble for them to suffer.
Petty, I know. But I never claimed to be noble.
The success of this rescue mission lies on my shoulders. It’s a lot of responsibility.
I can’t fuck this up.
As I leave colorful Bussek behind and enter the grim streets of Kozem, I roll my shoulders to ease some of the tension.
Here, nobody pays attention to you in the streets. Everyone minds their own business. Because if they won’t, there’ll be trouble.
The walk to Fox’s Lair is not long. Gamblers in Jaakii never sleep. So, of course, there are plenty of fae outside the establishment, smoking.
Those folk are curious. Or maybe I look too out of place.
I bet they don’t see such a pretty face as mine here often.
All eyes snap to me when I approach the entrance.
Ignoring their curious glances, I enter the gambling parlor.
Inside, the air is heavy. The sickly sweet scent of ipiom lingers, white tendrils of smoke curling against the low ceiling.
I scrunch my nose, my stomach churning. I’m not a fan of ipiom, or other drugs.
I’m much more a whiskey or vodka guy.
It’s been months, more than that, since I last stepped foot in this gambling parlor.
I hope Madame Mercy misses me.
From the way her sly gaze watches me from across the room, I can’t tell.
“Gadgi. Haven’t seen you for a long while,” she says.
There’s a familiar longing in the tone she uses.
I flash her my most dazzling smile. “Madame Mercy.”
I bow at my waist in front of her. She offers me her hand. I take it into mine and plant a soft kiss on the back of her palm, looking up at her through my lashes.
“It’s been too long if you ask me.”
Her dark eyes glimmer and she retrieves her hand. “It’s been bad for business, Jax.”
Despite being one of the most stunning fae I’ve ever met, with her dark eyes, luscious dark hair that falls in thick waves around her face all the way to her waist, and the most luminous deep olive skin, she’s absolutely terrifying.
Maybe it’s because she’s a Decarios. An outlaw Decarios who refuses to partake in the honorable fate of so many of her kind just as much as she refuses to side with Caligos.
Her refusal to bow to the Order and Caligos, and surviving their might for so many years successfully, has earned her the respect of many. Even outside the bounds of Kozem.
I straighten my back and keep my facial expression mild. She gestures for me to follow her.
“I’ve heard rumors,” she says as she leads me through the main gambling area where most games take place.
We pass a couple of folk chatting with young fae women. Working girls. Not Caetras, far from it.
One would never find a Caetra in a place like this.
“Rumors? About me?” I keep my voice light as a feather. “Do share, my lady. I’m always curious what they speak of me.”
“Of course about you, gadgi. Always about you.”
From her tone of voice I can tell she’s not pleased with me. Ah, getting her help may be harder than I anticipated.
Madame Mercy walks me to the end of the room where, in the dark corner, there are two armchairs. It’s far enough from prying ears but close enough for the gamblers to see her, and for her to see her subjects.
A number of gambling tables are scattered around the room, all packed with women and men rolling the dice, red cards in their hands.
Intimidating-looking men in all-black attire line the perimeter of the space. Their faces are cold as stone. All Decarios, just as their mistress.
It’s noisy, and the air is stuffy. My fingers twitch and I flex my hands. The desire to join one of the games, enjoy the thrill of the game and the win, deserved or not, is hard to resist.
“I’m told you’ve sided with the enemy,” Madame Mercy says, drawing my attention away from the gambling tables to her. “Is that right?”
I place my palm over my chest. “You pain me only by saying it. I would never betray you like that.”
She arches one eyebrow at me. “Sly as a fox, you are. Do you think you can play in my house and I won’t find out about the trouble you got yourself into?”
Ah, there’s no point in lying. She knows.
Part of me is ashamed. I never wanted her to look at me differently, like I was a liability instead of an asset.
“I warned you it would happen,” she says.
“I know, my lady. I was arrogant enough to think it won’t happen to me.”
She clicks her tongue. “Bah! I told you to play smart. To vet your clients thoroughly. To come to me for advice if you suspect anything. And look what your blind arrogance and recklessness did!”
Silently, I take the verbal lashing. Gods know I deserve it.
“You bring Talbots to my door. It’s bad for business, Jax. I don’t want their people in my premises. I don’t want their money, nor their people breathing my air. But you allowed yourself to be lured into one of their machinations, and now you’re in their debt.”
“Madame Mercy, you know me. I have nothing but the utmost respect and admiration for you and your business,” I plead. “It was an honest mistake. I shouldn’t have accepted an offer for a job that sounded too good to be true.”
She purses her heart-shaped cherry-colored lips. “That’s what blind greed does to a man. Because of your stupid head, I lost my best dealer. As I said, bad for business.”
“I know,” I say with a sigh. “But I’m getting out of it. Soon. Talbot reign is coming to an end.”
“That’s a bold claim. The Talbots’ power is growing by the day. And soon, their heir will serve as the Ezkai General.” Madame Mercy looks away. “Once that’s done, we’ll have problems for days. What do you know that I don’t?”
“I know that Daegel Talbot becoming the next Ezkai General is not guaranteed.”
She arches one eyebrow. “Is that so? I wouldn’t underestimate him. He may be young, but he’s an exceptional Decarios and a Talbot, which makes him very dangerous.”
“Oh, I’m aware,” I say, leaning back in my seat. “Yet, he’s not the only one. Trust me when I say his days are numbered. There’s a champion who’ll win against him. That’s all I can share.”
Madame Mercy looks skeptical, of course.
“I’ll be honest, Madame Mercy. I didn’t come here to simply chat, even though I miss seeing your stunning face every day,” I say smoothly. She doesn’t even blink at the compliment. “I came to ask for your help.”
“Ah, now he comes for help.”
“Yes, my lady. I hope you’ll be open to it.”
“What do you want?”
I clear my throat and sharpen my tongue. “Nothing fancy, nor complicated. You run this part of Kozem, am I right?”
She dips her chin slightly.
“All I would need from you is to ensure the streets are empty, all of your men standing by, all Caligos chased away so that only a couple of carriages could come in and out undisturbed. Tomorrow night.”
Madame Mercy looks me up and down, silent. Then she asks, “Is this going to help the said champion win against the Talbot heir?”
“Ah…no, my lady. It’s unrelated.”
Losing interest, she waves her hand in dismissal.
I don’t give up, of course.
“My lady, I hate to do this, but you owe me a favor, if I remember correctly.”
At that, she laughs. “Ah, came to collect so soon? You sure you want to waste my favor on some random thug job?”
“I’m most certain,” I say. From my pocket, I fish out the velvet bag of frade Vera gave me and hold it out for her. “And you will be generously compensated, too.”
Madame Mercy takes the bag from me, the weight heavy in her palm.
“You’re full of surprises, Jax.” After a pause, she adds, “So be it. You’ll have it. Tomorrow night, I’ll have my men guard the area that belongs to me so no Caligos are in the way of these said carriages.”
I rise to my feet, bow at my waist for her, and take her hand again. I press my lips to the back of her palm again, lingering just a moment longer than the last time, before I go.
Why did this woman choose to go by Madame Mercy? There’s nothing merciful about her. She’s sharp as a blade.
It must be the irony of it. She must love mocking the mercy itself.
Whatever her reasoning may be, her help is secured. Our rescue mission is on track.