Night Rune (Prof Croft Book 8) by Brad Magnarella (best e reader for academics txt) 📕

Bree-yark jumped up. “Yeah, we just stopped by so Everson could, you know, help me carry my things down to the car.” When I turned, the goblin shot me a look that told me to go along with him.

“That’s right,” I said.

“So you’ve found a place?” Mae asked Bree-yark.

“Um, yeah. And I want to get over there today. Set things up and what not.” Bree-yark slid me another look as he took Mae’s hand and kissed the back of it. “I appreciate you letting me keep my stuff here.”

Mae giggled. “Oh, it was no trouble.”

“And once I’m settled, I’d like to take you out to dinner again,” he said. “You know, to say thanks.”

“That would be wonderful.”

Despite everything going on, I couldn’t help but feel a blush of pride that I’d helped get the two of them together—even if it had meant invoking Gretchen’s wrath. They were good for each other.

“Thanks for the coffee,” I said.

“Well, here, let me put them in something to carry with you.”

“Oh, no, no, that won’t be necessary,” I said, but Mae was already tottering across the kitchen and reaching for a cupboard. By the time Bree-yark and I gathered his set of duffle bags from the spare room, Mae had already filled two thermoses and was inserting them into the crook of my left arm.

“Dropsy,” Bree-yark called. “We’re going!”

The lantern reluctantly left her new friend and leapt onto one of Bree-yark’s bags. Buster scuttled after her, rising onto his hind legs and snapping playfully before Mae told him to stop. He backed away with a despondent chirp.

“Remember what I told you,” Mae said to me as she opened the door for us.

“Talk with Vega before I even think about dealing with the demon Arnaud.”

She pinched my cheek. “You’re going to make a fine husband. If you need an old woman for anything, you know who to call.”

“Will do, Mae. And thanks again. This visit did me good.”

“Me too,” she said, glowing. She waved past me at Bree-yark.

When the door closed, Bree-yark said, “I sure do like her.”

“She’s great. But why did you lie back there?”

“Oh, just trying to avoid some awkwardness.” He used his elbow to press the button for the elevator. “At some point she would’ve asked if I’d found a place. I tell her no, and suddenly she’s offering the spare bedroom.”

“What’s wrong with that?”

“She’s old-fashioned, like she said, and I didn’t want to put her in that position. I respect her too much.”

“That’s noble of you.” I meant it, but I hoped he wasn’t leaving himself wiggle room to get back together with Gretchen.

As the elevator door opened and we stepped inside, I could feel just how much the visit had helped. My head was clearer and my body stronger, even carrying twenty pounds of the goblin’s stuff.

Bree-yark had parked his Hummer a block from the apartment, and he swore when he discovered graffiti on the rear door. Given the neighborhood, it could’ve been worse. After loading his duffle bags, we climbed into the front seats.

“So where are you going to stay?” I asked.

“I’ll find somewhere.” Bree-yark started the engine. Because of his short legs, he’d had the Hummer modified with hand-powered gas and brake controls. He worked them now, easing us into traffic. “I saw some hotels just up the way that are pay-by-the-week. Could crash at one of those.”

“Yeah, I wouldn’t.”

“It’s not forever. Can I drop you somewhere?”

“My place, but only if you let me host you.”

“Aw, you don’t have to do that, Everson.”

I could tell by his tone he wasn’t being polite. He really didn’t want to put me out.

“One, I’ve got the space. Two, I’m not old-fashioned like Mae.” That drew a barking chuckle from Bree-yark. “Three, you get along with Tabitha, which is extraordinary. And four, I’m going to ask something in return.”

“Like halves on the rent? No problem. I’d prefer that, in fact.”

“I’m not talking about money,” I said. “I need a favor.”

Bree-yark looked at me sidelong. “What sort of favor?”

“I need you to get me into the Fae Wilds.”

8

“The Fae Wilds?” Bree-yark exclaimed.

“There’s supposedly an exiled fae in there, one who has the power to access time catches.” Seay the fae had brought him up when we’d met as a team and were brainstorming ways to access the time catch. In fact, it was the option the Upholders were preparing to pursue until Osgood arrived to help us. Now that it was clear we couldn’t count on Osgood, I’d been revisiting that horrible option.

Bree-yark shook his head.

“I know it’s crazy,” I said, “but it’s this guy or Arnaud.”

“Have you ever been to the Fae Wilds?”

“No, but I’ve dealt with their creatures up here.”

We were speeding down Central Park West, and I stiffened as Bree-yark overtook a line of cars, swerving at the last second to avoid a horse-drawn carriage. The fae lantern hopped up and down on the console.

“Everson, it’s not the same,” he said. “They’re more powerful in the Wilds, and there are more of them.”

“Well, you claim to have crossed and re-crossed the Wilds a dozen times,” I shot back. “How did you manage it?”

“Being embedded in a thousand-unit army helps.”

“Well … all right, but I have spells and potions.”

“Do you even know who this fae is?”

“His name’s Crusspatch.”

“Gods almighty,” Bree-yark muttered.

“You know him?”

“By reputation, and it’s not good. He’s a crackpot.”

That’s what I’d been afraid of, dammit. In fact, I’d made these very arguments to the Upholders when Seay and Jordan were pumping the idea. It was weird—and yeah, troubling—being on the other side of the debate, going against my own best judgment. But when your only other option was Arnaud…

“And you think he’s just going to help you like that?” Bree-yark snapped his thick fingers, producing a sound like sandpaper. “Even if he agrees, he’s gonna want something in return.”

I’d made that point to the Upholders too.

“He apparently misses delicacies from his former kingdom,” I offered. “That might be all it takes?”

Bree-yark squinted over at me. “C’mon. You really