My mouth dropped open. Keigan gave me a faint smile. I’d known he didn’t like Albert, but he’d never actively said anything about that dislike before. But if Keigan was thinking about quitting, maybe he just didn’t give a shit anymore.
“Tell me about your missing person case,” Keigan said, and I filled him in.
“I don’t think Jerry had anything to do with it, but I need to talk to him anyway. Do you know where he is?”
“I believe he’s in the library.”
“Okay thanks. Uh, I wanted to thank you again for renting me your space.”
He waved a hand, getting to his feet and crossing the office to open his door for me. Keigan’s old-world manners had always both charmed and discomforted me.
“I know you’ll do incredible things with it. Now go find your missing witch.”
5
Danica
If there was one place I missed in the Mage Council, it was the library. It stretched across the entire 6thfloor, the sturdy shelves standing at least ten feet high. Here and there, mages and contractors sat in various nooks, searching for information on their bounties or studying for their exams.
I’d sat in those nooks, learning the best strategies to take down a feral troll, an out-of-control banshee, or a lesser demon who’d killed their summoner.
And if Albert found out Keigan was letting me access the library as his guest, he’d have me thrown out in a heartbeat.
I smiled at one of the librarians, who nodded back as she passed me, a stack of books in her arms. Across the room, Cara was sitting at a table close to the restricted section, and she sent me a wave as I walked in.
Cara was a weapons expert who’d helped me figure out exactly why both a lesser demonanda high demon had been killed by what had seemed like a simple arrow. The answer was the rowan wood hidden within the arrow— one of the demons’ only weaknesses.
I waved back but turned toward one of the small nooks near the window. Jerry was sitting with a contractor I didn’t know well. His name was… Wes? Both of them glanced up as I approached, and Wes gave me such a look of hatred I almost glanced over my shoulder to check if he was really aiming that look my way.
As far as I knew, I hadn’t done anything to personally piss him off.
“I need to talk to you, Jerry.”
Wes narrowed his eyes at me. “We’re busy.”
I didn’t have time for this. “Beat it, or I’ll make you eat that book.”
Wes slowly got to his feet, angling toward me in a way that told me it wason.
“Wes,” Jerry sighed. “Give me a minute.”
The other man hesitated and I merely waited for him to make up his mind. Finally, he glanced around him, as if remembering where the hell he was, then turned and stalked off.
“Well, that was interesting,” I said as I sat in the chair Wes had vacated.
Jerry’s jaw tightened. “How is it that you manage to piss off almost everyone you come across?”
“It’s a natural talent. Plus, I’ve never gone out of my way to piss him off.”
“He hates demons. What are you doing here, Danica?”
“I’m Keigan’s guest.”
He sat back in his chair, his eyes lightening. “Of course you’d get around Albert that way.” He shook his head. “You’re not the most popular person around here, you know.”
“I’ve heard. Listen, I need to ask you some questions.”
“I’m researching for a bounty. I don’t have time.”
