Tales of the Otherworld by Kelley Armstrong Read Free Book Online

which I figured he’d chosen intentionally, sparing the awkwardness of working together in a room with a huge bed. A nice touch, as were the cold drinks and sandwiches he’d had brought up before I arrived.
    Our appointment was for seven. He arrived two minutes early, knocking before letting himself in. He took off his suit jacket, but left his shoes on and didn’t loosen his tie. He was dressed for business, and this was an extension of that.
    He greeted me and asked how I was. Did I have any trouble finding the hotel? Was it satisfactory? Were the snacks to my liking? Nothing remotely personal.
    “Before we begin, we should discuss compensation,” he said.
    “What did you have in mind?”
    “You may set the price.”
    I laughed. “What if I say ten grand a lesson?”
    He took out his wallet. “I presume cash is satisfactory? I’d prefer not to leave a paper trail.”
    As he counted off bills, I tried not to gape. I’d never even
seen
thousand-dollar bills.
    “You’re kidding, right?” I said. “I’m good, but I’m not that good.”
    “No, I’m sure you aren’t.” He held out the money.
    I eyed it. “If I take that, then I owe you, don’t I? Overpay me and I’m in your debt.”
    “Naturally.”
    I plucked one bill from the bunch and pocketed it.
    “Never give anyone the chance to place you in his debt,” he said, folding the remaining bills back into his wallet. “And never miss the opportunity to put him into yours. Now, I believe the next lesson is mine, Ms. Levine.”
    “Eve, please. I know you’re just trying to be respectful, but every time I hear Ms. Levine, I think my mother’s around.”
    “All right then. I’ll return the informality. It’s Kristof.”
    “I bet no one ever calls you Kris, do they?”
    “They don’t.”
    “Do I dare ask what happens if they do?”
    A hint of what could be a smile. “You’d have to try it and find out.”
    “Something tells me that’s a lesson I don’t want to learn.”
    I waved him into the living room.
    I agreed to continue the lessons. There was no reason not to. He was exactly the kind of student I’d expected—hardworking, if not terribly adept. He was like the kid in class whom I would have ignored. Never late. Never off sick. Never overeager or enthusiastic, but dedicated, polite, and respectful, plowing through the work on sheer determination. Boring as hell, with the personality of a department store mannequin.
    I shouldn’t say that. Ruth would have said it was cruel and he didn’t deserve that. I’d take a hundred of Kristof Nast over one of the suburban brats I was teaching. Still, there were times when I wasn’t really sure I was teaching an actual person. Every now and then I’d catch a shimmer of wit or character under that frosty exterior, but it always vanished so fast I was convinced it was just my mind playing tricks.
    The spells Nast wanted to know were simple ones. Too simple. Basic protective magic and healing potions. It made sense to choose easy magic—with his weak spellcasting powers, he wasn’t going to be able tocast stronger witch spells—but this wasn’t the sort of magic needed by a guy with a team of bodyguards and a whole Cabal hospital at his disposal. I began to suspect I really was being wooed as a potential employee—one who does more than spellcasting lessons. Nast’s father had thought he was clever, hiring a witch assassin. Was that his real goal? Groom me as a sleeper agent?
    If it was a killer he wanted, he’d come to the wrong woman. I didn’t have a problem with the concept, but there was a big difference between killing a thug who was already gunning for me and killing a stranger for cash. That’s where I drew the line.
    For now, I was content to teach him simple spells, especially at a grand a pop. The professional advice was a huge bonus. While I appreciated Lavina’s teachings, we didn’t share a similar worldview. Nast’s style was more my own.
    He’d begin or conclude every