The Living End by Craig Schaefer Read Free Book Online

Court of Night-Blooming Flowers sometime in the fifteenth century. She was still pissed about it.
    “Stay your hand, hound,” she said to Caitlin. “I am here as a formal and acknowledged emissary, and I have Prince Sitri’s permission to walk your court’s lands. You can check if you like.”
    “I’ll be doing that,” Caitlin said.
    Corman didn’t lower the shotgun one inch.
    “We’ve got a policy in our store,” he said. “Humans only. The young lady over there? She’s got an exemption. You don’t.”
    Naavarasi smiled at him. “But you liked me when I was Roxy.”
    “That was cruel,” I said. “That was just…that was fucking cruel.”
    She strode toward us. Caitlin put a hand on my shoulder. Gently squeezing, letting me know she was in control.
    “Cruel,” Naavarasi said, “was spinning me a web of pretty little lies. I thought we might have something together, only to discover you still in the Wingtaker’s arms.”
    “I didn’t betray you,” I said. “We bargained for a traitor’s name, and that’s exactly what I gave you. There was no trick there.”
    “Oh, I know, and my standing in the Flowers benefited handsomely for it. Even more so once I realized Prince Sitri tossed away a disposable asset and left a trail of false information for my court to fight over. I’ve milked that and milked it well. Don’t worry. I won’t tell if you won’t.”
    “If you’re here for a fight,” Caitlin said, “you’ll be fighting me. Just so we’re clear.”
    The rakshasi laughed. It sounded like crystal bells.
    “Why would I want a fight? I profited in the end. As one with a trickster’s reputation, I appreciate the value of a good trick. Still, it did hurt my feelings, just a little bit. So, Daniel, I thought I’d come over and hurt you. Just a little bit. Now we can both get over it and move on.”
    Bentley blinked at her, aghast. His talisman’s chain hung knotted in his fingers, like a hand grenade suspended by a cat’s cradle.
    “You came all the way here just for that?” he said.
    “No,” she said, “and not just for the kiss, though it was delicious. I am here on a diplomatic mission, with a request for aid that’s covered by the treaty between our courts. I need a boon, a very small and simple one.”
    “Name it,” Caitlin said.
    “No. Not you.” Naavarasi pointed her finger toward me. “I want
him
to do it.”
    Caitlin shook her head. “Daniel isn’t a member of my court. He’s not subject to our rules or our customs.”
    Naavarasi’s eyes, still a tiger’s, glittered.
    “Oh. So that means he’s not your consort?” she said. “Because…that would mean he’s
anyone’s
meat, wouldn’t it?”

Six
    C aitlin let go of my shoulder and stepped forward, standing in Naavarasi’s way.
    “Whatever you’re thinking, rakshasi…stop thinking it.”
    “What? Me?” Naavarasi pouted, all mock innocence. “The only thing I’m thinking is that I need a boon. And you are treaty-bound to deliver. You can go with him, if it makes you feel better. In fact, I request it.”
    “What’s the job?” I said. I pretended not to notice the sudden looks of concern from Bentley and Corman.
    Naavarasi favored me with a smile. “A member of our court was summoned by a foolish pair of amateur magicians, not far from here. We know that he possessed one of the summoners and likely killed the other. However, he’s been bound in place somehow and hasn’t left the house where he was invoked. I need you to go in, erase any binding sigils, and exorcise him from the idiot’s body so he can return home. I’d do it myself, but my particular style of magic isn’t conducive to such work. Yours is.”
    It was a simple job. I’d done plenty of exorcisms in my day. If the demon was trapped in a botched summoning circle, it’d be safe enough. If he was actually cooperating, even better. I’d be in and out in fifteen minutes.
    Which was exactly why I smelled a trap.
    “What choir does the