Tooth and Claw (The Harry Russo Diaries Book 2) by Lisa Emme Read Free Book Online

that they were mainly unaffiliated,” Elder
Angelica added, earning a frown from Elder Marshall.
    The unaffiliated were magic users that didn’t recognize the
Conclave as their governing body. They were basically rogue witches and
mages. Most were just your typical white magic users that felt that the
Conclave was made up of a bunch of doddering old windbags. But a few were
those that dabbled more in the grey area of magic and didn’t want the
Conclave’s oversight. It didn’t really matter, if you were suspected of doing
black magic, whether you were affiliated or not, it was the Conclave’s responsibility
to deal with you. But maybe that wasn’t exactly the case, judging from Elder
Angelica’s attitude.
    “I don’t really see what I can do for you then,” I said,
addressing Elder Marshall’s comments.
    “We’ve come about the Dagger of Asar. It’s missing and we
want it returned.” Elder Marshall’s voice took on an even harsher note.
    “Returned? It was never the Conclave’s in the first
place.” The Elder’s attitude was getting on my nerves.
    “It is a magical artifact and therefore belongs with the
magical community, not with the vampires or werewolves.”
    Ah ha! So now we were getting to the real reason for their
visit. The Dagger of Asar was a very dangerous artifact that let its wielder
assume the powers of another through a black magic ritual.
    “I don’t know what happened to it.” It was a bald lie, but
I wasn’t going to tell him that the dagger was locked in my safe. As far as
I was concerned, no one was getting their hands on it. “You’ll have to check with
the Magister. His people were in charge of the clean-up. What does it matter
if the vampires or werewolves have it? They wouldn’t be able to use it. You
have to be a witch or a mage.”
    “But the vampires do have a witch working with them now,”
Elder Marshall sneered down at me. “Or should I say as a pet?” That was a
direct jab at me and my dubious status as Salvador’s new favourite person of
interest. He wasn’t the first to refer to me as the Magister’s pet.
    “Look, not that it’s any business of yours what my
relationship is or isn’t with the Magister, I am not, nor ever will be, anyone’s
pet. I don’t know what happened to the damn dagger. The last time I saw it,
it was on a straight trajectory towards my heart and I haven’t seen it since.
Now, unless you plan on buying something, I would thank you to get out of my
store. I don’t answer to you. Consider me now unaffiliated.” Huh, I really
don’t know where that last bit came from. I hadn’t planned on saying that.
    “You’re a disgrace to your grandmother, consorting with the
vampires, just like your tramp mother.” Elder Marshall wagged his finger at
me, his face taking on an unhealthy colour of red.
    “Leave my mother out of it, Marshall.” I stepped around the
counter closing the space between us. “Now get out, before I pick you up and
throw you out.”
    “We want that dagger.” Marshall continued on, ignoring my
threat. “We know you know where it is. You can’t…” The rest of what he was
going to say came out more like a yelp as he found himself sliding across the
floor and out the door as if an invisible hand had grabbed him by the front of
his jacket. I could really get to like this telekinesis stuff. It was so much
easier to do when I was angry.
    The door slammed shut behind him. For good measure, I slid
the deadbolt in place from across the room with a flick of my finger. Elder
Angelica, or I guess I could just refer to her as Angelica now, stood with her
mouth open, looking from me to the door and then back again.
    “Now Angelica, will that be all, or can I wrap up one of my
succulent containers for you? I have these cute little pots with Hen and
Chicks.”

Chapter Six

    I was in hell. Surely I must have died and I was in one of
the nine circles of hell, the one where sinners go and have to sit through
endless petitions