Harley Merlin 12 by Bella Forrest (story books to read TXT) 📗

Erebus didn’t have this kind of wattage. So, naturally, it had to be the one and only Lux.

“You mind telling me how you summoned me?” I dangled my legs off the edge of the altar. “Last I checked, your hubby is the only one who can do that to me. Even then, I’m the one who has to do the actual traveling, with this thing.” I took the portal ring from my pocket, where it always stayed until I had to use it, and waggled it at her.

Lux laughed coolly. “He always has hated expending energy at any cost to himself. I hail more from the ‘if you want a job done well, do it yourself’ field of thought.”

“Still not giving me the details here, Lux.” I’d had enough of Children thinking they could do what they liked with me. What if I really had been going to the bathroom? That would’ve been awkward.

“You were touched by me, at that human place of revels,” she explained. “As such, I can summon you at will, much like my husband does. Only, I prefer to create a telepathic link, instead of pulling you physically from the mortal realm and into mine. It saves a great deal of time and effort.”

“Come again?” I gaped at her. “I’m not really here?”

She shrugged. “Yes and no. Your mind is here, but your physical body is where I left it, likely drooling and speechless. I would say that is not much of a change for you, but I am above such childish repartee.”

“That’s like saying, ‘I’m not being offensive, but…’ and then going on to say something really offensive,” I retorted.

“I have not summoned you to indulge in a game of wits, Finch.” Lux paced the temple floor, her body shimmering with shards of light. “I have questions.”

I grimaced. “Why am I not surprised? It was you who helped with Davin, wasn’t it? I friggin’ knew there would be a price for that.”

“I like to ensure that my personal interests are protected,” she replied simply. “And I was not the one who came to your rescue. I sent my Sylphs.”

“Forgive me if I’m wrong, but I thought intervening like that was a major no-no.”

“My creations, as with all Children’s creations, provide a get-out clause of sorts. They are our eyes and ears, and, yes, our force in the mortal realm when we can’t move directly.” Lux shot me a hard stare. “I would have thought you’d be more grateful.”

I echoed her hard stare. “I would’ve, if it had been an act of altruism. But you Children don’t go for that, do you? There’s always a deal here, an exchange there—it’s never something for nothing.”

Her glowing eyes flashed with irritation. “Don’t tar me with the same brush as my husband, Finch. I help my fair share of mortals, without request for anything in return. I do not make a song and dance about it, which is why you likely never hear of my charitable endeavors. My Sylphs aid many people in times of need. But I do not take the credit, nor do I want to.”

“Say that’s true—why is it different with me?” I found her incredibly tricky to read, but the note of genuine affront convinced me she was telling the truth.

Lux sighed. “Because, unfortunately, you have something I need. Information.”

“About what?”

“I want to know why you went to Canada for this Nash Calvert individual,” she replied, returning to business.

“Don’t you already know, if you had eyes and ears on me?” I countered.

“My Sylphs could not hear everything, and there is something about this Nash person that blocks their ability to listen,” Lux explained. “In this instance, you know more than they could discover, which makes you invaluable to me. There will be rewards for that, if you comply.”

I narrowed my eyes. “What kind of rewards?”

“I have yet to decide; it depends on the quality of your information.” Lux wandered to one of the pillars and stared into the vast fields of diamond grass. “Now, why were you there? Who is this Nash fellow?”

I was in her world now, and I got the sense I wouldn’t be leaving until I spilled my guts all over her temple. Not in the literal sense, hopefully. Plus, I owed her for the rescue, even if I hadn’t asked for it. And if she intended to reward me, that put her one step above Erebus in my eyes, who’d never offered so much as a pat on the back for my efforts. Maybe she could break me out of my deal with her lover. The notion was enough to loosen my lips a touch.

“Nash is a Sanguine, with blood from two lines of Atlantean Primus Anglicus. You know, the good stuff,” I said reluctantly. She’d protected me once—I hoped that would extend to saving my skin from Erebus if he ever found out I’d yakked to his wife about his plans.

Lux whirled around. “A Sanguine of Atlantean descent?”

“Bingo.”

“Otherwise known as the key to the Gateway to Atlantis!” Her whole body glowed two notches brighter, forcing me to cover my eyes. “That stupid, stupid fool.”

“How so?” I pressed, but she didn’t answer. She’d returned to pacing, clearly deep in thought about the crafty doo-doo her husband was wading through. “Fine, I’ll just talk to myself.”

Still, Lux said nothing. She simply walked, then stopped, then walked some more, and stopped some more, in super-awkward silence.

Well, this is fun… Squirming in the quiet, I changed tactics.

“Since we’re sharing secrets, why don’t you tell me what this is about? Why is Erebus so set on Atlantis? And why don’t you just talk to him about it, instead of using me as your go-between?”

Lux’s body sparked violently, making me wish I’d kept my trap shut. “The only way to deal with Erebus is through lies, deception, and manipulation,” she spat. “That is how he deals with me, so I pay him back in kind. These measures are the only thing that will get through that