Page 38 of A Kiss of Flame

Barith snorted. “You want to hire Levian to steal for you?” he questioned in disbelief.

“I don’t care for thieves,” Hugh admitted, “but they are required occasionally, and I admit there can be some grey areas depending on the item in question. For example, you obtained the Heart Orb—a feat my cousin and I were both impressed by, given how long it’s been missing. Though it wasn’t precisely yours to take, was it?”

Levian bristled, but Hugh continued. “More importantly, I suspect you care little for the profit its sale would bring you, which means you must have an ulterior motive for going to so much trouble. Perhaps it has something to do with that lying half-fae robbed in Paris who claimed to possess it?”

Her heart fluttered, and she leaned into Barith. Levian could tell that Hugh knew far more than he was hinting at, which unnerved her. It unnerved her because she also had the distinct impression he may know something about her black-masked thieves. “What are you asking of us, exactly?” she pressed.

“We need our property back,” Hugh said. “You want information, I believe. Help us, and we’ll help you.”

Levian eyed him, still suspicious. “You could hire anyone. Why us?”

Hugh smirked and said, “You happen to know the person who can confirm the item’s whereabouts.”

She frowned. “I do?”

Hugh nodded. “We’re not permitted to visit, but his daughter is.”

“No,” she declared flatly. She was in no hurry to see Merlin again, let alone to ask him the location of some item he’d either helped steal or had stolen from the Eldreth himself. She knew it was pointless anyway. He’d never tell her.

Barith snorted. “Ye won’t deal with her because of Merlin, but ye want her to go to him?”

“The details are—” Hugh began.

“Complicated,” Barith scoffed. “Aye, I get it.”

Levian’s skin prickled as the truth seeped in. This was why they’d let her come to Kamár—they had information to dangle in front of her, hoping it would get her to do their dirty work. “My father’s debts aren’t mine,” she spat. “And neither are his problems.”

“Not yet,” Artie declared with a touch of foreboding.

Levian glared at him. “I beg your pardon?”

Artie cut her a look. “Help us, and we’ll help you,” he reiterated. “It’s a simple trade.”

The air around her crackled, and Barith stepped in front of her. “She told ye no,” he said, pulling her toward the door.

“No one else will broker the orb,” Hugh warned them. “One word from us, and no one will touch it. One word from us, and the world will know you have it.”

Her fists clenched and crackled with magick. “So blackmail, is it?” she seethed.

Hugh gave a little shrug. “Not if we can come to an arrangement. We harbor no ill will toward you or Mr. McCroy, but you did come to us,” he reminded her. “You came to do a deal with the Eldreth.”

It was like a punch in the gut. Barith growled menacingly, but Levian touched his arm to calm him. She’d dealt with slimy creatures her whole life, and Hugh was right; she had come to him. Levian knew it was risky. She had no illusions about her father or the Eldreth, but she also knew time was pressing, and she didn’t have many other leads regarding her thieves.

“Fine,” she relented. “But leave Mr. McCroy out of this.” Levian didn’t care what happened to her, but she’d be damned if they let Eldreth drag Barith into it.

Barith grumbled, pulling her back. “Levian, ye don’t need to do this.”

She looked up at him. “This isn’t your fight,” she told him. “I know what we discussed, but this?—”

“Yer daft if ye think I’ll let ye do this alone,” he interrupted. “Though I already think yer daft for trusting these two.”

Artie stood. “We need a decision,” he said. “We have other options if you decline.”

Levian bit her lip, staring up at Barith. He looked worried but determined. If she agreed, he wouldn’t let her go alone, which held her back.

“We’ll do it,” Barith growled. “We’ll get whatever it is back, and you’ll help Levian.”

Her breath hitched. “Barith?—”