Page 82 of Thorn Evermore

“Hey,” Kyson says. “Have you stolen money from here?”

“We do not steal,” she says. “We trade. We left items in its place.”

Kyson gasps softly. “The random rocks and leaves we’ve found around the store. Was that you?”

The female beams with pride. “Yes. Our best forest finds.”

Kyson shakes his head. “How did you get the money?”

“Distraction,” the small one says. “The humans who work at night will run off when they hear a noise and leave their bag of money available. We only took enough to get the things we need in the human realm.”

“And we traded,” the female says again.

Kyson looks at me with the funniest ‘is this really happening’ expression. I have to fight back laughter.

“Okay,” he says, clearing his throat. “Um, the items you left are great, but we really need you to stop taking money.”

“We will never be back if you give us the book,” the female says.

“I need to know more about it,” Kyson says. “What do you know?”

The female growls so the older one takes over the conversation again.

“It is over one hundred years old,” he says. “Owned by a powerful witch who had a vendetta against the fae folk. She felt our magic threatened hers, so she banished every fae she came across. Upon her own death, a hanging—” He grins as though it brings him pleasure. “—the book was lost, passed amongst her descendants. Eventually, it was boxed up and moved to many places. Every time we find it, we discover it has moved on once again. We are going to destroy it.”

Kyson twists his lips, holding the book in his hand. “Tell you what, you give me the money, and I’ll give you the spell, but not the book.”

“No,” the female hisses. “The book.”

“Nooo,” Kyson says, patiently. “It’s mine now, but I appreciate your problem. We’ll tear the spell out so it can’t be used.”

I’m impressed.

The older one steps forward, and I feel Kyson move back just barely.

“What other rules do you have?” the fae asks.

“None. No tricks.” Kyson bends forward slightly. “I’m not fae.”

The older one narrows his eyes, but nods. “Vampires have been known to be true to their word. We accept your offer.”

He grabs for the book, but Kyson holds it back. “What is the name of the spell?”

“Page fourteen,” the older fae hisses. “Faery ring incantation.”

Kyson opens the book, flipping the old pages carefully, pausing when he sees it. “Here it is. “Two pages?”

“Yes,” the younger fae says, craning his neck to see it.

Kyson holds the book up to be inspected by the three fae. The older one nods. “That is it.”

“Okay.” Kyson tears the two offending pages out, handing them to the oldest fae.

The female gazes at the sheets with wide eyes while the younger moves back from them. The older one reads over it, glancing up when he finishes it.

“You have done a kind thing for the fae folk. What may we do for you?”

“Leave the money, please,” Kyson says. “We just need you to follow through and leave New Onyx. Or at least stay out of this store.”