The roll top door slid up as Shay pulled inside, shutting off the engine. “Come on, there’s a bed you can use tonight.”
“In here? This is a warehouse.”
“And above ground, and clean, and has an endless supply of pizza.”
Peyton came running over, his hair standing up in tufts on the top of his head from where he had been panicking and running his hands through it.
Shay got out, took one look at him and started to laugh. Just giggles at first but soon she was bent over, catching her breath and every time she looked up, she started laughing again.
Peyton frowned, crossing his arms over his chest even as he glanced over at Lily who waited patiently by the car, not saying a word.
“Okay, an emotional release from not dying, I get it.”
Shay straightened up, a smirk still on her face. “Not almost dying. Used to that, hell, that’s kind of old hat. You look like a cross between a punk rocker and a failed safari guide. It’s not a good look.”
Lily put her hand over her mouth, hiding the start of a smile. Not fast enough for Peyton to miss it.
“Who’s this? We taking in boarders?”
“You aren’t doing anything because you don’t own this place. Lily meet Peyton, he’s my tech guy. Peyton, meet Lily. She’s going to train with me to go on a few missions.” Shay purposely left out any mention of magic. A conversation for a different day.
Peyton’s mouth dropped open and stayed that way for a moment as he looked her up and down. Lily returned the gesture and gave him the finger as she passed by him, following Shay.
“What is it with the women around here? All so hostile.”
Shay rested the leather bag she’d been protecting next to Peyton’s computer. “Tell the buyer, we got the artifact and it’s safe and sound, but I want a bonus for almost getting killed. And Peyton, next time you don’t miss the details, including why there was an army out there at the same time. I want answers on that.”
Shay went into the office and looked around, clearing books off the couch. “Lily, you can stay here till we figure out something better. There’s a full shower and toiletries in the bathroom. Peyton can show you where it is. You can use anything you find in there.”
“Not my Sauvage.” Peyton pointed in the general direction of the large bathroom. Like anything else Shay did, the bathroom was done to her exacting standards with a heated marble floor and an expansive walk-in shower.
“Is that what that smell is?” asked Lily, wrinkling her nose.
“No, that’s Italian sausage pizza. Very funny. I suppose you’re hungry too.”
“How did you two meet?” asked Lily, one eyebrow arched.
“She scooped me up off the street just ahead of a few assassins.”
“A few?” yelled Shay as Peyton did his best to ignore her.
“What about you?”
“I saved her ass… just in front of an army of them.”
Peyton looked back at Shay who shrugged. He looked at Lily and held up his hand for a high-five. “Respect, sister. I’m usually getting her into tight places.”
Shay listened to them get back to bickering all the way to the bathroom. “Like I opened a nursery for the gifted,” she muttered. “But the Ice Witch. Peyton is right, some respect.”
Lily devoured half of a pizza and laid down on the couch, fast asleep in minutes. Peyton went back to quietly working at the computer, occasionally glancing over his shoulder at her.
Shay got up to leave, glad to be headed back to her townhouse as Peyton eased out of his chair and caught up to her.
“That was a bold trust move on your part. Didn’t know you had it in you.”
“I did the same thing with you, if you recall.”
“Not even. You did your research on me, first. You picked this one off the pile and said, come on. What if she was lying about everything?”
“Then I’ll shoot her.”
“I’d laugh because you’re kidding but…”
“Just have her ready to go tomorrow by seven a.m... Her training starts early if she’s going to earn her keep. She’s got a lot of raw talent…”
“And is magical. Yeah, I noticed. I can see what she is, a gray elf.”
“Partial. She’s going to need some training so that she doesn’t fuck up on her first mission.”
“Always thinking. I’ll have her up and full of Eggos by the time you arrive.”
Shay slid into her car, resting against the leather seat.
“Hey Shay, the buyer’s already replied. He wants to meet up with you as soon as possible to get the artifact and lock it away in some dark hole where it’ll never be seen again. He said he’d be at the diner at seven. Goes by the name of Samuel.” Peyton walked over to the car, holding up the bag. He handed it over to Shay along with two slices of pizza wrapped in foil. “For a snack in the bathtub. See, I do know you.”
“Then I’ll be by here by eight,” Shay said with a laugh.
“You could have given me a heads up.” Shay looked across the Formica table at the light elf as he devoured the plate of bacon and eggs. “Do all elves eat like that?”
Shay made a mental note to double the order for the grocery store. Same clean up service picked it up for her and dropped it off, no questions asked and no trace to her.
“What? Maybe…” Samuel wiped the grease off his chin. “Magic burns a lot of calories.”
“You hope.” Shay took a sip of her black coffee. “I think I may envy that more than the magic. You sure you can lock away this artifact for good this time?”
“That’s the goal. It was part of some vault that kept dangerous artifacts and was one of their first deposits. Thing was destroyed about twenty years ago. I’ll be
