After twenty minutes, Seth shifted in his seat, checked the mirror, and glanced at Rhyden. “What’s taking so long? Aren’t you worried?”
“She likes to talk. For all I know she’s getting her nails done.”
“You’re kidding, aren’t you?”
“About the nails? Yep. Hey, I think she’s coming now.” Rhyden opened the car door and got out to meet her. When they entered the backseat together, Esty was smiling broadly.
“Julia’s the nicest person. No wonder Thorn likes her. And she showed me these terrific-smelling lotions.” She held out her arm for Rhyden to sniff.
He took her wrist and inhaled deeply. “Lilacs?”
“Isn’t it heavenly?”
“Yes, you are.”
Esty blushed prettily.
“Um, Esty, what did you learn about James?” Seth asked. “Do you have his last name and address?”
“Oh, sure. James Butler. She wrote his address on the back of her card.” Esty reached in her pocket and handed it to him. “But she said he’s rarely home, so she also wrote down where he works and his favorite bar. She didn’t think he’d be very cooperative.”
“Good job.” Seth gave her an approving smile.
“Did I really do OK?”
“Perfect,” Rhyden said. “How could you be less?”
She gave him a playful look. “Now you’re just being silly, but I’m glad I was able to help. Can I go along when you talk with him?”
“Absolutely not,” Seth answered promptly before Rhyden could raise her hopes. “Your parents would murder us if we took you to a bar. Not to mention what Kam would say.”
“But—”
“No buts,” Rhyden said. “Seth is right. You know that wouldn’t go over at all.”
“Oh, I suppose not, but while we’re in New Orleans, can we at least look around town a bit?”
“I told your mother there wouldn’t be any side excursions.”
Esty sat back, a pout on her face. She was quiet for a while, but by the time they arrived at the office, she’d regained her good humor and demanded a tour of the building and the display rooms. She appealed to Rhyden. “I hardly ever see anything except Ryndel merchandise. I’d love to look at your silks and jewelry.”
“Well…” He looked over her head and met Seth’s laughing gaze. “I didn’t tell her a specific time we’d be back. And it isn’t really a side trip.”
“Oh, good.” Esty clapped her hands. “Then show me everything.”
* * *
Kam woke shortly after noon. She yawned and padded to the shower, rubbing the sleep from her eyes. Four hours wasn’t enough. Especially when last night’s trip to Gormley’s office had been a total bust. She’d irritated Seth for nothing.
She stopped abruptly with one hand on the shower door. Damn. She was supposed to call him this morning and go see that girl. Kam grimaced. She could almost hear another lecture coming. Well, it couldn’t be helped now.
But she hurried through her shower, dressed in jeans and a soft blue blouse, and left for his office. She didn’t call first—too late for that. It would be easier to explain once she was there and ready to do her part.
She went straight to Seth’s office on the sixth floor. He sat at his desk, so focused on his computer screen he didn’t notice her right away. His dark hair was windswept as usual. He’d discarded his jacket, and his shirtsleeves were pushed up to reveal muscular arms. She tried to determine his mood, but his sculptured features disclosed little except an air of confidence. He looked up, and his eyes gave nothing away.
“Kam. I’m surprised to see you.” He leaned back in his chair and looked her over. “That top is a nice color on you.”
“I know I’m late, but I’m ready to interview Rimee’s girlfriend.”
“Already taken care of. Can I get you something to drink? You look tired.” He pushed his intercom. “Coffee or tea?”
“Coffee.” She could definitely use the boost. “You spoke with Julia yourself?”
“No, but we have the necessary information on James Butler. Rhyden and I hope to track him down tonight.”
Kam crossed her legs. “I don’t understand. How’d you find out who he was?”
“I talked to Julia,” said a voice from the doorway.
“Esty,” Rhyden warned.
Kam’s head swung toward the voices. “Esty, what are you doing here?” She got to her feet, looked at Rhyden, then back at Esty, and frowned. “What do you mean you talked to her?”
Esty glanced up at Rhyden and shrugged. “She might as well know.” She turned back and grinned at her sister. “I went to the spa and got the information they needed. It was fun.”
Kam stared at Rhyden in disbelief. “You let her go alone?”
“It’s a women’s spa. No men allowed. Seth and I were right outside.” Rhyden started out strong but he looked less certain under Kam’s deepening scowl.
She turned her head to confront Seth. “You were involved in this? My baby sister has no business doing anything even remotely dangerous.”
“I’m twenty-three, not a baby,” Esty protested.
Seth rose and came around his desk. “She was never in danger. It was a simple, brief interview.”
“About a criminal act. Why Esty? Were you getting even, making a point because I wasn’t at your immediate beck and call?”
Seth’s brows lowered. “Not everything is about you. We wanted the information. Esty agreed to help.”
“And it couldn’t wait for me? You just admitted you aren’t talking with him until tonight, and I’m here now. Plenty of time. You should have waited.”
“How was I supposed to know that? Sometimes it’s days before I hear from you.” Seth clenched his jaw and added brusquely, “If you’re at anybody’s beck and call, it’s Crain’s.”
“That’s unfair. But at least he doesn’t try to bully me.”
“Bully you? Is that what you think of me? I suppose I shouldn’t be surprised when you’re acting like a headstrong child.”
“Stop it!” Esty turning a pleading look on her sister. “I wanted to help. I enjoyed it. If you’re going to be mad, be mad at me.”
“You had no idea what you were getting into,” Kam snapped. “Things can happen. Both of them knew that.”
Seth threw up his hands and walked away to stare out the window.
“Nothing bad happened,” Esty said, chewing on her lip. “It was a nice place, and Julia was…nice.”
“Why don’t I take her home?” Rhyden took Esty’s arm and steered her toward the portal.
“That won’t be necessary.” Kam grabbed her sister’s other arm and pushed Rhyden away. “I’ll take her myself, and I’m informing our parents exactly what you did. I doubt if they’ll be any happier than I am. As for you,” she said glaring at Seth who’d turned to watch the argument, “if you’re so concerned about the guild, keep your nose stuck to business. The portal guards are my problem, and I don’t need your help with the investigation. I’ll deal with it.” She pulled a protesting Esty into the portal, and they disappeared in a swirl of color.
“Did she really mean that?” Rhyden stared at the empty portal area.
“I’m not sure which part you’re referring to.” Seth swept a hand through his hair. “But I think she meant every word. I’m sorry you and Esty got caught in the middle.”
“I should transport over and talk to their mother.”
“Good idea, but I’d wait until Kam leaves. You don’t want another argument with Kam in front of her parents.”
“By the gods, no.” Rhyden shuddered. “I think you’re right. I’ll wait a while. Her mother knew Esty was talking with Julia, but I might not have mentioned her ex-boyfriend was a suspect. Esty’s pretty good at dealing with her mother.” He turned away from the portal. “What about you? Are you going to look for Kam? Try to talk some sense into her?”
Seth shook his head. “No. This fight has been spoiling for weeks. I hate to admit it, but
Kam and I seem to be going different directions.”
Rhyden’s eyes rounded in surprise. “I knew there was some tension, but I didn’t realize it was this serious. Is this about her CIA work?”
“Among other things. We don’t have the same goals anymore.”
“Who changed? Her or you?”
Seth shrugged. “Both maybe. She seems to crave more and more excitement.”
“While you’ve taken on greater family duties,” Rhyden said.
Seth gave him a swift look. “Not anything I didn’t want. We’ve all had to shoulder more since Jermon’s arrest. Everyone has family responsibilities. I’m choosing to live up to mine.”
“Ouch. I guess you’re saying she isn’t.”
“What do you think? Where is she most of the time? It isn’t at the Ryndel Guild or the Antiquities Office.”
Rhyden blew out a breath. “Not that I’m eager for the task, but would it help if I talked to her? Maybe she needs to hear this from a different perspective. She may not realize how much you’re covering for her when she’s gone.”
“She won’t listen.” Seth returned to his desk and sat down. “I’ve tried to talk about it. She just gets defensive. You have enough problems smoothing things over with Esty and her parents. Let me worry about Kam.” He turned back to his computer screen and brought up the report he’d been reading earlier. “I’ll be here when you get back from Elvenrude, and then we can track down Butler.”
“I thought Kam made it clear the portals and the investigation were her territory, not ours.”
“That’s what she said.” Seth continued to focus on the computer screen. “But this incident occurred on our guild property. We have the right to do our own investigation.” His gaze flicked to Rhyden’s face. “Do you disagree?”
“Not me. I’m cool. As long as I don’t have to explain it to Kam.”
CHAPTER FIVE
By the time Kam left her parents’ home in Elvenrude, her temper was spent. Their mother hadn’t been as upset with the Lormarcs as Kam was. And of course Esty had presented the incident in glowing terms, describing the spa, the whirlpools, the wall filled with hundreds of lipstick shades. At first her mother’s complacent attitude had annoyed Kam, but now…
Maybe she’d overplayed the incident and used Esty as a battleground for the growing strain between her and Seth. Had she stepped over the line? Probably. Was she going to apologize and invite him back into the investigation? On a cold day in Hades. Her anger might have cooled, but she certainly wasn’t ready to forget and forgive.
She didn’t need him anyway. Assaults happened all the time in New Orleans. She could handle the matter on her own. It wasn’t a big deal.
In fact, she was more worried about the encounter in the swamp. The presence of a pale-haired commoner on this side of the portal meant there’d been another portal breach, one she and the monitors hadn’t detected. Discussing the incident with Seth—as she’d intended—was out of the question now. She’d take her concerns straight to Brunic.
Instead of heading back to the portal, she turned toward the palace. It was a beautiful late afternoon in Elvenrude. Blue skies, temperate winds. She missed peaceful walks like this when she was in New Orleans.
Brunic wasn’t in his office, but she caught up with him on his way to the King’s Guard training fields. He often went there in the afternoon to assess the new recruits. While most Elite males and a handful of females attended the King’s Guard Academy, only a few each year were offered a career position. Some men—like Seth, Rhyden, and her ex-boyfriend Caleb—enrolled at the Academy for personal training and weren’t interested in law enforcement as a vocation, but Brunic observed the rest of each year’s class and chose the best of the best. She’d been thrilled when he selected her.
“What are you observing today?” she asked as she caught up with him and fell into step.
“Hand-to-hand combat.” He gave her a sideways look. “Any luck on Rimee’s case?”
“Not yet. But something else has me worried. I ran into a commoner in the swamps last night. He was using invisibility magic, and I think there were others with him.”
Brunic stopped and stared at her. “That’s impossible. Commoners can’t wield the ancient magics. And none have gone through the portals since January.”
Kam shrugged. “He sure wasn’t a dark elf. Hair so pale it was silvery-white and eyes that swirled with many colors. Tall, lean. He had an arrogance about him.”
“Maybe a crossbreed?” Brunic frowned. “I’ve never heard of one like you describe. How could he have gotten Cityside?”
“There’s more,” Kam continued. “He spoke ancient Elfish. His ears were still pointed—as if the portal had failed to change them—and he didn’t have the blue portal glow.”
“But—” Brunic closed his mouth and looked down, scowling in thought. “He would have to live Cityside for many years to lose the portal effects. Unless…” He shook his head slowly as if arguing with himself. When he looked up, his eyes were deeply troubled. “I must speak with King Seliwyn immediately.”
Kam hurried to stay at his side as Brunic headed back toward the palace at a ground-eating pace. “What is it? Is there some region of Elvenrude I’ve never heard of? A branch cast off long ago?”
“What makes you ask that?”
“Because he felt like us…but somehow not us.”
Brunic’s face grayed, and he lengthened his stride.
“What? You’re almost scaring me.”
He shook his head. “Not until I’ve spoken with the king.”
Kam chafed with the lack of information, but Brunic wouldn’t budge. She continued to match his stride. “I’m coming with you. Whoever this stranger was, he’s in New Orleans. My territory.”
Brunic swung his head toward her. “No one’s arguing with you.”
Ten minutes later the palace guards admitted them to Seliwyn’s private audience chamber off the third tier of the spiraled stairs. Although smaller than the public chamber, it was just as elegant with a marble floor, silk draperies, and furnishings of polished wood and tapestry.
Kam was surprised to see Princess Theanne leaving through a side door. Seliwyn’s only child had been living at the royal summer residence in Oelwin with her mother for as long as Kam could remember. When elven mates couldn’t get along, they merely lived separately. The princess was a frequent visitor at the palace, but since she was only twenty-one she rarely appeared in the public rooms or engaged in the kingdom’s business.
Kam turned her attention to their monarch. Seliwyn wore a comfortable white linen shirt and pants and had dispensed with the formality of a robe. He smiled in greeting, and the corners of his silver-gray eyes, denoting elven royalty, crinkled at her approach. “Kameo, you really should visit me more often…when there isn’t a crisis. I will begin to dread the sight of you.”
Kam stopped in mid-stride at his bluntness but recovered quickly. “Hopefully this is a minor issue.”
“That isn’t what Brunic’s face is telling me. Out with it, Captain. What’s troubling you?”
“A possible portal breach, your majesty. Or perhaps something worse.” He looked at Kam. “Tell him your story. I want him to hear every detail of your encounter.”
She did so and watched the king’s face run through a variety of emotions from interest to displeasure to disbelief and finally to deep concern. His gaze flitted to Brunic, and they exchanged a long look. “You were wise to bring her to me.” Seliwyn turned and walked to the window. He locked his hands behind his back and stood without speaking for several minutes.
“I had hoped the old tales were behind us,” he finally said. “I was convinced they were. It has been so long.” He turned and approached her. “It’s possible you’ve met remnants of the moon elves. If you recall our early history, they were the ruling class during our so-called golden days on earth. They thought they were superior.”
“But they’ve been gone for thousands of years. Have
n’t they?” Kam lifted her brows at his silent look. “Where do they live? I’ve never seen one before.”
Seliwyn frowned. “I’m getting to that. Thousands of years ago, as man was advancing and taking over earth, our ancestors rebelled against their moon elf rulers. When the humans became too intrusive, we retreated into the portal and created Elvenrude based on our beliefs, our needs, and our sovereignty. It was rumored the moon elves had an escape portal of their own.” He waved a careless hand. “It was a reasonable assumption. They had as much magic as we did… Some of them had more.” He walked over and poured himself a drink from a bourbon bottle on a side table. “Surely you’ve heard most of this, Kameo.”
“About our escape through the portal, yes, but I thought the moon elves—except the poorer ones who came with us—had perished on earth.”
“That was one theory.” He took a large swallow of his drink. “Years went by, then centuries. We made tentative ventures into the world of man. There were no moon elves. When a thousand years and then two thousand passed without contact, we concluded that branch of the elven bloodline had been extinguished or they had sealed their portal forever.” He turned a thoughtful gaze on her. “Now I am forced to consider the possibility they’ve returned. And to wonder what that means. They may pose a greater threat to us than man ever could.”
* * *
At eight o’clock that evening Seth and Rhyden walked down the streets of the French Quarter. Tourists strolled around them, still taking pictures and peering in shop windows. Laughing couples and groups of single males carried drink cups and moved from bar to bar. Seth sidestepped to avoid a man carrying a drink and walking backward while talking with friends. The group’s loud voices and exuberant behavior indicated they’d been partying for a while, and they didn’t seem to notice the near collision.
“How’d it go with Esty’s parents?” Seth asked. “You were gone a long time.”