Part 20 (1/2)

”You want feet on your house?” Goldie asked.

”No. It's an enchantment that I can use on any door to enter my house. I can do the enchantment on the door, but the house would take months of magical energy to properly layer it. Which means it'll be expensive.”

”That's all?” Charming concluded.

”It's worth it. But you also have to decree that all pract.i.tioners of magic are welcome in your kingdom and will have citizen rights.” I continued, a smile falling on my lips.

”You can't be serious. That is not a decreed that would be possible! The faeries would come down with brimstone!” He gasped, his eyes were wide.

I just waved him off. ”Charming, you leave the faeries to me. If I don't do something about them, I'd be dead quickly anyway. I'll let you know when you can make the declaration. Got it?”

A frown overtook his face, but he nodded. ”Is that all?”

”Do I need to start breaking things here?” Gabbi stepped up, holding the circlet between her fingers and pressing it against her thigh.

”Yes, that's it.” I sighed before turning a hidden eyebrow to Gabbi. ”Well?”

”Oh, yes. Hmmm...” Gabbi tapped a finger to her chin in thought.

”Seriously?” My face grew placid as I groaned. ”You had twenty heart-gus.h.i.+ng minutes to think.”

”I want immunity to your magic.”

”No such thing.”

”Of course there is. I've seen it before.” Gabbi growled and took up the circlet with both hands again before pulling on it lightly.

I started grinding my teeth again. ”I can ward you against my magic but it will only buy you maybe two or three bypa.s.ses on magical spells only from me. And other magic could erode it slightly.”

”What about those entire cities protected by barriers!”

”They use amplifying artifacts, and constantly at least one mage is in contact and concentrating all the time. And that is for a stationary area, you can't imagine the work involved in a moving object, let alone a living person!”

”Fine...” She gave in. ”A ward will have to do then.”

”Give me the circlet then.” I held my hand out again.

”Not until I am warded.” She tossed a completely fake innocent smile.

”Give it to Goldie, then I'll ward you.” I sighed. I had done enough of these give and take negotiations over the years as a Bounty Hunter.

Gabbi pondered for a moment, before tossing the circlet to Goldie. I cringed as the golden-haired thief stumbled with catching it.

”Now, ward me.”

”Say please.” I smiled, my teeth filled with sarcasm while I opened my hand toward Gabbi. My fingers snapped before I pointed to her in the same manner I had done when changing Goldie's outfit.

A spark of rainbow shot from my finger and swirled around her, tightening closer around her until it was practically a second outfit. It s.h.i.+mmered once it had settled then faded entirely from sight.

”That's it?” Gabbi asked, sounding surprised. She hadn't really ever been on the receiving end of my beneficial spells. Well except for the one before she became the wolf.

”That's it.” I concluded before rus.h.i.+ng to Goldie to s.n.a.t.c.h up the crown. I held it for not more than a second before turning and chucking the thing at Gabbi's head.

She caught it with a toothy smile on her lips. ”Careful, that's expensive.”

”This is why I never understand you, Gabs. You rage at me for lying but then just lied yourself!” I bellowed through my teeth and threw my b.l.o.o.d.y arms through the air.

”You said you wanted the circlet.” She shrugged.

”It's not even magical. How could you have Ashe contained in that?” I growled more fiercely.

”Oh, did I say she was in that? You must have misheard me. Or maybe you just jumped to conclusions because I touched it when talking about her?” Her fangs grew through her smile as she tilted her head just barely.

”You set me up.” I said in disbelief.

”Oh, come now, Gnidori. I may not have a magic nose but I could hear you the moment you two were bouncing around on the beams. You should have known I am more aware than most. I'm disappointed in you.” Gabbi's smile overturned into a deep pout-like frown.

I threw all my energy into my speed and yanked an axe from my belt as I shot toward her. She slipped the swipe of my hatchet and grabbed my throat, followed by my wrist. Her hand squeezed until the axe was clanking on the floor as she stared into my eyes, while her own swirled between at least twelve different colors.

”Not so tough when I know you have magic and strength.” She gave me that condescending smile, like she was sorry for me.

I gasped for air before swirling my remaining hand around to punch her in the face. She just opened her mouth and bit down hard on my fist as it came at her.

Quick tears and even quicker cries gushed from me. I could tell she was only enjoying this even more, so my lips shut tight.

She spit my hand out before pulling my face close to hers. Her sharps fangs were jutting out from her frown. ”If that is all you have become while I was away, you aren't even worth my time.”

She then dropped her hand from my wrist and tossed me by the neck across the throne room till I landed on my back. I blocked the pain pouring through my body and pushed myself up from the ground as she turned to just leave like that.

”You aren't leaving here without giving me Ashe!” I roared, trying to copy Bonny's voice.

”Oh, shut it, Red Riding Hood.” Gabbi turned to glance back at me, her face in a snarl. ”Your precious Cinderella is locked up in the cellar below here. A deal is a deal. I gave her back, not entirely whole of course. Go get her, Kurt.”

I half-stood stunned. She never used my t.i.tle, not once. It was like my grandmamma using my full name.

Charming didn't even pause for a moment. He was gone out the ma.s.sive chamber door as quickly as he could with Goldie right alongside him.

”Don't think she is really yours though. She's her own person, Gnidori. She's strong, stronger than you to let her be captive so that you would be safer. She's not property; she's not even a child anymore. And she would do anything for you. A lot of people would. And sometimes you forget that.”

My eyes fell away from Gabbi as I dragged myself to the table she had been flicking food off of earlier. I tore some of the tablecloth before wrapping it around the wounds on my hand and arms to stop up the bleeding.

I mumbled while I did all of this, ”I know. Thank you.”

She forced a deep breath out and glanced over me with a lack of the interest she usually had, and then turned toward the door once more.

”Wait... Gabbi.” I s.h.i.+fted toward her and sighed. My eyes flew up from the wraps on my hand.