Bitter Medicine by Mia Tsai

Author:Mia Tsai [Tsai, Mia]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: fantasy, Romance
Publisher: Tachyon Publications
Published: 2023-03-01T08:00:00+00:00

There is a phrase in French that, when translated into English, becomes “so far, so good.” Luc finds that insufficient to describe his current situation, the phrase lacking both the charm and the fatalism of the original. Jusqu’ici tout va bien, he thinks. Until now, everything goes well. And then, in the next second, it will be a catastrophe.

Luc exits the port room in Raleigh and stops by the transportation office, then makes his way down to the garage, where he’s supposed to pick up Elle. He covers a yawn with the hand he’s using to hold the car keys. Unlike her, Luc had spent the rest of the time trying in vain to enter deep sleep, finding it mere moments before Elle had woken with a jolt, almost falling out of bed in her haste to get to work or pack. He hadn’t been sure which.

He affects a nonchalant lean against a wall, taking a position that allows him to view the doors at each end of the hallway, regulating his breathing in order to dispel the jitters rattling around his body. He’d offered to help her move, and in her desperation, she’d accepted. So far, she suspects nothing. All he needs, he reminds himself, is a confirmation of where Tony is. Whether or not Tony remembers him is immaterial. But Luc would feel better if Elle were fully briefed. Like it or not, whether she wants it or not, he’s involved. He closes his eyes, running each possible scenario to its logical conclusion. All of them end with him alone.

This is what it must feel like to be tied to the tracks with a distant train approaching.

He slips his hands into his pockets. His right hand touches the switchblade clipped to the inside of his pocket, the shape of it cold, clinical comfort. His left hand touches his call rune, the wood of it warm from his body. Discipline is what he needs now. There is no threat to him yet.

Movement catches his eye. Luc sees Elle approaching through the half window of the far door, each hand grasping the handle of a suitcase, her shoulders loaded with bags. She smiles at him and he waves back, going to the door to open it for her. He should enjoy his last few moments with her.

“Ready?” Her smile holds an undercurrent of tension.

Jusqu’ici tout va bien. He’ll act like it too. He takes the bags she hands over. “As much as I can be.”

“Me too.” Elle’s face settles into a resolute expression. “You got the directions I sent?”

Luc nods. He should joke around with her. “I can’t express enough how shocked I was to get a text from you.”

“Hey!”

“I thought perhaps you’d draw me a map.”

“Luc!”

“Welcome to the twenty-first century, Agent Mei.”

She puts her hands on her hips, but laughs. “I’m not that backwards! I use my phone!”

“Once per year, or is that too frequent?” He smiles in response to her scowl.

“I use my phone more often than that!” She starts to take a tally, but stops.

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