On The Wings Of War: Soulbound V by Turner Hailey

Author:Turner, Hailey
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2020-09-01T16:00:00+00:00

15

A fae dressed in white hot pants, corset, and heels greeted them with a smile at the entrance to the left wing of Smithfield Market. “Welcome, buyers.”

Her bloodred hair matched her nail polish and lipstick, and while she didn’t physically look like your typical fae, she felt like it to Patrick’s magic. She stood beside a small table that held a stack of small leather-bound notepads and pens. She handed one of each to Lucien—who promptly passed them to Carmen—before gesturing at the crowded wing behind her.

“The auction begins in an hour. Until then, please browse the items up for sale. Not all are being displayed.”

Smithfield Market was filled with buyers from all walks of life that lived in the shadows of the preternatural world or skirted its edge. From what Patrick could see, people didn’t mingle so much as give each other wide berths. They stuck to their own groups—human, vampire, fae, magic users, and more—making small talk when they had to. Mostly, everyone browsed the items on offer for the auction.

The small alcoves that filled either side of the wing Rossiter had commandeered to display the auction catalogue usually showed off artwork and sold souvenirs during the day. Tonight, the individual metal security gates were nowhere to be seen. Each counter was draped in black velvet, with a single item of interest held up for prospective buyers to see behind magical shields. Buyers asked questions, making notes in the small leather-bound notebook they’d been issued.

Patrick wanted to go look for the Morrígan’s staff, but the second he took a half step away from Lucien’s Night Court, Einar grabbed him by the elbow with bruising fingers.

“Stay,” the tall vampire hissed at him in a low voice.

Patrick’s first instinct was to argue, but he bit his tongue against the urge. He had a role to play, and he had to remember that adoration of Lucien’s Night Court would get them further than murder.

They were at the auction for one item only, but Lucien made a show of being interested in every object they passed in their meandering walk through the market wing. A scimitar from the ninth century whose gold hilt was inlaid with jewels came with a metal tassel that connected to a thurible. The thurible had been added later, on a different continent according to the written out history pinned to the velvet drape. The small holes in the incense burner had been filled in to trap the djinn said to reside in its golden depths.

“Three wishes to its new owner,” the auction aide said with a wide smile, holding the scimitar in one hand and the thurible in the other. “Guaranteed wealth if you so desire.”

Carmen made a show of writing down the auction number of the scimitar, but nothing else that Patrick could see. He noticed more that wherever Lucien’s curiosity took them, the people nearby paid as much attention to Lucien as they did the items up for sale.

A cluster of Middle Eastern men in

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.