The Wizard of Aether by Heather Massey

Author:Heather Massey
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: victorian historical steampunk fantasy supervillains, wizard fantasy science aether magic bodyguard crush, fake marriage Victorian gangs of London clockwork fugitive thriller inventor chosen one, inventions resistance fake marriage slow burn cross class social justice, charles dickens Victorian London unrequited love angst cross dressing heroine
Publisher: Crackerjack Creatives, LLC
Published: 2021-04-30T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twenty-Two

Priti entered, turned, and closed the door. A black braid hung down her back. She must have more money these days because instead of second-hand clothes she wore a gold-embroidered tunic and red long-drawers.

Hands clasped behind her back, Priti slowly paced the room. Every once in a while, her unforgiving gaze latched onto Ruby. Ruby broke out into a cold, clammy sweat. Clearly, Priti was still upset about her hasty departure.

“Priti, I know my visit comes as a surprise, but—”

“Quiet!” came the low, sharp command.

Eventually, Priti stopped in front of her. Ruby unflinchingly met her former mob sister’s brown-eyed stare even as her gorge roiled with anxiety. Please don’t hate me.

Priti tilted her head to one side. “I have an important decision to make.”

Ruby hadn’t expected Priti to welcome her with open arms, but this was an odd way to start the conversation after all these years. “How do you mean?”

“I’m trying to decide whether to punch you or slap you.”

“What?”

Priti’s palm slammed against her cheek so hard that Ruby’s head whipped sideways. The stinging blow reverberated painfully through her skull.

She cupped her aching face. “Bloody hell, Priti! Was that really necessary?”

“You know damn well it was. You broke my fucking heart!”

Priti shoved her to the floor. Her arse caught the edge of a low table as she went down, adding to her growing list of sore parts.

Ruby looked upward as Priti loomed over her. “I swear, I didn’t mean to hurt you.”

“Your words don’t mean shit, you heartless rotter.”

Then she landed on Ruby’s torso like a sack of bricks. Her breath whooshed out as Priti kneed her in the stomach.

Fucking hell, that hurts. Yet it wasn’t undeserved. As she struggled to catch her breath, Priti boxed her ears. Stinging pain ricocheted from one side of her head to the other.

Ruby grabbed her wrists. “I’m sorry—really sorry. But I’ve come to talk, not fight.”

“You don’t get to dictate the terms.” Priti twisted out of her grasp, tore Ruby’s cap off, and then swatted her face with it. “You have unbelievable gall to waltz back in here as if nothing happened.”

“That ain’t how it is.” She tried to dislodge her, but Priti had her pinned between her powerful thighs. She grabbed the other end of her cap instead, which resulted in a tug-of-war. “I was wrong, I know that now. I want to make amends.”

“You can start by letting go of the fucking cap.”

“I meant let’s talk.” Based on Priti’s reaction, Ruby had a hell of a lot of groveling to do. “I come bearing gifts. And I need to speak with the boss.”

“You’re looking at her!” After releasing the cap, Priti grabbed a fistful of Ruby’s hair and yanked.

She grimaced as the unexpected news sank into her pain-addled scalp. Priti was the leader of the Forty Elephants. A well-deserved promotion.

Yet Priti being the boss complicated her chances of recruiting the Forty Elephants. Priti was right—Ruby had been a heartless rotter. She deserved punishment several times over.

She’d thought their amiable

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