Read Online Blood and Mistletoe by E. J. Stevens - Free Book Online
Authors: E. J. Stevens
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“I guess I could work from the loft. But are you sure you won’t need my help tracking down this Leanansídhe chick?”
“I’m good,” I said, crossing my fingers. “I’ve got Kaye to help me find Leanansídhe, but I need you to hold Private Eye together and keep our clients happy.”
“Okay,” she said. “But I’m just a phone call away. Ring me if you need anything.”
“Sure thing,” I said.
Jinx swung her scarf over her shoulder and sauntered away. At the end of the hall she stopped and turned back.
“And if you get yourself killed, I’ll be the one using necromancy to bring you back to life, so I can kill you myself,” she said.
With a final flip of her hair, Jinx was gone. I let out a sigh of relief. One friend, at least, would be safe. Now it was time to find out why Marvin was keeping secrets. I rapped on the kitchen door and walked back inside.
Kaye loomed over Marvin who sat on a low stool, looking chagrined. I winced and hoped that the lecture was over. I didn’t want to get between Kaye and her target.
“Come in, Ivy,” Kaye said.
She didn’t turn to see who was standing in her kitchen, but somehow she knew it was me. I never knew with Kaye if it was magic or good instincts, but no one can sneak up on her. Not that I’ve ever tried. I’m impatient, but I’m not suicidal.
I waved to Marvin and leaned against the large plank table that took up most of the hearth side of the room. The kitchen, surrounded by Kaye’s magic circle, was modern and bright, but the hearth area reminded me of an old pub. Not surprising with a brownie in charge of domestic duties. In fact, I wondered where the little guy was hiding. The old coot wasn’t usually timid—he had a badger’s short temper and the mind of an imp.
A flash of brown caught my eye, moving along the shelf by Marvin’s elbow. Sneaky little bugger. Marvin was still holding something behind his back and Hob was trying to get a look. I shook my head. Curiosity would get the best of a brownie every time.
“That’s enough, Hob,” Kaye said, spearing the brownie with her stare. “Now, Marvin, I know you wanted your gift to be a surprise, but Ivy has had a bad day. Perhaps you could give her your present early?”
Hob’s eyes bugged out at the mention of a gift, but he remained where he was. Smart brownie.
Marvin swallowed and held a small bundle out before him. In his large hand was a beautiful pair of gloves.
“For me?” I asked. I sniffed and wiped at the back of my eyes with my sleeve. Jeesh, the wind had been really cold in that alley. Hopefully I wasn’t getting sick.
Marvin nodded and a red hue rose to his cheeks. I stepped forward, but hesitated. Clothing was tricky, since it went against my bare skin, and gloves were the most difficult. If there was a nightmare vision attached to these gloves, I could end up a drooling mess for the holidays. But Marvin was my friend, and I was the closest thing to family the kid had.
I reached out and gingerly lifted the gloves from his palm, trying to smooth a smile across my face.
“Thanks, big guy,” I said. I took a deep breath and pulled off the glove I was wearing and slipped one of the new ones on. It fit…like a glove. And there were no horrible visions attached. In fact, there was something about the gloves that felt familiar.
“Marvin went to a lot of trouble to have those made especially for you,” Kaye said. “Clurichauns are drunkards and fools, but their tailoring skills rival the infamous cobbler skills of their leprechaun cousins.”
I now owned clurichaun crafted gloves? I smiled. That was kind of cool.
“Too drunk for bad thoughts,” Marvin said, nodding.
“Yes, clurichauns remain much too inebriated to leave unhappy energy or focused visions on their wares,” Kaye said. “And Marvin was clever. He asked Jinx for a piece of leather from an old coat you were
“I’m good,” I said, crossing my fingers. “I’ve got Kaye to help me find Leanansídhe, but I need you to hold Private Eye together and keep our clients happy.”
“Okay,” she said. “But I’m just a phone call away. Ring me if you need anything.”
“Sure thing,” I said.
Jinx swung her scarf over her shoulder and sauntered away. At the end of the hall she stopped and turned back.
“And if you get yourself killed, I’ll be the one using necromancy to bring you back to life, so I can kill you myself,” she said.
With a final flip of her hair, Jinx was gone. I let out a sigh of relief. One friend, at least, would be safe. Now it was time to find out why Marvin was keeping secrets. I rapped on the kitchen door and walked back inside.
Kaye loomed over Marvin who sat on a low stool, looking chagrined. I winced and hoped that the lecture was over. I didn’t want to get between Kaye and her target.
“Come in, Ivy,” Kaye said.
She didn’t turn to see who was standing in her kitchen, but somehow she knew it was me. I never knew with Kaye if it was magic or good instincts, but no one can sneak up on her. Not that I’ve ever tried. I’m impatient, but I’m not suicidal.
I waved to Marvin and leaned against the large plank table that took up most of the hearth side of the room. The kitchen, surrounded by Kaye’s magic circle, was modern and bright, but the hearth area reminded me of an old pub. Not surprising with a brownie in charge of domestic duties. In fact, I wondered where the little guy was hiding. The old coot wasn’t usually timid—he had a badger’s short temper and the mind of an imp.
A flash of brown caught my eye, moving along the shelf by Marvin’s elbow. Sneaky little bugger. Marvin was still holding something behind his back and Hob was trying to get a look. I shook my head. Curiosity would get the best of a brownie every time.
“That’s enough, Hob,” Kaye said, spearing the brownie with her stare. “Now, Marvin, I know you wanted your gift to be a surprise, but Ivy has had a bad day. Perhaps you could give her your present early?”
Hob’s eyes bugged out at the mention of a gift, but he remained where he was. Smart brownie.
Marvin swallowed and held a small bundle out before him. In his large hand was a beautiful pair of gloves.
“For me?” I asked. I sniffed and wiped at the back of my eyes with my sleeve. Jeesh, the wind had been really cold in that alley. Hopefully I wasn’t getting sick.
Marvin nodded and a red hue rose to his cheeks. I stepped forward, but hesitated. Clothing was tricky, since it went against my bare skin, and gloves were the most difficult. If there was a nightmare vision attached to these gloves, I could end up a drooling mess for the holidays. But Marvin was my friend, and I was the closest thing to family the kid had.
I reached out and gingerly lifted the gloves from his palm, trying to smooth a smile across my face.
“Thanks, big guy,” I said. I took a deep breath and pulled off the glove I was wearing and slipped one of the new ones on. It fit…like a glove. And there were no horrible visions attached. In fact, there was something about the gloves that felt familiar.
“Marvin went to a lot of trouble to have those made especially for you,” Kaye said. “Clurichauns are drunkards and fools, but their tailoring skills rival the infamous cobbler skills of their leprechaun cousins.”
I now owned clurichaun crafted gloves? I smiled. That was kind of cool.
“Too drunk for bad thoughts,” Marvin said, nodding.
“Yes, clurichauns remain much too inebriated to leave unhappy energy or focused visions on their wares,” Kaye said. “And Marvin was clever. He asked Jinx for a piece of leather from an old coat you were
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