Read Online Sixpence & Whiskey by Heather R. Blair - Free Book Online

elementals, too, but of the air. Their emotions as insubstantial as a breath of wind, their hearts light and cold. Fairies can’t hold onto worry or fear for very long, as such they’re rarely nervous. But then again, Jack and Rochie’s bond is undeniable. He’d do damn near anything for her, and strangely enough, I believe that sentiment goes both ways. She’s scared.
    And that scares me, but damn if I’ll show it.
    She’s biting her lip. I take a deep breath and force myself to shrug. “Whatever, Rochie. It’s not like I care anyway.”
    “Once upon a time, you did.”
    I give a snort, turning to face her. “That twisted fairytale is long over.”
    “I know lots of things, Seph.” Her teeny eyes flash indigo at me. “Including the fact that you and Jack are so far from over it’s not funny.”
    “What’s that supposed to mean?”
    She seems to catch herself, looking over her shoulder as a cold wind skitters down Superior Street. Her wings flutter madly, keeping her steady in the gusting air as she turns back to me, her little face pinched as if she’s scared to say another word, but she does anyway. And it knocks me for a loop.
    “Jack’s the one that called Jett, you know. That night.” Rochie folds her arms and glares at me. “He didn’t even take me out of the bag first.”
    I try to hide the way her words rattle me, but it’s hard. “That doesn’t mean anything.” It does, though. It really, really does. I’m just not sure what.
    Shit.
    We’re nearly at the front doors of T&T, in front of the side entrance for Jett’s tattoo shop, Bad Reputation. My sister may be a bitch, but that doesn’t mean she hasn’t got a sense of humor. I step into the alcove and watch Rochie eye the sign above me.
    A devilish look comes over her features. “Wanna make a bet, Seph?”
    I roll my eyes. Never make a bet with a fairy, or a witch for that matter. We cheat. Magic is too easy of a shortcut. But it’s a compulsion I’ve always had a hard time resisting. Rochie knows this. A bet was what got me and Jack started in the first place. Syana bet me I couldn’t get a kiss from him, this sexy older guy.
    It’s pretty safe to say I was on that bet like white on rice. I won, too.
    Rochie smiles, no doubt knowing exactly where my thoughts have headed. “My bet is that you and Jack kiss each other before the week is out.” Her look at me is pure fairy evil. “I lose, and I’ll go spy on the damn wolves for you. Find out what Luna’s up to.”
    Oh, that’s tempting, that is. A fairy would be the perfect spy. And alls I have to do to win is not kiss Jack? Of course, now I’m thinking about kissing Jack, which does more weird things to my belly, but still…not going to happen. On my end of things anyway.
    “You’ll just make Jack do it, so you win.”
    She folds her arms and gives me one of those impatient looks again. “No one makes Jack do shit. You know that.”
    Do I ever. “Okay, so if I lose?”
    “You get a tattoo. With his name.”
    “What? Oh hell no.” Just the thought of a needle near my skin has me shuddering.
    “Wimp.”
    “I thought you wanted me to help him.”
    She gives me a tiny smile. “This will do, for now.
    I think of Jack’s tatts, the spells woven in his skin. “This is some kind of magic trap, isn’t it?”
    “Paranoid much? No. It just amuses me.” She points at the sign above us. “Your sister can do it. I won’t be anywhere around. It’s not like you’re gonna lose anyway, right?” The dare glitters in her eyes.
    I think of werewolf eyes in the night. Thomas’s poor face. The attack that nearly killed Sy. Three dangerous little words come out of my mouth.
    “It’s a bet.”

9
    I can’t sleep.
    I closed the bar down over an hour ago. Sy came over and hung out ‘til midnight, way later than she should’ve with her opening at Beaner’s all week. Having her around definitely helped, but I’m just too keyed up to rest.
    Everything is swirling in my head