Eliza
Getting Sharon’s affairs into order was easier than I expected. She’d arranged everything ahead of time. I realized that when I met Anthony at the courthouse. Among her belongings was the protection pouch I’d given her. It hadn’t worked, and that made me feel even worse.
“She knew she was going to die,” I said, my voice raw.
“It seems that way.” He’d been the one to find the bodies. Sharon’s mother had called the police, worried about her daughter, and Anthony had been first on the scene.
“Are you okay?” I put a hand on his arm.
He shrugged. “I will be. Eventually. At least I’m better than Tommy.”
“What happened to Tommy?”
He lifted one dark eyebrow. “Amanda didn’t tell you? He stopped by to see her last night. She told him she’s going to Vegas in January with that Solomon guy. He’s bad news, Eliza. The police have been trying to catch him for years for crimes ranging from money laundering to drug trafficking. He’s seriously scary. I wondered if there might be another angle. Do you know how Al Capone was arrested for tax evasion, and not for his actual crimes?”
“You think Solomon hasn’t paid his taxes?”
“No, but I wondered if we could dig up something else. I had my friend, Russ, look into him. Russ lives in Vegas. Do you know what he found out?” I shook my head. “Solomon owns a bunch of tigers. Like real, actual tigers.”
“There are supposed to be tigers in the show. Amanda mentioned it.”
“Well, Russ also heard whispers that Solomon mistreats them. He also thinks Solomon might be using the tigers, and the show in Vegas, to cover up some of his money laundering operations. I contacted the police there, and I asked one of the reporters from the paper, Tiffany, to help dig stuff up on him. She’s good at that, finding dirt on people.”
Although I didn’t know what it signified, he sounded faintly amused. “What did she find?” I asked.
“She said it might be hard to get him on the money laundering charges without more evidence, but the laws regarding exotic animals are very clear, and they are different between California and Nevada. Amanda’s buddy Solomon seems unaware of that. He transferred his tigers from Nevada, where it’s legal to own them, to California, where it’s definitely not. California has some of the strictest exotic pet laws in the country, and they’re going after his tigers as soon as they have a warrant. He’s in big trouble.”
“And my sister told Tommy she’s going to Vegas?”
“Yes. You didn’t know?”
I frowned. “She didn’t tell me, which means she’s hiding something. She doesn’t want to go to Vegas, Anthony. She hates Vegas, and she despises those kinds of shows. I suspect her mother is somehow forcing Amanda into it against her will. She’s good at that, and Amanda is always too nice to see when she’s being manipulated.”
Anthony rubbed a hand across his mouth. “Holy Moses. That poor kid.” He shook his head. “And my poor brother. He loves her, you know.”
“She loves him, too.”
“Then why did she run away? Why did she shut him down?”
“She thought he wanted to be a priest.”
Anthony rolled his eyes. “We all knew Tommy was not going to be a priest, especially after your sister came back to town. It was pretty obvious he wasn’t cut out for the cloth, and he told Amanda as much last night.”
“He did?” I frowned as I considered Anthony’s words. If I couldn’t be with Ivan, if I couldn’t have happiness, at least I could find a way for Amanda to be happy. “Something weird is going on here, but I know several things to be true. I know she loves your brother. I know she does not want to go to Vegas. And I know her mother is somehow behind all of this.”
“What can we do about it?”
“I have an old friend from law school. He lives in Los Angeles now. I’m going to see what I can do to get that warrant pushed through. You can figure out how to deal with Solomon. He’s here in Pittsburgh again and I’m wondering if he could be extradited.”
“I can look into that,” he said. “With pleasure. What about Tommy?”
“Can you get him a tux? He has to come to the Yule Ball, and so do you.”
The next few days passed in a blur. The wheels of justice moved slowly, but one connection led to another, and soon we had everything in place. Although Solomon was still in Pittsburgh, his house in California had been raided and his tigers seized by the Department of Fish and Wildlife. They were now happily ensconced in a tiger sanctuary. And although Amanda didn’t know it yet, the show in Vegas was about to be canceled. I didn’t want to share the news with her, though, until all the pieces were in place.
The morning of the ball, I sat at my desk in my bedroom, going over some last-minute items on my laptop, when my father knocked on my door. “May I come in?” he asked. “There is something I’d like to say to you.”
“Sure. What?”
He sat on the edge of my bed, cradling a small, silver box in his hands. For a moment, he was silent, and I waited patiently for him to speak. I had no idea what this might be about. He’d agreed to come to the ball tonight. I hoped he wasn’t having second thoughts.
“I owe you an apology. I have been a total ass. I’ve judged you, made unfair comments, and tried to turn you into a mini-me. You are not a mini-me. You are a you.” He frowned. “That came out wrong, but you understand what I mean. If you want to be a witch, if that’s what’s in your heart, then it’s okay with me.”
If I hadn’t been sitting, I would have fallen to the floor. “Um. Thanks.”
He raised an eyebrow. “Is that all you have to say, Eliza? Normally, you are more verbose.”
“Oh. Okay. When did this happen?”
“It’s been bothering me for a long time, but I couldn’t figure out how to resolve it. Then I saw you with the Dragon Rouge, and it frightened me, but there is more to it than you realize.”
He gave me the silver box, which was square and looked like a music box. Nothing played when I opened it, however. Inside were photos of my mother at a winter solstice celebration, and next to the photos sat an old silver ring with a large ruby in the center. The ruby was engraved with a pentagram. A witch’s ring.
I glanced at my father in surprise, and he smiled. “You’re not like me, sweetheart, but you are like your mother.”
“My mom was a witch?”
“Yes, and when she died…” He closed his eyes, and I understood the pain was still sharp, even after so many years. He cleared his throat. “I was afraid. I never felt comfortable with her beliefs, but I accepted them because it was what she wanted. After she passed, however, I feared for her soul. And when you ended up being a witch, too, my fear amplified. Does that make sense?”
“It does.” I stared at my mother’s beautiful smiling face in the photo as I slipped the ring onto my finger. It fit perfectly. “What made you change your mind?”
“Two things. First of all, I met Helena, and she told me flat out that I was being a fool. Faith is a gift, she said. I was given my faith, and you were given yours. It sounds silly, but when she said that, it all made sense. It snapped into place for me.”
“What was the other thing?”
“Oh. The crows.”
“The what?” A shiver went over my skin.
“The crows. Haven’t you noticed? They’ve been all over the place lately. Crows are an omen.”
“Of death?”
“No. Of change.” He shook his head in bemusement. “Crows indicate an imbalance in your life. If you keep seeing them, it means you have to change something. I saw them and knew what it meant, but I was stubborn. I didn’t want to admit I was the one who had to change. I accept your beliefs, even though I don’t share them, but can we celebrate tonight? Together?”
I gave him a hug, blinking away tears. “Of course, we can. Thanks, Daddy.”
He patted my cheek. “Now put on your pretty dress. I’ll put on my tux. After all, I have a date tonight.” He gave me a wink and walked out the door.
For a long time, I sat and stared at the photo of my mother. Lily Dragonsong. A witch like me. Although sad I never knew this side of her, it made me feel closer to her. A connection I hadn’t known we had.
I put the photo on my dresser, and was about to slip out of my robe, when I felt a cool breeze on my skin and smelled a familiar spicy scent. Without turning around, I knew who was there. “Hello, Ivan,” I said, trying to control the full-body reaction his presence created as I turned to face him. He had on a tux. It wasn’t fair. No one that beautiful should be permitted to wear one. There should be a law against it.
“Hello, Eliza.”
“Still refusing to use the front door, I see.”
He gave me a crooked smile. “Old habits die hard.”
“That’s the truth. Why are you here?”
“I brought you a gift. For winter solstice.” He handed me a package. It was about the size of a shoebox.
“This seems to be the night for unexpected gifts. First my father, and now you. I’m almost scared to find out what’s in here.”
“Just open it, Eliza. Please.”
Placing it on my desk, I tried to compose myself as I opened it. Inside was a sealed plastic box containing the Dragon Rouge.
I looked at him in confusion. He knelt next to me on the floor. “I am returning to you what my brother stole.”
“You didn’t take it?” I asked, my heart pounding.
He shook his head, his hand pressed against my cheek. “No. I would never steal from you. I know you don’t believe me—”
I cut him off with a kiss. “I do. I believe you. Why is it in this box?”
“The box was Gabriel’s idea. He said it’s far too dangerous to be touched directly. He said in a box like this it won’t bother you. Does it bother you?”
“No.” I was right next to the Dragon Rouge but couldn’t hear its dark whispers. I had a million questions, but one stood out more than the others. “Why did he agree to give it back to you? Didn’t he want it for the museum?”
“He did, but I managed to persuade him to give it to me.”
“Persuade?” I narrowed my eyes. “Did you hurt him?”
He seemed genuinely surprised by my question. “Of course not. I wouldn’t hurt my only brother. I told him I would help him acquire other lost antiquities a lot more valuable and less dangerous than this one. Perhaps I know where several are located.”
I held up a hand to stop him. “Don’t tell me. Plausible deniability. But Gabriel isn’t your only brother. What about Peter?
He frowned. “Who?”
My eyes widened. “Oh, Ivan. I’m so sorry. I thought you knew. Mr. Dalca told me you have a younger brother, too, and I thought it was common knowledge.”
“No, it isn’t, but that’s not your fault. My father had many secrets.” He gave me a sad smile. “And I suppose I have many as well, including bastard brothers, a bad reputation, and lots of questionable choices. I’m a changed man, but I do have a past, Eliza. Can you accept that about me?”
“It’s not important what you did in the past. What matters is what you’re doing now.” I bit my lip, studying him. “What are you doing now, Ivan?”
“I’m loving you, Eliza,” he said, with a kiss. “And I always will.”
I tasted the truth on his lips. Felt it on his skin. “I have one question though,” I said between kisses. How did Gabriel get into the vault?”
“Like a magician, a true lockpick never shares his tricks, but I will try to figure it out for you. I don’t want it to happen again.”
“Neither do I. And even if he did steal from me, I’m glad you didn’t hurt your brother.”
He grinned. “It’s the first rule. Harm no one. And the second one is force no one. You haven’t taught me the third one yet, but I know what it is. Deceive no one. That’s important, too.”
I swallowed hard. “Funny you should say that, because there is something we need to discuss.”
I explained to him about the Great Rite, and winter solstice, and how I’d sort of maybe planned to trick him into participating in it. He seemed to find the whole thing amusing. “You thought you’d have to trick me into sleeping with you?”
“It’s more than sex,” I said as he took my hand and led me to the bed. “It’s a spiritual union. A joining of souls. An ancient and—”
He stopped me with a kiss. “I’m in. You do not have to convince me any further.”
I twisted the belt on my satin robe. “Dragostea nu se face cu sila.”
He blinked in surprise. “Love cannot be compelled. When did you learn to speak Romanian?”
“I didn’t. Your aunt Lucinda taught me a few choice things. I’ll share them later, but what I need to say is I don’t want to deceive you. Or trick you. Or control you.”
“What do you want, my sweet Eliza?”
“I just want to love you.”
“Your wish is my command,” he said, undoing his bowtie. He smiled, a grin that was sexy and naughty and perfect. “Yule might be my new favorite holiday.”