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“The ‘good doctor’ attacked us tonight with primitive elemental magic,” he pointed out.
I blinked a couple of times before my eyebrows shot up. “You mean he might have been the one who made the spinner spirit attack the race yesterday?”
Ben nodded. “It’s possible. Someone is certainly responsible for the events of the last few tracts, and what better way to guarantee a winning bet than to control who wins and who loses? By the by, did the good doctor bet on the right company?”
I shuffled through the papers and furrowed my brow. “It looks like he placed his bets on some guy named Enzo Dinari. Do you know him?”
He shook his head. “The name doesn’t sound familiar, but I imagine our trio of friends will be able to tell us something about that individual. Should we go ask them now?”
A deep sigh escaped me and my shoulders slumped. “I think it’s just about time for that book club meeting, isn’t it?”
“Are you sure you’re up to facing Lady Trent and her entourage of like-minded ladies?” he wondered.
I snorted and rubbed one of my arms. “After that cold magic, even the chilly atmosphere of Lady Trent’s brisk manner might feel warm.”
He turned his head to catch my eye in his worried gaze. “Are you feeling well?”
I laughed and patted one of his shoulders. “I’ll be alright after a hot bowl of Tully’s soup. Just don’t go too far so I can escape the meeting as quickly as I can.”
He offered me a smile and a twinkle in his eye. “I will be within call should you need me to come to your rescue.”
I grinned. “Will you show up as you are or as the dashing Dragon Thief?”
He gave me such a grin that I couldn’t help but be reminded of a cat that had caught the bird. “I could show up as such, if you prefer.”
I patted him on the shoulder. “I wouldn’t want to waste your heroics on rescuing me from a worn-out love story plot.”
We drove out of the worn part of the city and into the more upper-class neighborhoods. Gaudy manor houses lined both sides of the street and featured ridiculously large fountains that covered much of their yards, or elegant statues dotted the lawns like gravestone monuments.
The home of the Lady Trent was a Georgian-style structure with vast gardens of ungainly plants out front. The street outside her home was crowded with garish carriages and snooty drivers. However, Ben turned off the main street far before we reached the home and drove us into a narrow alley.
I looked around us as Ben shut off the engine. “Why are we parking here?”
“Lady Trent is not at all fond of thunders,” Ben explained as he climbed out and offered me his hand. “She believes it takes too much of her husband’s attention away from herself, so she loathes both the machines and the races. I didn’t want to give her the wrong first impression of you arriving in one.”
I snorted as he helped me out. “I might prefer that, but thanks for thinking about me.” I made to walk out of the alley, but I noticed my companion wasn’t following me. “Are you coming?”
Ben stood in front of the thunder with his arms folded over his chest. His full attention was settled on the vehicle. “We must conjure a protective magic that will deter anyone from so much as brushing their hands against the thunder.”
My eyes lit up, and a thought struck me. “Something that would scare them away?”
He lifted an eyebrow. “Do you have a suggestion?”
I grinned. “You have some magic in your library that might work. I mean, if it can be applied to a thunder.”
Ben’s eyes lit up and a crooked smile slipped onto his lips. “A brilliant idea. I will have to suggest that to the designers.”
I turned my attention to the well-lit entrance of the alley and sighed. “Well, I’d better be going.” I held out my hand to Ben and smiled at him. “It’s been nice knowing you.”
He grinned and shook my hand. “Likewise.” He tightened his grip on me and yanked me forward. I yelped, which was all I had time to do before he pressed his lips against mine.
By the time we pulled away I was breathless and my cheeks shone like Christmas lights. Ben released me and I pressed my shaking fingers against my warm lips. “W-what was that for?”
His eyes twinkled. “A little incentive to return to me with all your faculties intact.”
“Y-yeah,” I stuttered even as he set something in my palm. I looked down to find it was a tiny vial with a crow inside. “What’s this for?”
Ben winked at me. “The means to escape, should you need me. Merely pop the cork and you will be free.”
