Page 58 of The Devouring Time

I desperately want to ask her about magic, but I’m not certain how much we want to give away. I look to Adrian, but his attention is focused on her.

“My name is Helen Rath,” she goes on. “I’ve lived in Widdershins all my life, so very little shocks me, if you’re concerned about that. A friend of mine made the mistake of drinking in the wrong speakeasy and fell into a catatonic state. I suspect magic is involved, so I’ve been tracking down the bootleggers responsible. You seem interested in doing the same, so I assume you have a similar story. I propose we pool our resources, unless of course you’re a pair of scoundrels who were after Myers to rub out the competition. If that’s the case, you’re very bad at your job, and should probably find another line of work.”

I blink at her rapid-fire delivery. Should we trust her? She certainly seems open and honest, refreshingly so, even.

She gestures at us. “Now it’s your turn. Who are you, and am I right about our interests aligning?”

Honesty didn’t serve us well at the university…but this woman seems to know, if not everything, at least more than most of the people we’ve encountered.

Adrian gazes at her for a long moment, then turns to me and nods. “If she can help us, it’s worth the risk.”

So we launch into our tale, each of us filling in the other’s gaps. Partway through, the two tabbies wake up and come over to inspect us, and we each end up with one on our laps. I scratch the chin of the one who chose me, taking comfort from the purr vibrating through his sleek body.

“It sounds utterly mad, I know,” I finish.

Helen waves a hand at me. “Not at all.”

“I…it doesn’t?”

“Heavens, no. Not to suggest I know more about the situation than you,” she adds quickly. “I’ve never heard of this Swarm, or Bianca Giuliani. I have heard stories about body-swapping before, though only between two humans, or part-humans.” She frowns off into space, clearly thinking hard.

Unexpected relief creeps through me, and some of the tension seems to ease from my shoulders. Adrian believes me, of course, but having someone I just met, who has no interest in me one way or another, validate what happened…

I don’t know why it matters so much, only that it does.

“As for Anna Lovejoy, her name is familiar, though we don’t move in the same circles. The Salem witches like to act like they’re the font of all magic in the New World.” She rolls her eyes. “I could try writing to her, but I doubt she’ll just hand over one of her books to a minor sorceress from Widdershins.”

Adrian’s eyes widen slightly. “Unleashing the wind the way you did was minor?”

“Well,” she says, looking pleased, “it’s not small potatoes, but I’m no avatar of the living magic, either. Dr. Dane, though—I had a class with her.”

I start to lean forward eagerly, remember I have a cat on my lap who won’t like being disturbed, and resist the impulse. “Can you put in a good word for us?”

“I don’t know if she’ll be patient with tales of body-swapping—she’s a very practical woman—but I can try.” Helen swings her legs for a moment like a child, her brow furrowed with thought. “As for this cult who’s trying to kill you…repeat to me what he said, the one who turned into a pile of gelatinous ooze.”

“One Who is to Come, take this flesh,” Adrian says. “And then something about waking and showing its glory? I can’t recall precisely because things got rather exciting right about then.”

“That doesn’t sound familiar. But I know a lot of people; I’ll ask around and see if anyone recognizes the words.” She stands up, paces a few steps, then goes back to the table before turning to us. “I didn’t think it was going to be simple, finding out what happened to Patricia. But I didn’t imagine it would be quite this…involved.”

She looks down, and I can almost guess what she’s thinking. “That’s your friend?” I ask, as gently as I can.

“Yes.”

“And we don’t know the why behind the Chrysalis, but it’s probably worse than you hoped when you set out to help her.”

“Magic like that is never good,” she says wryly. “But in a way, yes.”

Adrian’s expression softens. “I’m sorry.”

“Thank you.”

I stroke the fur of the cat in my lap. “It sounds as if you have inquiries to make, and we should probably get a hotel room before it grows much later.”

“Of course.” Helen straightens her dress, her manner becoming more businesslike. “I suggest the Widdershins Arms—it’s not as respectable as it once was, but it is very discreet. Which we need, since Myers knows you’re in town nosing about.”

Adrian winces. “I’m usually a better investigator than this.”

“Everyone has bad luck.” She offers him a warm smile, which…