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“I’m in no hurry, Pearl. Ask as many questions as Mavis is willing to answer.”

Pearl was touched, but she waved her hands, and said “No, no - I could keep us here all day. Please, ignore me and resume your work, Mavis.”

“Ok, but know I love talking about this. Most people just want to get from point A to point B and they don’t care how it happens, so it’s nice to get to share it with someone.” She spent a bit longer pouring over the map and ensuring her calculations, and then asked them both to grab a handle. “I won’t talk from this point on, and I ask that you not talk to me either. But,” she turned to Pearl, “make sure you keep your eyes open. You won’t want to miss the show.” And before Pearl could completely break the rule Mavis had just set and ask a multitude of questions, the ground was no longer under her feet. Instinctively she held tighter to Mavis’ handle and squeezed her eyes shut. It was as though gravity had ceased working on her, and the sensation was terrifying. But after just a few seconds, she felt a large, warm hand grab hold of her free one, and her eyes opened in surprise. Pearl saw Corvus smiling at her, and his eyes cut away from them encouraging her to look out.

As soon as she did, she forgot all about her fear. Whenever she used her magic to travel it was almost instantaneous, but traveling longer distances took time, and seeing the world go by at such speed was like being inside an impressionist painting. The colors bled together in a beautiful kaleidoscope. It was indescribable, but she wished she had the artistic ability to even attempt to capture its beauty. She couldn’t pick out specific places, but she was attempting to guess based on the colors - when she first opened her eyes it was blue - surely that was the English Channel? Then a flash of beach perhaps? And then green countryside gave way to a mishmash of colors that had to be Paris. It felt like she’d been traveling for an eternity and no time at all when they came to a stop, and she kept her hand in Corvus’ to keep herself steady. Yes. Just to keep herself steady. Certainly for no other reason.

Catching her breath she looked at Corvus and Mavis and could only say, “I can see why you love this.”

Mavis beamed. “It really never gets old. Here - take my card - I know this old geezer doesn’t have a mobile, so if you don’t mind texting me when you’re ready. And feel free to text questions about magical transportation any time you like! I’ll be kicking up my feet at a cafe and not even pretending I’m contributing to society in any way. Ta!” And she walked away as though the world was her oyster.

As she watched her walk away, Pearl simply said. “Mavis isn’t what I expected.”

Corvus chortled. “I know exactly what you were expecting. My father’s old transporter was so snobby, I’m confident he never saw the ground, he kept his nose so high in the air. I remember my mother once wanted to go to Venice with a friend, and my mother had to pay him extra just to convince him to take her friend.” He huffed out a breath. “I think when I fired him, it was the only household change in which I had her full support.”

“Did you make a lot of changes?”

Smiling Corvus said, “A few. But anyway, we didn’t come to Paris to talk about household management.”

“I suppose.” She noticed he steered the conversation away from many topics since he’d reentered her life. As though he wanted only sunlight to touch her, and she couldn’t decide how to feel about it. But she let it happen because it wasn’t her role to tell him otherwise. If he wanted to keep the ugly parts to himself, she couldn’t force him to share. Even if it made Pearl feel like she was only getting part of him.

“We’re meeting Simone at her office, which is just down the street.”

Corvus put out an elbow, and she took it - to keep herself warm of course. No fringe benefits whatsoever. She certainly didn’t enjoy the feel of his firm triceps. It was time to distract herself with another question before her imagination ran away with her again. “So, you’re on a first name basis with Simone Moreau?”

That earned her a smile. “Darling, I assume I’m on a first name basis with everyone.”

And that earned him an eye roll. “Very arrogant of you.”

“Maybe I just know my worth?”

“Or maybe no one’s called you out on it before?”

Corvus’ smile widened. “Are you going to? Please do. I do enjoy a Pearl McCoy dressing down.”

Pearl wasn’t sure if he intended it to come out as filthily as it did, or if her mind had just decided to process it that way. All other thoughts left her mind, and she felt her cheeks reddening. Clearing her throat, Pearl tried to respond. “Maybe another day.”

Seeming entirely unaffected, Corvus said, “More’s the pity. And here we are!” He rang a gorgeous doorbell in what was obviously a wealthy part of Paris. The door opened, but no one was standing behind it. Corvus strode in confidently, so Pearl was left to assume this was the way of things and followed behind him. A voice called from down the hall. “I am in my study.”

When Corvus and Pearl arrived at the study, she almost laughed aloud at it being given such a homely name. It had a desk certainly, but this place was a gorgeously appointed library. And based on the books she could see, it was filled with precious texts. It was enough to make Pearl salivate. When she managed to tear her eyes from the room, she found Simone Moreau studying her with a raised eyebrow. “What is this? You bring an uninvited guest to my home?”

“Yes, Simone. I told you I would be bringing a cursebreaker.”

Standing, Simone pointed a pencil at Corvus, which was more intimidating than it had any right to be. “Yes, and I told you that was insulting. As though I cannot tell you if a book is safe or not. If you needed a cursebreaker, I would have told you.”

Lovely. Pearl had been wanting to meet this woman for years, and she was about to be thrown out of her home in less than five minutes. Off to a good start.

But Corvus pushed back. “Oh, I’m sorry. Did I forget? Are you the client or am I?”

“Don’t take that tone with me, Monsieur Winterbourne. I can find another buyer for this book today.”

Corvus’ tone stayed civil, but there was a bite in his words. “I have no doubt that you can, but how much do you imagine you’ll get for it when I share that you insulted both me and my cursebreaker under suspicious circumstances? Seems to me as though thou doth protest too much. Is it perhaps because this book isn’t quite as tame as you would have me believe?”

Pearl couldn’t decide if she was dismayed or entertained by this exchange, but the Shakespeare quote was definitely pushing her towards enjoyment. Pearl was pretty certain that Simone was actually gnashing her teeth. “Be my guest, then. Let’s see what your little cursebreaker can do.” Waving dismissively to a book on a plinth behind her, Simone looked in Pearl’s direction with disdain.

Well, it wasn’t exactly the introduction Pearl had been hoping for, but perhaps there was still time to salvage all of this. Looking at Corvus, he had an encouraging look on his face, and he winked at her when he spotted her looking. So, he had no problem with her giving it a go.

Pearl approached the book cautiously. The malevolence coming from it was strong. She had a thought. “Corvus, are you feeling any unease like the hairs standing up on the back of your neck or like you have the sense someone is watching you?”