Bound by Faerie: An Urban Fantasy Novel (Stolen Magic Book 1) Read Online Free PDF Page A

She turned away, walking around the room, and I dropped my eyes. Holy crap. Ava'd just told me how old she was. Did that mean I won? I thought so. Self-satisfaction rolled off me; I couldn't help it. So, Ava was seventy years old. I'd always imagined she was older than she looked in human years, but it was nice to know she was still young. It made her fractionally less intimidating.
    "So, about The Morrigan—" I started.
    "Oh, Sophie." She spun around and faced me, her disappointment transparent. "There we were, sharing a moment, and you're all work, work, work. "
    "We were having a moment? What kind of moment?"
    "We were bonding, you and I. Sharing our secrets."
    "Oh," I said.
    "The Morrigan. You still haven't told me what it is you want to know."
    "Everything," I said. I figured it was safer not to reveal exactly what I was looking for, in case Ava truly didn't know; I didn't want her looking into why I needed information on The Morrigan's magic. I found things for a living. So did Ava. If she went digging around, who knew what she'd discover. Also, while I wanted to know about The Morrigan's magic, anything could be useful.
    Ava trailed her fingers over one of the saltwater aquariums crowding the shop walls. They held various sea creatures too injured to remain in the wild. Her pride and joy was the sea turtle with three prosthetic legs. He swam in a massive tank covering the back wall. Inside each of the tanks were treasure chests trapped inside perfect spheres of air, keeping their contents dry. They were propped open to reveal precious gems and other valuable objects. She'd once told me they were actual pieces of sunken treasure. It was a simple magical charm that never ceased to amaze the human customers who frequented her shop in Arcata.
    "I know how you can find what you seek." It was hard not to roll my eyes. Did she talk to all her clients like that? She tapped her chin. "I wonder if you'll be up to the challenge of recovering it."
    "I'll do it," I said. I didn't need to think about it.
    "Hmm." Ava nodded. "You are desperate."
    "It would be nice if you stopped saying that."
    "Even so," Ava returned to her seat at the table, "I wonder how much this is worth to you."
    I scowled at her, understanding what game she was playing now. "You've never pulled the shakedown on me before. If that's how we're going to play this, name a price and I'll pay it. I don't want to play games. It's important to me, but I'm sure I can find the information another way if I have to."
    Her mouth hung agape, so I took that as a sign she didn't want to do business with me and pushed to my feet.
    "Prickly," she observed. "I like it." She did the bunny nose twitch again and pointed at the chair I'd vacated. "Sit. I wasn't talking about money. You've brought me a lot of business from the bureau. I can offer you this advice without charge ."
    My brow crinkled in confusion. I plopped back down in the chair. When I thought about it, I'd never seen many clients in her shop, and the fact that her store was in a human town meant her abilities weren't coveted by the fae. She probably did need the business I brought her. "Then what's with all the vagueness about how much it's worth to me?"
    "I don't expect you'll like what is required," Ava said. "I, however, will find it highly amusing."
    I couldn't imagine Ava "highly amused". Did she make any sound when she laughed? What did Ava find funny? Whatever the case, I told her, "I'll do what it takes."
    "I know a guy." She had the courtesy to bite her lip, like she was attempting to tame her smile, but it was still there, unsettling as anything. "He has a book collection."
    "Sounds like a simple cat burglary job ."
    "It would be, if he didn't have connections in the Unseelie court. Incredibly powerful young fae. His home is enchanted better than any I've seen. It would take you a year to gather the resources to get in, and another year to access the book itself ."
    "What do I have to do?"
    "Get him to take