Chapter 33

CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE

G wil hunkered down below a low wall. It was now after midnight and Copperpipe's intel had led to Wapping, a part of London he wouldn't usually go near. Not just because it was grim, but the last he'd heard there was a family of trolls running a protection racket and he didn't fancy having his skull caved in on a whim.

Goya, under Flume's orders, had mobilised the Met, and Gwil had tried to persuade Hyax to let them handle it, but he wasn't having any of it and now he was waiting for the orders to go. They were outside a modern square building made up of two storeys, the ground floor having a roller door and giving out auto shop vibes rather than a chemistry lab. "Are you definitely sure they're in there?" he asked, crouched next to Hyax.

"For the fifth time, yes. I can sense Chase and the elf magic is seeping out like pus from a festering boil… it's a bit stomach-turning."

"Surely they must have noticed they've no longer got access to the stone?"

"If they don't then I imagine it's because they're not producing. Once they started making batches it would be obvious." Hyax craned his neck to see what Goya was up to. "Maybe this is downtime."

"I would've thought running up to the new year and all the parties they'd be in prime production mode. Not being able to make enough of the shit."

"That would be leaving things a little late. If they wanted to supply and distribute they would have needed to have stockpiled. Anything they would be making now would be for the new year."

Gwil thought they'd been lucky; with the museum closed to the public there wouldn't be an easy way for the elves to check if they had noticed. Using magic to get in would have given the game away, so perhaps acting quickly enough might be all that was needed.

He'd spotted three warlocks amongst the team gathered and he was certain they weren't part of the police, Hyax was also primed for action and Gwil was beginning to think he'd be better off staying behind the wall if this was going to devolve into spell-slinging.

Two flak-jacketed uniformed officers were now by the front door, a warlock between them and Goya blew his whistle, fucking twat seemingly unable to cope with modern technology.

The front doors were blown open with an impressive bit of magic and the officers charged in, followed by around ten associated hangers-on and another set through the back door.

Hyax stood, using Gwil's shoulder as support. "I think you should stay outside."

Before he could do the chivalrous thing of at least arguing before agreeing, Hyax blew a load of fairy dust in his face. "This batch should work on you. Stay here, I'm not putting you at risk for these fuckers."

He wanted to be incensed by Hyax's treatment and storm after him as the blond fucker charged into the building, but he couldn't bring himself to stand, in fact, sitting here and leaning against the wall seemed the most marvellous thing to do. Shouts and bangs came from inside the building, there was a whizzing noise and something that looked like fireworks from a public display. His head was foggy but he knew he shouldn't move, why he shouldn't was a bit vague, the street lights were so sparkly, like Hyax's lovely wings. Gwil smiled at the thought.

"Oh, what have we here?"

He peered up, to see Chase standing over him. Chase wasn't as pretty as Hyax, nope nowhere near. "Hey."

Chase squatted down and grabbed his chin, he flapped a hand at him but Chase was strong. "Oh dear, His Highness seems to have left his new favourite toy out on the street. Would be a terrible shame if something were to happen to it."

"Oi, I'm not a toy … or an it . Get your paws off me."

Chase's eyes glowed and he saw a silver dagger materialise in his hand. Last time they'd met he was sure Chase couldn't do magic, but he couldn't think straight. "Hyax has been such a pain. He might have his stone back but I think I'll remove a different precious jewel from His Highness. Mind you, his parents might thank me for it."

"You can't kill me, I'm already dead."

"I'm pretty sure if I cut off your head with a silver blade that'll do for you."

Whatever Hyax had blown in his face had left him defenceless and Gwil was going to give him such a bollocking later if he got the chance.

Chase grabbed him by the hair and tugged his head to the side. His skin sizzled as the blade cut into his neck. Then he was gone, yanked backwards and lying prone with Hyax's boot on his throat.

"The only reason you're not dead is because I'll see to it that you suffer creatively for your crimes against the fae state, including attempted murder of the future consort of a fae prince."

Goya was there too, which was probably the real reason Chase wasn't a pile of fairy dust. "Can you bind him?" Goya asked Hyax.

Gwil watched with vague interest as Hyax muttered something and Chase's hands were bound in a pair of golden handcuffs. "That'll limit his magic again too. The elvish magic will wear off in a few days if it's not being topped up and Chase's fae limiters should start working again."

Goya dragged Chase to his feet. "You going to be able to deal with your dopey fucker?" he said pointing at Gwil.

"Yes, now feel free to sod off and do what you need to with Chase. My mother will no doubt send her fae legal team to visit to discuss punishment."

Hyax crouched down as Chase was dragged away. "You're angry with me, aren't you?"

"You blew fairy dust in my face, which left me in a state where I couldn't defend myself from a fucking flower fairy." It would have sounded a lot meaner if he had been able to control his giggles. "Arsehole."

A fizzle of magic accompanied Hyax's fingers stroking his cheek. "You'll feel better in a moment. I couldn't have you rushing inside, those elves play dirty."

"Throwing a load of dust about is pretty underhand as well." His head began to clear. "I'm not a damsel in distress. Or I wouldn't have been if you hadn't put me in that position."

"I'm sorry, Gwil, I thought they'd cornered Chase already but the elves had restored his magic and given him a boost. He gave the warlocks the slip, and when I realised he'd gone, I thought I'd better check up on you in case he'd found you."

Hyax helped him to his feet. "You need to promise you won't do that again, otherwise, we go back to being business partners because I need to trust my lovers not to drug me."

"I didn't do it for nefarious purposes." Hyax didn't look that repentant. "I wanted to protect you."

"There are ways and means of protecting me, and that wasn't it. I mean it, Hyax, don't do it again."

Hyax wrinkled his nose but said, "I won't."

He turned to watch a procession of prisoners being led out of the building, all of them with their hands bound with magical glowing handcuffs and being put into unmarked police vans. "What'll happen to them next?"

"They'll go through due process. Goya will get his wish for them to be tried here, but they'll be punished by the fae."

"I don't think that was what he had in mind."

"He's lucky we haven't opened a portal and pulled them through. Officially, the Elven Assembly are denying all knowledge and saying that these are rogue elves working on their own."

"They might be." Gwil wasn't well-read on elven politics, and if he didn't need to be he'd keep it that way.

"The chances are low that one of the tribes wasn't involved, but I doubt it's provable and there's enough tension between the elves and the fae so neither side will dig too deeply, nor will the elves contest the punishment."

"What about Chase?"

Hyax scowled. "What do you care?"

"No need to pull that look, I'm just interested for fuck's sake."

Hyax bristled. "As this is his second serious offence, you can imagine his punishment will not be pleasant. He was exiled, had his magic limited and he managed to circumvent that, so I would think there will be a great deal of iron in his future."

"Why don't you just execute him, it'll be more humane."

Hyax's look was cold. "Then what will he have learnt?"