Chapter 38

To keep Remy from pestering me endlessly, I finally let him take me to Ellia's apothecary to get something for the cut on my neck and the lump on the back of my head. Ellia had no customers just then, so she left Finn in the shop's front room and took us to the back for some tea. Alix was sitting at his desk in the corner with his feet up and the chair tipped back on two legs.

"Doesn't he get mud on his paperwork?" I asked Ellia.

"Better there than on my worktable," she replied with a grimace.

Alix dropped his chair with a thump and came to sit with us at the large table in the center of the room. "What have you been up to?" he asked.

"We took care of an Enforcer informant in the guild," Remy said.

Alix's eyebrows shot up. "I wouldn't have thought anyone betraying the Guild of Thieves and Spies would have a long life expectancy."

"He didn't," Remy replied and regarded the cup of tea Ellia placed in front of him with a frown.

"Drink that," Ellia ordered him. "You look gaunt." Then she turned to me. "Aside from getting attacked, how are you doing? Do you need more herbs?"

Remy's head snapped up and he asked. "Are you sick? Why didn't you let that healer check you?"

I felt my face flush and quickly stammered that I was fine. Alix, who was no doubt well acquainted with his wife's after-hours clients, smothered a smile in his teacup. I quickly sought to change the subject. "Remy looks gaunt because a magical artifact has drained him."

Ellia and Alix looked at him with raised eyebrows.

Giving me a disgruntled look, Remy sighed and said, "The object that everyone is so anxious to find demands a physical price to use it. It drains magic from those who have it and, as best we can tell, drains energy from shifters. To the point where we lose weight and need massive amounts of food to recover."

Ellia sat openmouthed while Alix rubbed his chin. "Is that why you were eating so much the other day at the Mug?"

Remy nodded, sipped his tea, and made a face.

"He arrived there yesterday near death," I added. "He ate everything in Ralph's kitchen."

"Don't exaggerate," Remy said, rolling his eyes.

"Should we ask Ralph?" I asked sweetly and batted my lashes.

"Why would you keep using this artifact?" Ellia asked.

Remy shoved his hair back from his face. "It's immensely powerful and in the wrong hands could cause disaster. I'm trying to figure out what to do with it."

"The guild and the Fae Council are out," I said and briefly described Remy's visions. "We need another solution."

"And it can somehow give you the answer?" Alix asked.

"If I ask it a very specific question," Remy responded. "Otherwise, it presents too many possibilities for the mind to comprehend."

"Can't you just ask how to destroy it?"

"Maybe a powerful mage could force it to answer that but not me. It has some level of consciousness and wants to be used. I'm pretty sure it won't willingly show us its destruction."

"It's too dangerous for you to try again," I said. "I'll do it next time."

Remy shook his head. "We've got some idea what it does to shifters and magic users. We don't know how it will affect a human at all. You might not survive."

I stared down at my teacup and twisted it in my hands. Now that I had finally realized how important he was to me, I had no intention of losing him. There had to be another way. I wasn't sure I cared who had the Eye as long as I had Remy.

"Explain exactly what happens when you use it," Ellia said.

Remy told her how he felt after touching the Eye, and I filled in on his physical condition.

"So, it is similar to an opiate that is highly addictive and, in your case at least, it increases the metabolism beyond what your natural reserves can provide. Do I understand correctly?"

We both nodded.

Ellia drummed her fingers on the table. "One of the side effects of some of my medicines is weight gain. I wonder if something like that would slow your metabolism. I might also be able to concoct something to reduce cravings." She stared vacantly across the room, then gave Remy a stern look. "But it wouldn't be a permanent solution, just a temporary fix. You can't keep using this thing."

"I don't want him to use it at all," I murmured.

Ellia reached across the table and patted my hand. "Is there an alternative?"

I slumped in the chair and frowned. "Not really."

Alix said, "Do you have a specific question to ask?"

"Not yet. I'm open to suggestions," Remy said.

"If sea life is at risk, what about the merfolk?" Alix asked.

"Better yet, the selkies," I said, thinking of Keillan and his anger over the chemicals being dumped in the harbor. I addressed Alix. "I helped a selkie escape an Enforcer holding cell, and he seems to be some sort of leader among his people." I turned to Remy. "I'm sure Keillan would help."

"I didn't like the way he looked at you," Remy said.

I gaped at him for a moment. "Seriously? That's what you have to say?"

He just shrugged.

Alix snorted. "I never thought I'd see the day."

"You're no better, dear," Ellia said mildly.

"I'm not. But everyone knows I'm overbearing and possessive. Remy just doesn't give a damn."

"Well, now apparently he does."

Remy gave an exaggerated sigh. "You do know I'm sitting right here, don't you?"

I wanted to hear more about how Remy cared—lots more, actually—but getting this mess resolved was more important. I rapped my knuckles on the table and said, "Can we get back to the Eye of Oris?"

Remy dropped his head into his hands and said, "You're right. The selkies are as good an option as any. Let's finish this."

I waited for Ellia to compound her formulas while Remy left to retrieve the Eye. Having access to enormous quantities of food was essential, so we agreed to meet at The Stony Mug afterward. Ralph would probably cry when we showed up, but no one could think of anyplace better. Administering the herbs was simple enough, and I promised to send Ellia a message if they didn't work and Remy's condition became critical.

When I arrived at the kitchen's back door, delicious smells filled the air, and I realized I hadn't eaten since the apple that morning. Ralph was sliding meat pies into a large oven as Georgie emerged from the cellar storage room carrying a wheel of cheese. The lean man placed it on the table, produced a knife, and began slicing through the wax covering.

Ralph smiled and said, "Pies in a few minutes. Do you want some cheese while you're waiting?"

"That would be grand," I said. "Were you able to replace what Remy ate?"

Ralph straightened from the oven and squinted at me. "I was. Why?"

The kitchen door opened, and Remy moseyed in, hands in pockets and a bow slung over one shoulder.

"Are you adding archery to your knife throwing skills?" I asked.

He smiled and handed me the bow. "This is to replace your old one."

My throat tightened as I accepted it from him. I would have liked to object, but I had no money to buy a new one myself. "Thank you," I whispered.

"Given how bad you are with a blade, I figured you needed it." He smirked and then looked at Ralph.

Ralph crossed his arms and lowered his head to glare at Remy. "Don't tell me you need more food."

"'Fraid so, mate," he said with a cocky grin.

"You look fine to me," Ralph replied.

Remy's expression sobered. "That won't be the case in a little while."

"You're going to use it again?" Ralph's brows lowered, and he pressed his lips into a firm line.

Remy slid onto a stool next to the worktable. "We don't seem to have a choice."

"Is this something I can do for you?"

Remy shook his head. "I've got a better feel for how to use it."

That was true, but I wondered if the Eye's influence was making him reluctant to let anyone else use it.

"This will be the last time," I said and held Remy's gaze. Under no circumstances would I let him risk further contact with the Eye. "If necessary, Ralph, I'll ask you and Petra to take me into the Mystwood Mountains, and we'll find a deep hole to drop it in." I pointed a finger at Remy. "You won't know where it is."

Remy rubbed his eyes and nodded. "Hopefully, we're asking the right question this time."

A voice called from the main room, and I flinched. It was Shirley, and I didn't think I could cope with her right now.

"Ralph, should I…" the half-doors swung open, and Shirley entered the kitchen. "Remy," she squealed, and her lush curves wiggled across the room. She twined her arms around his neck and aimed a kiss for his lips, but missed when he turned his head.

Remy stood and very gently extricated himself from her embrace. Holding her at arm's length, he said, "Shirley, you're a wonderful woman and some man will be very lucky to win your hand." He took a deep breath. "But I'm not that man."

Remy walked over to me and put his arm around my shoulder. I tried to remain expressionless but thought my heart might burst right out of my chest.

Shirley's lower lip stuck out in a pout, before she sighed and said, "I won't pretend I won't miss you in bed, but I need a man who dotes on me." She looked at me and shook her head. "Good luck holding on to him, honey."

"Shirley," Ralph said in a soothing tone, "Georgie will help you get everything ready in the taproom and then we can open for dinner."

Georgie nodded and hooked his arm through Shirley's as he led her back to the main room. Ralph said nothing, but patted Remy on the shoulder before returning to the meat pies. Reluctantly, I moved away from Remy and prepared the herbs Ellia had given me.

Remy took the steaming mug and curled his lip. "By the gods, not more tea. Couldn't she have made something with ale?"

Ralph slid two meat pies on plates and handed them to us. "There's stew on the stove, if you need more."

"We're going to need a lot more after he's finished," I said.

"I figured as much," Ralph said. "We have no other women staying at the moment, so you should go upstairs and use your room. Petra is delivering art to the galleries and won't be home for a while." He started stacking food in large baskets. "Take these with you and call down when you need more."

I walked over and hugged Ralph. Thinking back to my fear of him the first time we met made me blush with embarrassment. "Thank you for all your help."

"Don't mention it," he replied gruffly.

"Don't expect a hug from me," Remy said with a smirk.

"I'd smack you across the room if you tried."