The Dire King (Jackaby #4)(31)

Dragomir gave a gravelly sigh. “I warned your parents about you when you were still small. I saw it in you even then. I am only grateful they did not live long enough to see you turn on your family like this. It would have broken their hearts.”

“That’s enough!” Alina spoke out at last. “Both of you! Some peacekeepers you are. You can’t see each other for five minutes without snarling at each other’s throats.”

Dragomir sneered. “Let him have his way. We will tell our people that their wandering Kazimir has chosen this over his own family. Come, Alina. We are done here.”

“No.” Alina stood rooted to the floorboards. “I lost my father—I am not leaving without my brother.”

“Alina, he’s right,” said Charlie, delicately. “It isn’t safe for you here, not now. You should go back with Uncle.”

“No. Not without you.” She crossed her arms and sat back down on the bench.

“Alina,” Dragomir commanded. “You will do as you are bid!”

“You are not my father,” she said. “And you are not the Suveran, no matter how much you might wish it. I did not travel halfway around the world to watch you two yap at each other and then turn around and go home with my tail between my legs.”

Dragomir’s shoulders rose and fell and he took several slow breaths. “You two are too young to know your own stupidity. I was not much older when your father and I faced the torches and pitchforks in Belgrade. You are not the first of our kind to give them a chance, Kazimir. Our people will never be safe around them.”

Charlie looked down miserably.

“You stood by Father’s side then,” said Alina. “Let me stand by my brother’s now.”

“Argh!” Dragomir shook his head. “You are so much like your mother! I forget sometimes how stubborn she could be. Always so . . . so . . . How do you say . . . ?”

“Dogged.” Alina gave him a sly smile. “I will be safe, Uncle. My Kazimir is here. I will bring him home. He will listen to me.”

Dragomir allowed himself a hint of a smile. He waggled a finger at his niece. “Dogged,” he said. “Yes, you are. Fine. See if you cannot make the idiot pup see reason. I wash my hands of the both of you.”

In spite of his bluster, before he left he cupped Alina’s head in his hands and kissed her forehead. “Ai grija de tine,” he whispered. He straightened his furs haughtily and pulled open the door, pausing once more before he stepped through it. “And you.” He jabbed a finger at Charlie. “Don’t be so stupid.”

“Who’s stupid?” The sound of Hank Hudson’s voice made Dragomir jump. He spun as the trapper mounted the front step right in front of him. “Oh, hey, nice coat. That bearskin?”

Dragomir bristled and pushed past the trapper without reply.

“Ray o’ sunshine, isn’t he?” Hudson jabbed a thumb at Dragomir’s retreating figure. “Well, you ready to hit the road, Chuck?”

“Chuck?” said Alina with a sour face.

“Charlie,” I said.

“His name is Kazimir Caine,” said Alina, watching the trapper with leery eyes.

“News to me,” said Hudson. “Charlie Barker suits our boy just fine.” Hudson patted Charlie firmly on the back. Charlie winced.

“Barker?” Alina raised an eyebrow.

“It is necessary,” Charlie said. “And . . . I sort of like it.”

“So, who’s the little lady?” Hudson asked. “Friend of yours?”

“This is my sister,” Charlie said.

“Okey-dokey. She stayin’ at the house, too?”

“She really should not.” Charlie turned pleadingly back to his sister. “Alina, you can still catch up with Uncle Dragomir—”

“I did not just ride in the belly of a great stinking ship for weeks to go chasing after Uncle Dragomir,” she said. “Are you so eager to leave me again?”

“No, no, it’s not that.” Charlie looked miserably conflicted. “We are in the middle of something very important. Look, if you are going to stay, then stay here at the house. The city is . . . not itself lately. I need to go out for a while, but this house is safest, for now. More or less.”

“Do mind the spriggans on the staircase,” I said. “And the Dangerous Documents section. And avoid the whole north wing of the second floor. In fact, maybe it’s best if you just stay with me. I would be happy to show you around.”

Alina looked at me as though she were deciding whether to swat at me with the heel of her boot or catch me under a drinking glass and shoo me outside. “I am not staying here with this woman,” she said.

“This woman is Abigail Rook,” Charlie said. “And she is my—my friend. I would trust her with my life. In fact, I have. Very recently. Miss Rook, may I formally introduce my sister, Alina.”

“A pleasure,” she mumbled, casting me a smile that could wither daisies.

“I’m sure we’ll get on splendidly,” I said, trying to sound cheery. “I’ll take you to see the duck pond; that might be nice.”

“I have seen duck ponds.”

“Ours is on the third floor,” I said through gritted teeth. “And there are centaurs. Have you seen that?”