Chapter 99

I hastily stuffed the book on the shelf and scrambled to my feet. Solid as the room was, he remained a flickering figure. There didn't seem to be a bow tie on today's agenda but I got the distinct impression his jacket had patches on the elbows.

I twirled a finger around the room. "I expected more dripping candles and a chandelier made of skulls for Chariot's evil lair."

His brows knitted together and then he barked a laugh. "You think I'm Chariot?"

"Your opening monologue was straight out of some grade B henchman playbook, you took me to a grove with an almond tree, both associated with Asherah, and you warned me off being a Jezebel."

"With good cause. This insanely misguided deduction of yours confirms that you need to spend more time learning to be a detective and much less time playing around with this magic. You're not fit to have it."

"Not fit" sounded suspiciously like he cared who was worthy. "Fuck balls, are you Team Jezebel?"