The Alchemy of Desire Read Free

the vial and toss it right in the middle of Jean-Baptiste’s face, but a sharp look from his brother stopped him. He flexed the cramps out of his finger. “That won’t be necessary,” he growled. “We’ll get you that goddamned hide.”
    Cager stared at him with his jaw lax. For once, Diah had managed to render his brother speechless.
    “Excellent. That wasn’t too difficult, was it? And you will have your brother to help you, even if he can’t wield magic.” Lamont stood and stowed his wand in his jacket. “I would like the hide before the winter solstice. Now if you will excuse me, messieurs, I have business I need to attend to.”
    Before following Lamont out, the lout scowled at them. The gaslight reflected off his knife in an unspoken threat.
    As soon as the door closed behind them, Cager collapsed into his chair. “Shit! I’m sorry you got pulled into that.”
    Diah jumped to his feet, towering over this brother. He might have been younger and a non-Wielder, but he could beat him into a pulp in a clean fight. “What the hell was that about?”
    Cager looked up. His haunted expression sent chills down Diah’s spine. He always wore that look when someone reminded him of the war, but this time it was more intense than usual. It lingered for maybe ten seconds before the stony mask replaced it. “None of your business, little brother.”
    When he tried to stand, Diah shoved him back down. “If you want my help, you’re gonna have to tell me how you got involved with that snake.”
    Cager’s eyes never left his boots as he replied, “He’s a Wielder, like me. We knew each other from the war. You don’t need to know any more than that.”
    “Bull. I don’t know what you did before I ran into you at Chickamauga, but I have a feeling it has something to do with this. Either you tell me now, Micajah, or I’m going back to Vicksburg.”
    Cager raked his fingers through his hair. “Shit, now you sound like Mom. You nag like her too.” He leaned back into the chair. “Maybe it’s better that you stay home and take care of them. I trust Lamont like I would a well-worn two-bit whore.”
    “You would know.”
    His mouth twitched as if he was trying to hold back his laughter. “Nah, I try to avoid those.”
    “I’m trying to be serious here, Cager.”
    “I’m not an idiot, Diah. I have a pretty good idea what I’ve gotten myself into. But what choice do I have?”
    “You could have let me burn his face off with a vial of black fire.”
    “Yeah, and you would have had his whole family after you. Those Cajuns can be a nasty bunch. They love their gators and don’t mind feeding your fingers and toes to them before finishing you off. With you awake and watching, that is.”
    And Diah thought the tales about Indian torture were brutal. “You know, if you’d just tell me what you did to piss him off, I’d help you.”
    “Nah, I don’t want you helping me because you feel obligated to.” He rose slowly. “I could use a nice glass of bourbon.”
    Anger flared inside him that could rival the boilers below the decks of any steamboat. He grabbed Cager’s shirt and shoved him against the wall. “Why are you avoiding my question? What did you do that was so bad you can’t tell me?”
    “Be careful who you mess with, little brother.” Cager’s hand grazed the top of his disguised wand, reminding Diah that he wasn’t completely defenseless.
    “I may be younger than you, but I’m bigger. Now tell me, or I’ll give some serious thought to dumping you into the river myself.”
    Cager searched his face before laughing. “You don’t have it in you to hurt me. You’re too noble.”
    Diah’s hands went slack. Cager was right. He could never consciously hurt his brother, not after all they’d been through during the war. He released him and stepped back. “You’re gonna have to tell me one day.”
    “Or you’re going to what? Beat it out of me?” Cager smoothed out his shirt and jacket and ran