Read Online Heart of Steam & Rust (Empires of Steam and Rust) by Stephen D. Sullivan - Free Book Online Page B

“Shall we retire, my dear?” Still playing the fool, he said it loud enough to be heard by all those nearby.
    She batted her eyelids coyly.
    He took her arm and led her back across the street to the hotel. Cheers and catcalls of “Give her one for me!” followed them out. Lina gritted her teeth and blocked out the salacious mental images directed her way.
    Pyotr, nearly a head taller than she, gazed down at her affectionately as they walked. But the look— and sentiment—vanished when he noticed the no-nonsense look on her face.
    “We’re not retiring for the night, are we,” he stated.
    “No. I’ve hit on a plan that may gain us more information.”
    “What plan?”
    “I’ll tell you after we reach our room.”
    The hotelier grinned and wished them “The very best of nights!” as they ascended the stair to their chambers. Lina read his mind without even meaning to: He was envious of Pyotr and the honeymoon frolic to come.
    Pyotr’s thoughts, though, remained far from her bridal sweets. As they entered their small suite, worry dominated his brain—worry for the mission, worry for her safety. “What’s the plan?” he asked as he closed the door.
    “I think I might have enough elements to attempt … a spell.”
    “From what I brought you?”
    “Yes.” That pleased him.
    “What kind of spell? The kind you’ve used to root out traitors in the past?” She could see in his mind that he was guessing; the other Lina had never really shared her secrets, but in the time they’d worked together, he had deduced quite a lot. It hardly mattered to Lina whether his deductions were accurate, just that what she said played to those expectations.
    “No,” she replied. “I would need my full equipment for that. This will be something different: a mind-reading spell.”
    “You can do that?”
    “I’ve never attempted it before.” Not via spell, at least . “But I see no other choice. We can’t waste our time trying to befriend these … people. We need the information now.”
    “Do you think that’s wise? It would blow our cover.”
    “The way we’re doing it could take weeks... or longer. I don’t have that time.”
    “You think there will be another attempt on your life?”
    “I’m sure of it. And sooner rather than later. If I can work this, we can call for support from Section headquarters and just march in and start asking questions.”
    “That would be a pleasant change. Why haven’t you tried it previously?”
    “It’s dangerous, and it might not work, but—”
    “But your life is on the line.” He nodded, happy to be taking decisive action. “I understand. How can I help?”
    This is where it got tricky. “You can’t.”
    He took her hand, his warm fingers encircling hers. “I know what you are, Lina—even if you’ve never said it aloud. I am not afraid of … witches—or whatever you prefer to call yourself. Whatever you need, I will do. Whatever I have, it’s yours.”
    “That’s not it,” she explained. “There are elements of my craft that can only be worked when alone. I can’t have you help me. I can’t even have you in the same room.” After all, if he were to observe her faking a magical ritual, he might notice something amiss. He was not stupid, after all, and from his long association with her counterpart, he might know more about magic than she did.
    He nodded, never suspecting her lie. “Very well. Where will you perform your casting?”
    “The parlor. I need sufficient space for the ritual.” She didn’t think the bathroom would be large enough for convincing fakery; later, he needed to see some convincing signs of her “work” to reinforce his belief that she was using supernatural powers, not her own psionic gifts. The parlor would make for a much better display.
    “I’ll wait in the bedroom, then.”
    She shook her head. “It would be better if you waited downstairs, in the hotel lounge.” She didn’t want to chance him peeking in on