I shook my head in the negative.

“She was the last person to ever be convicted of witchcraft in this country. She went to prison in 1944 for almost releasing information that would have had devastating consequences for the war effort. She came by this information through the illegal practice of magic.” He paused for a moment. “It was a very bad time in our history, Mackenzie. The damage she could have caused might have changed the course of history. There is a good reason why your Lord Alpha is so concerned about rogue shifters. Especially now.”

“He’s not my Lord Alpha,” I protested, although I was struck by the Arch-Mage’s last comment. What did he mean ‘especially now?’

“There is also a good reason as to why we are concerned about rogue mages and why your Mrs Alcoon has been placed under enforced inhibitory gnosis.” He leaned forward. “We do not exist in a vacuum. Every decision we make, every action we take, affects the human world. We need to live side by side with the humans; we need to support them.”

I was slightly puzzled. “Aren’t mages human though?”

“Yes, yes, in a manner of speaking. However we do not refer to ourselves as such. My point, Miss Mackenzie, is that we cannot allow unfettered magical beings, whether they are actual mages or not, to roam around the countryside. We have a duty to keep the peace and maintain the equilibrium.”

“I’m not going to upset the equilibrium! Mrs Alcoon is not going to upset the equilibrium!”

“You say that now, but who knows what may happen in the future? I don’t think even you know what you are capable of.”

I held out both my wrists. “So take me prisoner. I promise I’ll be good and I won’t escape. “ I shrugged. “Or execute me if that’s what you’d prefer. But Mrs Alcoon is innocent. Please let her go.”

The Arch-Mage barked out a laugh. “We don’t want or need to go around imprisoning people. We certainly have no desire to suddenly become executioners.” He wrinkled his nose again. “How distasteful. Besides, Mage Florides has vouched for you and we trust our own. In the interests of safety, however, I will require that you submit to training.”

I was taken aback. “Err, training? What, in magic?”

“Yes,” he said impatiently, “in magic. You will travel to our academy – the location of which is kept secret – and live there full-time until such time as your learning is completed. This will enable you to realise your full potential, whatever that may be, and means that we can impress upon you the consequences of you misusing that potential. You may even learn to trust us and to reveal your true self.” He permitted himself a smile. “You never know, I may be able to help you with it.”

I was pretty sure that as Draco Wyr had supposedly been extinct for centuries, that wasn’t going to happen. “And Mrs Alcoon? What about her?”

“Complete the training to my satisfaction and, once you are done, sign a binding agreement that proves you will not use your powers to harm others, and I will free your Mrs Alcoon. Incidentally, where is she?”

“Tir-na-Nog,” I muttered.

The Arch-Mage looked surprised for the first time. “You are friendly with the Fae?”

I shifted uncomfortably. “Just one of them. But I knew she’d be safe there and you won’t be able to harm her. Alex said that it doesn’t end well for people in her situation.” There was a hint of challenge to my voice.

“And that’s because we concern ourselves with the whole of society, not just the needs and desires of individuals, Miss Mackenzie. I thought I had already explained that.”

“Yes, well, maybe you should ask questions first then act later.” I stopped there, realising that telling off the leader of the Ministry of the Mages probably wouldn’t help. “Can’t you free Mrs Alcoon first? I promise I’ll do this training.”

He snorted. “We need something to make sure you toe the line. You don’t strike me as the type who takes orders easily.”

I opened my mouth to protest but he held up his hand. “This is non-negotiable. I will already have enough trouble as it is for offering you this olive branch.”

I was somewhat surprised at this statement. My experience so far had done nothing to indicate that the Ministry was run as an absolute dictatorship. The idea that there were mages who would disagree with their ‘Magnificence’ did not quite gibe with what I’d seen. Still, as I’d been more successful than I could have hoped for, I decided that I’d just have to grin and bear it. I had the horrible feeling that it would be Mrs Alcoon who would suffer the most from this however.

I looked challengingly at the Arch-Mage. “And the Lord Alpha?”

“I will ask him to leave. Although it might be better if you spoke to him yourself so that he is aware you are not being coerced.”

“I can’t meet him face to face,” I said, “I might be able to use the Voice, though. That should be enough.”

For the second time, the Arch-Mage appeared startled. “You can use the Voice? Not just to answer an alpha but to initiate contact?”

I nodded.

“Are you sure you’re not a shifter?”

I just stared at him.

He looked puzzled, but shrugged. “Very well, I shall lift the nullifying spell that prevents such contact from taking place. Only for five minutes you understand though?”

Ah, I’d been wondering why Corrigan had not tried to use his Voice on me just yet. In fact that probably explained how he’d known where I was in the first place – his previous communication after I’d left the restaurant had been abruptly cut off, probably because of my proximity to the College. It must work in a similar fashion for Solus. I nodded my acquiescence at the mage who moved towards the door.

“Wait,” I said suddenly.

He turned and looked at me questioningly. I guessed that not many people demanded that the Arch-Mage wait but things were kind of going my way. “How long will the training take?”

He smirked. “It usually lasts for five years. It depends on the trainee, really.”

“Five years?” I screeched.

“It’s possible we can fast-track you. It will depend on your progress and abilities. Do you have a choice? Or somewhere else to be?”

I stared at him mutely. He smirked again. I thought about Solus; I couldn’t disappear for five whole years and expect him to continue to look after Mrs Alcoon. Sure, time moved differently in Fae-land and five years for him would pass by in the blink of an eye, but the Fae were fickle. I’d have to talk to him first and solidify our agreement. As for Mrs Alcoon, I’d just have do my best to complete the training as quickly as possible so that she could be freed. What the local police in Inverness would make of her suddenly reappearing after five years’ mysterious disappearance, and after an even more mysterious fire, I had no idea. I’d have to think of something to solve that problem. Perhaps if I played the willing student for a month or two, then the mages would have more faith in me and release her early. I could only hope.

“I will need to make some arrangements first,” I said cautiously.

“Arrangements?”

“If I am going away for up to five years, then there are things that I will need to sort out first. I will do what you want, but you need to give me a day to clear my affairs.” Such as they were. “You have my word that I will return here in twenty-four hours.”

The Arch-mage was silent for a moment, clearly mulling it over. Then, to my relief, he nodded. “Fair enough. You’ve got five minutes now to make your Voice contact with the Lord Alpha then, after he has left, someone will come and fetch you to escort you from the building. I will expect you to return here by this time tomorrow. Goodbye, Miss Mackenzie. But, one other thing before I go.”

“Yeah?”

His eyes grew dark and cloudy. “Don’t fuck up. Or I will kill you.” Then he turned and left.

Chapter Nineteen

After the Arch-Mage left, I pulled myself up to my feet. My hand instinctively went to my cheek. The blood had dried but I had no doubt that the over-eager guard had left a considerably visible bruise. The flesh under my eye was tender and swollen. I sighed and dropped my hand to my side.

Mackenzie?

Here we go. I’m here.

Would you mind explaining to me what the fuck is going on?

I wondered if I was imagining the worry in his Voice. As I believe I’ve mentioned before, I’m no longer part of the Pack. This is not your concern.

It’s my damn concern when the Ministry takes a shifter off the street and holds them against their will.

I tugged at my ponytail, irritably. I came here of my own free will. I’m not a prisoner.

There was a momentary silence before his Voice filled my head again. So tell me why you are here.

The imperious tone was starting to get annoying. No. It’s got nothing to do with you and nothing to do with the Pack. It’s time you left me alone.

I will not allow a rogue shifter to wander around the streets of London making unauthorised deals with the mages! There are rules, Mackenzie.

Screw your rules, Corrigan, and get with the programme. I left so get over it. Go play with the shifters who want you.

Well that’s funny you say that, kitten, because I could swear that when you materialized in my bedroom you wanted me too.

I stiffened. You’ve been Lord Alpha for too long, Corrigan. Your ego is letting your mind play tricks on you.

I don’t think so, sweetheart. But why don’t you come and prove that to me in person. We are in the same building after all.

I’m busy.

He exploded in frustration. Goddamnit, Mack! I need to see you to make sure that you’re alright.

I didn’t quite know how to answer that. I tried very hard to ignore the surge of warmth that his words had caused, quite different to the angry heat of my bloodfire that I was used to. I licked my lips and took a deep breath. And I’ve told you that it’s not your concern.