Magic Redeemed

Celestina glared at her ruined hair, then glanced at Killian. “I thought you said Tutu lowers the strength of her defenses on test nights so instead of auto-killing her contracted thieves it stuns them.”

Killian shrugged. “She must have forgotten to do it.”

“Likely story,” Gavino muttered.

“Any bets that she was mad he called in this favor?” I slid off Gavino’s back, landing on the ground with a stagger I felt from my heels to my knees.

“On the best of days dragons don’t like giving up treasure under their protection,” Julianne said.

I unzipped my pouch, confirming the jewelry box was still there. “Even though it belongs to me?”

“Even then.”

I clutched the velvet box in one hand and used the other to tug at my black jacket, trying to peel it off my sweaty skin.

The deadly orange light still flooded the lobby at Tutu’s, and I could feel its malevolent intention straining against the building.

Sirens wailed—it sounded like a police car, but it was pretty likely the Curia Cloisters were sending someone out to investigate, too. (There was no way we hadn’t just alerted all of those with magic in the mile radius—Tutu’s defensive spell was too overpowering to even think about cloaking.)

“Check in with the First and Second Knight,” Killian declared. “Then prepare to leave—we’re pulling out before those guards wake up.”

Gavino frowned. “They survived that?” He beckoned back at the still-glowing lobby.

“Tutu’s people are all granted immunity to her spells during their shifts,” Killian said.

The vampires meandered toward the knights. I, however, stepped closer to the street. There was a faint magical signal. It was nearly unnoticeable thanks to the blazing sun of magic behind me, but it was a faint itch I couldn’t scratch.

I closed my eyes as I tried to isolate the feeling. Was it wizard magic? Dragon shifter magic? Or something else…

I wouldn’t have known Killian came to stand by me, except that he sighed slightly.

“There’s something out there,” I said. “I think it’s fae magic.” I peeled my eyes open and squinted into the darkness.

“There.” Killian pointed to an alleyway.

I saw a flash of light—the fae magic I think—that briefly illuminated a willowy figure as it retreated.

“The Night Court?” I asked.

“Most likely,” Killian said.

I clutched my jewelry box. “They sure are obsessed with you.”

Killian turned to address his underlings. “Rupert,” he said. “You’re with me. The rest of you, go. We’ll meet back at Drake Hall once we finish here.”

I thought I kept my mouth shut tight enough, but Killian must have heard my noise of protest. He swung back around to face me. “We’ll need a way to get back, and Rupert drove here.”

“So did Celestina and Josh.”

“They need to watch over the others.” Killian didn’t even look both ways before he strode across the street. “Keep up, Hazel.”

“Didn’t we already have enough fun for one night?” I pointedly looked up and down the street, then jogged after him.

Rupert trailed behind me, his expression watchful as he joined us at the mouth of the alleyway.

“Fae scout,” Killian told Rupert. “We’ll follow it for a little while, but keep our distance—it could be an ambush.”

“The Night Court needs hobbies. Or something more to do.” I picked my way through the alleyway trash—which reeked of dirty diapers. “How can they possibly have this much time on their hands?”

“Poor rulers who lack ambition but have ample amounts of pride,” Killian answered.

We popped out of the alley and followed the fae’s trail—or what Killian assured me was the fae’s trail—through a zigzag of blocks, until we came to a small courtyard.

“I feel magic again,” I announced as I stood at the courtyard edge.

“Fae?” Killian asked.

“No. Wizard magic?” I scrunched my nose as I tried to pin down the feeling.

“Are you sure you aren’t sensing your own magic?” Rupert asked.

I frowned at him. “How would that even be possible?”

“Inferior skills.”

“Could the two of you stop shouting like angry seagulls?” Killian sauntered into the courtyard and turned in a slow circle, inspecting the area.

Not quite able to let it go I whispered, “Sensing magic isn’t a skill, but a sensitivity.” I stalked after Killian. “And whatever this faint whiff is, it isn’t—fae magic!”

Light blasted the courtyard, and the overwhelming scent of rosewater filled my nose and mouth so it felt like I was drowning in a bath. Vines made of light unfurled and curled across the stone courtyard, a visible representation of the fae spell.

Only certain kinds of fae magic affected wizards, so even though I felt the ground spell pull at me, I staggered back to the edge of the courtyard, coughing.

Killian was stuck in the center with Rupert a few feet behind me.

I hadn’t brought my sword to break into Tutu’s—Killian told me it would only get in the way—so I gathered lightning in the palms of my hands as I tried to find the fae responsible for the trap.

“It’s so good to see you again, Hazel. It’s been too long.”

My heart fell into my stomach at the familiar, charming voice.

Chapter Eleven

Hazel

Mason stepped out of the shadows, his face illuminated by the silver of the moon in the sky, and the glowing fae spell. He smiled at me and nodded to Killian and Rupert. “I didn’t think you’d be keeping such illustrious company.”

“Let them go, Mason.” My voice was so harsh I almost didn’t recognize it, and I let my magic pool at my feet so lightning ringed around me.

“Certainly.” Mason held his hand out. “Once you pass over the signet ring.”

Something twisted in my chest, but I managed to screw my face into a look of confusion. “What? Do you think the ring appeared to me in a vision from my parents or something and now I magically have it? No!”

“I have recently made ties with a very powerful new ally. They happen to have an interest in the Drake Family, so I know you broke into Tutu’s.” Mason bowed his head to Killian.

The Night Court. Mason made an alliance with the Night Court. It wasn’t shocking—the Night Court hated Killian, and Mason wanted me dead. Why not team up to get us both? Except…

“Exactly how debt-strapped have you made House Medeis?” I prodded a light vine with a toe. “You must owe nearly every House in the city a favor or two already. Can you really pay this back?”

“That’s no concern to you,” Mason said. “Hand over the signet ring you just retrieved from Tutu’s, or Killian Drake will die.”

I laughed. “You think you can kill Killian Drake? Even when he’s caught in the fae spell he’s probably one eyebrow-twitch away from killing you.”

Killian appeared almost bored by our conversation and quirked an eyebrow when I mentioned his name.

I had to wonder for a moment—did he have a way out? I could feel the binding of the fae spell. His mint tin could dissolve the magic, but he couldn’t move to get it.

“It is likely if I approached Killian he’d break free somehow,” Mason said. “But that’s why I have this.”

Mason dropped what looked like a gob of ruby red slime on the ground. It bubbled and frothed until it expanded so it was about the size of a bathtub and sank beneath the fae spell holding Killian and Rupert in place. It circled the courtyard, slowly closing around Killian.

It radiated an ancient, wild magic. I had no idea what had created this…thing. It didn’t smell like fae or dragon shifter magic. It might be wizard magic, but the spell was so old and twisted I couldn’t tell. I could feel ancient magic radiating from it, peppered with a deep, soulless hunger.

A tiny bolt of my magic leaped into the fae circle, and the ancient magic snapped on it, greedily swallowing it.

“Vampires don’t use magic, but it’s still in them,” Mason said. “Soon, the spell will latch on to your friends and eat them whole. Unless you give me the signet ring.”

“You’re crazy,” I said. “The Drake Family will track you until the end of time and make you suffer so much you’ll break!”

“No they won’t.” Mason’s smile was affectionate as he studied me. “Because you won’t let him die.”

I stared at the ground and watched the deadly spell lurk a few feet away. It hadn’t moved beyond the bounds of the fae spell—it looked like it was stuck there. I inched the toe of my boot into the circle the fae spell made.

Immediately the red glob shot in my direction, slamming to a halt when it reached the boundary of the spell.

It seemed it was attracted to the biggest magical signature. Given my ability to wield magic, mine was obviously stronger than Killian’s or Rupert’s. It would know the instant I stepped inside the fae spell. I couldn’t rescue them—not without a distraction.

“Hazel.” Mason’s voice started to harden. “Stop stalling, and give me the ring.”

I swallowed hard, my hands turning clammy as I fished the jewelry box out of my pouch with shaking hands. It was my birthright, a centuries old treasure of House Medeis, and a symbol of my position. Without it, the fight to take back my House was going to be a lot harder.

I licked my dry lips. “Can’t you do anything, Killian?”

Killian watched the red spell circle around him—it was about a car length away—with a disinterested look. “I’m sure I’ll figure something out,” he said.

What was that supposed to mean?

“You’re running out of time, Hazel.” Mason brushed off his suitcoat—which had the House Medeis coat of arms on it.