by Ilana Waters
“Thank you, Ms. Jambs,” Specs replied. “That would be most appreciated.” He sighed. “I thought, with the Council coming to pick up Mr. Wright, that Mr. Krone and Mr. Jasser would have the good sense to behave. I can see I was wrong.”
Are you sure teaching Zaira the lethal properties of amphibians was a wise idea? Miles thought to me. The way things are going, she could grow up to be an assassin or something.
I sighed. Let’s face it. With that girl’s unhealthy level of interest in herpetology, she was never going to be normal.
“Still . . . iocaine powder, Mr. Alderman?” Specs gave me a shrewd glance. I had a feeling he knew perfectly well who Zaira’s tutor in poisons had been. “Do promise me that, in the future, you’ll only use your powers for good.”
“Oh, Headmaster,” I said wryly, “I think we both know I can’t promise that.” Colleen chuckled and buried her head in my shoulder. My friends high-fived each other. Miles started in on a piece of cake.
I smiled as I looked out over the dance floor, the flashing lights, the wildly moving bodies. It seemed I had already started focusing my rebel heart on worthwhile fights. I taught Zaira about poisons. She turned around and used that knowledge to castrate Mason and Dirk. Sort of like what Specs had to do: focusing his magical powers to navigate the faerie world and run the school at the same time.
I guess Equinox’s motto was right. It really is all about balance. Colleen knew the importance of balance from her years of fencing. Oliver even said as much at the beginning of the year. “Balance is everything,” I believe were his exact words.
“C’mon.” Pen tugged at Miles’s arm. “There’s still plenty of space on the dance floor. Let’s go!”
“Woman!” Miles’s mouth was full of cake, so it sounded more like, “Moo-mon!” He gulped the cake down. “Let a man finish his meal.”
Grace rolled her eyes. “For you, that would take all night.” She and the air team headed toward the dance floor. The rest of us lingered, still examining the desserts. “Meet you there!” Grace waved at us.
“All right, all right,” Pen said to Miles. “But do be quite quick about it.”
“Well, I’ll leave you young people to your festivities.” Specs nodded at us. “Things to do, parents to hobnob with.” He sighed and disappeared into the crowd. Colleen started to follow.
“No, you wait here,” she said when she saw me raise my hands in protest. “I want to get Daddy and George, so you can meet them. After that,” she pulled my collar until we were face-to-face, “I want you to spin me around that dance floor like you’re under a faerie spell.” She kissed me and darted away.
I stood there for a few moments, looking after Colleen in a grinning stupor. Then, for what seemed like the hundredth time that night, I heard a voice behind me. But this one turned my stomach stone cold with its deep, eerie rumble.
“Hello, Joshua,” said my father.
Chapter 29
I turned around slowly. There he was. Taller than me, with piercing blue eyes, the man appeared to be in his forties. Close-cut blond hair almost blended in with his pale skin, except above and below his eyes, which was a shade darker than the rest. Light blue veins meandered along his temples. He was wearing his usual black button-down shirt and slacks, his custom Italian shoes. Long-limbed and muscular. Impervious and intimidating as always. My father, Titus Aurelius.
“Father?” My eyes nearly bulged out of their sockets. “What are you doing here?” All around me were incredulous whispers of Father? I think I even heard Miles gulp.
“Good evening to you, too, son.” The sound seemed to come from deep within his chest. It filled the room in that way only a vampire’s voice can. When he spoke, you could see the barest glimpse of his eyeteeth, just long enough to warrant a double take from the observant onlooker. “Thought I’d drop by to pay tribute to the reigning champion.” He looked me up and down. “All hail the conqueror,” he said dryly. “I can see your fashion sense is as refined as ever.”
“Steady on,” Pen protested. “I think he looks quite good, considering another student just tried to kill him.” My father turned to her sharply. “Sir,” she added.
Titus shrugged—just barely. “I heard tell of it. So?”
“So?” I echoed. “Shouldn’t you act a little more put out?”
“I’d have been put out if he succeeded.”
Figures. Typical of my father not to show any sign of—wait. Did he just admit he’d be upset if I died? It wasn’t much, but maybe it was a start.
“Headmaster Specs did inform me you solved several vexing mysteries here at Equinox. Caught a criminal, in fact, and possibly saved a few lives. Thus lending an extra dose of jubilance to this already vulgar affair.” He glanced around at the party, fingers touching his temples when a particularly loud bass started playing. “Not exactly how I would’ve spent the school year, but I suppose one could call it productive.”
I sighed. It was as close to “I’m proud of you, Joshua” as I was going to get. Course, it wouldn’t kill him to add, “I’m sorry I thought you were guilty of horrendous crimes.” Then again, knowing my father, maybe that was something he would be proud of.
“Though you have yet to introduce me to all your delicious little friends.” Titus gave them a cunning smile.
He isn’t really going to eat us, is he? Suyin asked me.
Titus Aurelius? Miles definitely gulped this time. The same man who can kill you by blinking?
I sighed. “Pen, Miles, Imogen, Suyin, this is my father, Titus Aurelius. Who’s just trying to frighten you.” There was a chorus of soft, disbelieving “hellos.”
“Charmed, I’m sure,” Titus said.
“Would you like a tart?” Imogen held one out to him. Titus gave her a withering look.
“It was a pleasure, truly.” Titus sounded like he was about to pronounce an execution. “But if you all will excuse us, I have some important business to discuss with my son.”
“Erm, right,” Suyin said. Her eyes and Imogen’s darted at one another’s, and they hurried onto the dance floor.
“Bye, then!” called Imogen.
“Yes, bye.” Pen yanked a tart out of Miles’s gaping mouth, grabbed his arm, and pulled him away. “Lovely meeting you.”
“Mmmm,” Titus replied without looking at her.
“Did you see that?” I heard Pen say. “It was actually Titus Aurelius!”
“He spoke to us.” Suyin’s voice got fainter and fainter. “He looked right at us, and we didn’t die.”
“I think I have to check if my trousers are dry.” Miles’s comment was the last one I heard before my friends drifted into the crowd.
“Come, Joshua.” Titus turned so swiftly toward the main doors, his shoes squeaked on the marble. “We have much to discuss on our way back to the States.”
“Already? But wait, Father.” I squinted, my gaze shifting around the room. “I want you to meet—” I stopped. Did I, in fact, want my father to meet Colleen? It wasn’t like he’d made such a great impression on the others. And Leenie wasn’t exactly the typical girlfriend. What would he think of her? Would he understand?
“Look, I’d love to meet . . . whoever it is, son,” he said in a voice that meant the opposite. “But there’s no time.” He glanced over his shoulder. “We really must be going.”
I should’ve known. “Here to collect me so we can get back to your all-important casino?” My voice hardened.
“Not exactly.” Titus kept looking behind him, still impatient to leave.
“Well, then, what is it?” I folded my arms. “Official vampire convention you’re hosting a panel on? A trollop whose arms you can’t wait to rush back into?”
Titus gave me a stony look. “It’s Abigail.”
I thought my stomach felt cold before. But now, it turned to ice. “Abig—Mom? What about her?”
“I think I may have found something.”
THE END
***
You’ve read the prequels. Now it’s time for the main event!
(Book I of the Mage Tales)
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Mages. Mayhem. Murder. Someone’s not getting out alive.
Forget what you know about magic. The creatures, the rules, everything. That’s all about to change.
From USA Today bestselling author Ilana Waters comes a lighting-paced urban fantasy:
Mage Joshua Alderman has a serious problem with supernaturals in his life. It doesn’t help that he needs a vampire to track down a cult of paranormal kidnappers. Or that the all-powerful Witch Council is threatening them both with death.
But the sitch really hits the fan when their rescue mission explodes a secret so big, it could spell the end of the human race.
Can this magic-slinging duo keep off each other’s throats long enough to stop a ruthless immortal from destroying humanity?
The Age of Mages is an action-packed, edge-of-your seat suspense story shot through with a megadose of snark. Behold the illicit love child of Jim Butcher, Kevin Hearne, and Lev Grossman.
Grab your copy today. Because if this mage dies, the world—including you—might be next.
***
Ready to read more than just The Age of Mages? Get the Mage Tales’ first three books as a box set!
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A good mage should be able to handle anything. But all hell breaks loose if he can’t.
Can one mage survive a hostile vampire partner, bombs, beheadings, and more to save the world? If he can’t, we’re all going to hell.
Literally.
From USA Today bestselling author Ilana Waters, this box set contains three full-length novels:
The Age of Mages
The Mage’s Trick
The Last Mage
Don’t Forget Your Free Book
Before you go, be sure to grab your FREE BOOK! Here’s a little about it:
Oh dear. I think I’ve gotten myself into a bit of a fix again.
It’s been a tough couple of months for Joshua, a mage. After battling vampires, despots, and demons, he heads to Chicago for some downtime, maybe even a little romance. Unfortunately, fate has other plans.
Joshua and his would-be lover are kidnapped by two vampires and threatened with death. The vampires agree to spare them, but only if Joshua helps find an ancient statue . . . by dawn. But he and his kidnappers aren’t alone in their search. Three other vampires want the statue as well, and not only do they kill those who get in their way, they enjoy the killing.
It seems this mage just can’t stay out of trouble, even for one night.
All in a Night’s Work (novella) is Book 3.5 of the Mage Tales, but can easily be enjoyed as a stand-alone story.
Afterword
Thank you so much for reading my book! If you enjoyed it, I’d greatly appreciate a review. Although they only take a minute to do, reviews can mean the difference between a writer who keeps writing and one who doesn’t. Posting about it on social media or your blog would make my day as well!
Feel free to get in touch anytime. You can also sign up for my newsletter and be the first to hear about new releases and other cool stuff. While you’re at it, check out my other books to see if anything strikes your fancy.
The Mage Tales’ Reading Order
The prequels:
When Darkness Falls (Book 0 of the Mage Tales Prequels)
Blood and Magic (Book I of the Mage Tales Prequels)
Mage Lessons (Book II of the Mage Tales Prequels)
The main series:
The Age of Mages (Book I of the Mage Tales)
The Mage’s Trick (Book II of the Mage Tales)
The Last Mage (Book III of the Mage Tales)
The Mage Tales (Books I-III, box set)
All in a Night’s Work (Book 3.5 of the Mage Tales, novella. Get it FREE!)
About the Author
Hi! I’m Ilana Waters, USA Today bestselling author of the Mage Tales.
I write urban fantasy for those who like it fast, funny, and fierce. If you like my cross-blended creatures (witch-vampire hybrids, half-breed mages) and supernatural ass-kicking, we’ll get along great. Ditto if your book turn-ons are equal parts creepy and action-packed (think ancient cities and crypts combined with beheadings and bombs).
Why not check out the next set in the Mage Tales series? It has all that stuff, plus more adventures with Titus, Abigail, and Joshua.
Hope to see you back soon!
Acknowledgments
I’d like to thank the following people for helping with this book:
Marcia Trahan: copy editor and proofreader extraordinaire.
Deranged Doctor Design: cover designers made of sheer awesome.
Julia Pidduck: marketing guru and possible saint.
My amazing street team of beta readers. You guys rock!