I tapped into magical reserves I didn’t even know I had. If I was going to die anyway, I might as well go down using every last bit of magic I had. Even with newfound power, simply attacking Marguerite wouldn’t work. I had to disarm her. Focusing on the two wands she held, I built up my magical energy as my right ear and foot burned from the acid that continued its relentless crawl toward me. When it felt as if my body could no longer contain the magic, I burst free of the bindings and pulled the wands from her hands.
Surprise delayed her reaction. With two wands to augment my power, it didn’t take much to retrieve my talisman. It practically jumped off her chest when I used my magic and that of the wands to call it to me. With the amber stone back in its rightful place, I flung Marguerite into the wall, knocking the air out of her. Again and again I hit her against the stone, letting my hatred of her control my actions. She put up a shield, but it would be no match for me. The fear in her eyes as I loomed over her confirmed it. I had won. All that remained was the killing blow.
Thirty-Four
“If you think I’m going to beg for my life, you’re mistaken,” Marguerite said between ragged breaths.
I didn’t want to hear her beg, but I did want to kill her. Every fiber of my being wanted to end her life. It would be so easy, and it wasn’t like I hadn’t killed before. Her death would serve the greater good more than my other kills had.
But this kill was different. The motivation wasn’t survival or even justice. I hated her. I wanted her to die because I wanted to kill her. She had wronged me and threatened my people. I didn’t want justice, I wanted revenge. How much better did that make me than my mother? Than Marguerite? I couldn’t declare victory if I turned into the very thing I fought.
Marguerite had been correct: it would take a well-trained mage a long time to undo the bindings she placed on the door. Luckily, I was a well-trained pidge. It took a few minutes, but when I finished, the door slammed open, and a group of six agents poured through with Thaddeus following.
I bound Marguerite to make it easier for the agents to handle her. “Be careful with her. She’s more dangerous than she lets on.”
“You’re full of surprises.” Thaddeus crossed his arms over his chest as he watched the agents take Marguerite away.
“As much as I’d love to talk, I have to get back. I’ll debrief once I know the people I left are safe.”
“Don’t let me delay you. My trust in you has been well founded thus far. I’ll await your report when you’re able.”
The other agents had left. Only Thaddeus remained. Trust went both ways, so I didn’t ask him to leave before I created a portal to the ice cave.
“You’re growing into your magic,” Thaddeus said.
“Did you know?” I’d found little knowledge about pidges to reference. I suspected that knowledge of the amount of power pidges had was suppressed while their inability to produce magical offspring was widely spread in order to discourage their creation. A generation of pidges could wreak havoc and then leave a dent in the magical population once they died.
“I had suspicions. Go do what you have to. I’ll interrogate Marguerite. You left us with plenty to work with on the recordings.”
Outside of the ice cave, Millhook argued with the sorcerer and Nicole’s family huddled together. Before I could take it all in, Alex picked me up in a bone-crushing hug. “You’re alive.”
I swallowed my pain. As my adrenaline receded, the injuries I’d sustained made themselves known. “Of course I’m alive. What did you think happened?”
Alex chuckled at my indignation. “We weren’t sure. Is she dead?”
“No, she’s been handed over to the Council.”
When Alex released me, I winced, and he noticed the burns on my arms. Without a word, he shifted and licked them. It didn’t take much to heal the skin. He moved on and found the other burns.
“And I suppose the Council will keep this entire episode to themselves.” The sorcerer stepped forward. Once Marguerite had gone through the portal, he must’ve been able to break free from the spell she had on him.
“Now see here, they’ll do nothing of the sort,” Millhook said. This had obviously been the subject of their argument.
“I must go to the Circle of Sorcerers and report this immediately.” The sorcerer tried to form a portal, but Millhook stopped him by slapping his hands.
Deacon stepped between the imp and sorcerer to stop the situation from escalating. “I’m afraid I agree.”
If they went to the Circle and reported what happened before the Council had a chance to reach out to them, then all of this would’ve been for naught. “Please, don’t, at least not yet. Let me take you to the Council. Speak with them, see that we have good intentions.”
“Your intentions are to protect mages, nothing more,” the sorcerer said.
“I just endangered my life and the lives of my friends in order to stop her. That wasn’t just some mage I turned in to the Council. That was my aunt. I stopped her because what she was doing was wrong. What will it hurt to speak to the Council? If their answers are not satisfactory, then you can always go to the Circle afterward. If you go to the Circle now, it will just cause more conflict.” The sorcerer didn’t seem convinced. I couldn’t blame him. What he had witnessed was every sorcerer’s nightmare. “Deacon, I’d like to think that I’ve earned your trust at least.”
“You’ve done what you said you would. I’m inclined to trust you or at least give you the benefit of the doubt. I have no objection to speaking to the Council before reporting to the sorcerers.”
“And what about you?” I turned to the sorcerer.
“I have no reason to trust you.”
“I saved your life.” From his point of view, it might not look that way. All he saw was me giving Marguerite the secret to taking his power. “Doesn’t the fact that Deacon trusts me count for anything? One might say he has more than you to lose. Dragon shifters are almost extinct. He wouldn’t do anything to endanger sorcerers when his kind needs them so badly.”
“I must let the Circle know that it’s possible to take a sorcerer’s magic.” The man had a face of stone, and he seemed just as immovable.
“If you go to the Circle now, they’ll think the Council is hiding this from them, when the reality is that they just haven’t had a chance to tell them yet.” I let down my defenses and let him see the vulnerability in my eyes. “Please, give our people a chance. A sorcerer’s magic cannot be taken without his consent. What’s the likelihood that any sorcerer would willingly give his magic to someone?”
“From what I understand, your father gave his up willingly.”
“Yes, and those were extreme circumstances. He did it to save my life. Do you think I want to see what happened to him happen to others? The only way to keep both our people safe is for the Council and the Circle to work together. Please, come with me to the Council.”
He pursed his lips in thought. “I’ll go if Deacon comes too. I want someone on my side there.”
“That’s more than fair. The Council will be interested in what he has to say as well. Give me just a moment, and we’ll leave.” Relief at diverting one disaster ran through me, but there was another disaster I had to head off. I pulled Millhook to the side. “Can you take Nicole and her family back home for me?”
“Of course. I’ll get them safely back then join you at the Citadel. I can’t wait to see what old Calista and Thaddeus have to say about all this. Did you bring me back a medallion?”
“No, you’ll have to come to the front gate like a regular visitor.”
“Huh. What a novel concept.” Millhook shrugged. “I’ll be on my way then.”
I grabbed his arm to stop him. “There’s one more thing. I want you to wipe their memories. They can’t remember all of this. The Council would never approve. Besides, they’d be better off if they didn’t recall this whole ordeal.”
“I already figured as much. Shouldn’t be too hard to do. I’ll wip
e this entire day.”
“No, you don’t understand.” I couldn’t believe what I was about to ask him to do. “I want you to wipe Nicole’s memory as well.”
“What?” He scowled. “Are you sure? We were all going to work together. We’re going to be a crime-fighting team.”
The hurt on his face was only a fraction of what Nicole would feel if she knew. I hated myself for this, but once it was done, she’d never know of my betrayal. I was the one who’d be paying in the long run. “I know that was your dream, Millhook, but things change. This is too much. I don’t want her living with the memory of the terror she’s felt. As long as we’re in her life, she’ll keep being in harm’s way.”
“I don’t like it, but I’ll do it if you say so.”
“I do. Let me say goodbye, and then you can take them away.” Together we walked back to the group.
Nicole broke away from her family and hugged me. “I’m so relieved you’re okay. I didn’t know what was going to happen. I mean, I knew you could do it, but I was so scared.”
“I know. I’m sorry. I never wanted any of this to happen to you.”
When Nicole pulled away, I missed the warmth of her cheek. Millhook must have cast a heating spell to keep everyone from freezing. “Don’t be ridiculous. This isn’t your fault.”
“You wouldn’t have been in danger if it weren’t for me.”
“Fine, if you’re going to be that way, you’ll have plenty of time to make it up to me. You’re coming back to Earth once you’re done with the Council, right?” The hopeful expectancy in her eyes tore at my conscience.
“Yes, of course. I’ll be back as soon as I’m done reporting to the Council.”
“Good. We’ll talk then.”
I nodded, but before she could turn away, I pulled her in for another hug. “I’m so sorry.”
Alex met my eyes over Nicole’s shoulder. “We should get going. The sorcerer’s getting restless.”
Nicole and I parted. Millhook took her hand and they formed a circle with her mom and Danny. I couldn’t believe this was the last time I’d see my best friend. I waved, and they were gone.
“If you want me to speak to the Council so badly, then hurry up,” the sorcerer snapped. “I could have been to the Circle and told them my story already.”
After all this, I could only hope that Thaddeus and Calista would know how to keep the peace.
Thirty-Five
As it turned out, my worrying was for nothing. When I brought Marguerite to the CCS, Calista had summoned a delegate from the Circle. Deacon and the sorcerer were with him now, leaving me with Alex and Thaddeus. For the first time, it felt like this really might all be over.
“We’re grateful to you for your help, Alex. You’re welcome here at the Citadel any time,” Thaddeus said. They were about the warmest words I’d ever heard him utter.
“Thank you, sir. I appreciate that.”
“I was wondering if you might give me a moment alone with my agent here.”
“Certainly.” Alex nodded to me. “I’ll be right outside when you’re done.”
When the door shut behind Alex, Thaddeus sat and motioned to the chair across from him. The audience room we used was well appointed, and it reminded of the first time I’d met Thaddeus in Calista’s sitting room.
Thaddeus poured two glasses of wine and handed me one. “You’re to be commended. What you’ve done is nothing short of extraordinary. Of course, you understand why no one will ever know.”
“Thank you. I wouldn’t want anyone to know. Regardless of how the sorcerers want to proceed, this is a silent victory. The details would do no one any good. Besides, you don’t do this job for the thanks.”
“No, you don’t. It’s a good thing, because even if the world did know, the thanks would be slow coming. You’re remarkably good at this job.”
“Who would’ve thought you’d ever say that?” The wine went a long way in draining the tension from my body. It really was over.
Thaddeus chuckled. “Who indeed. If that comes as a shock to you, then there’s no way to prepare you for what’s next. We’re increasing our presence on Earth. This entire situation has shown us how ill-prepared we’ve been. Calista and I are in agreement. We want you to head up Earth operations. You’ll have complete authority, reporting only to me and Calista.”
Thank goodness I was already sitting. I barely felt like a competent agent. How could I possibly head up the entire CCS on Earth? “I don’t think I’d be the best choice. I don’t have very much experience.”
“When it comes to Earth and humans, you have the most experience. As for everything else, you’re the agent who took down the Director.”
That reminded me. “I don’t know how far along you’ve gotten in her interrogation, but she’s no longer the Director. The Directorate fractured, and a new Director took over.”
“Naturally. This story will play itself out over and over again. Our role is to stop every incarnation of the Director.”
When I had started at the CCS, all I wanted was to make a difference. I never could’ve imagined that Thaddeus would ever make the offer he just had. But so much had changed since I entered training. I had changed. Involuntarily, I glanced at the door. On the other side of it was a man whom I couldn’t leave a second time.
Thaddeus must’ve noticed my glance. “You can assemble whatever team you’d like. We’re prepared to extend clearance to Alex and Millhook and anyone else you say you need. In fact, as the head of operations, you’d be the one handing out clearance. I mean it when I say you’ll have complete control.”
A dream job and my dream team. It was a perfect offer, but I knew it wasn’t right. Millhook didn’t want to work for the CCS. He wanted us to form our own agency, and Alex just wanted me. While accepting the offer would give us all the semblance of what we wanted, it wouldn’t be the same. As long as I was a CCS agent in any capacity, the job would always come first. It had to. The kind of power Thaddeus talked about giving me dictated that it would have to come first.
“I’m flattered by your offer. It’s more than generous, but I can’t accept.”
Thaddeus cocked an eyebrow. “Really? Because I can’t imagine you taking orders well after this.”
“No, I think it’s time to put an end to my short career in the CCS. You know, go out while I’m on top.” I took a sip of my wine.
“You’d be content leaving this life?”
“This whole experience has taught me to make the limited time I have count. I can still do the job, but I can’t put it first the way you need the head of Earth operations to. Millhook, Alex, and I have been talking about putting together our own agency. We’ll be based on Earth, and our services will be at your disposal, should you want them. I’m not out of the business, but I’m out of the life. I can’t let the job consume me.”
Thaddeus sat back in his chair. “I’ve seen too much not to respect your decision. You can count on us availing ourselves of your services regularly. We’ll keep your clearance active.”
“You’ll continue to know everything I come across that concerns the CCS.” I finished my wine and stood. Thaddeus followed.
“I extend you my best wishes. You’re one of the best agents I’ve ever known.”
“Thank you for trusting me, Thaddeus. I couldn’t have done this without your confidence.”
When I left the room, Alex was waiting by the door just as he said he would be. “What did he want?”
“To offer his congratulations.”
“That’s it?”
I debated not telling him. I didn’t want him to try to talk me out of my decision, but it didn’t feel right to keep secrets. “He offered to make me head of Earth operations. I turned him down.”
“What? That’s an amazing offer. Are you sure?”
I smiled at his surprise. “Yes.”
“Don’t give up something that huge for me.”
“I’m not. I don’t want to do the same thing Meglana and
Marguerite did. They destroyed everything in their lives in the pursuit of power and position. I won’t end up like them. I’m still committed to making a difference, but I’m going to do it with you and Millhook. I won’t sacrifice my life for a job. If I did, what would I be fighting for? Besides, I feel I owe it to Millhook to indulge his fantasies of solving crimes together. Where is the little imp? I thought he’d be here by now.” I looked around as if he would pop out from an alcove.
“Change of plans. He sent a message to meet back at the hotel in Hawaii. Should we go there now?”
Millhook probably thought I’d be sucked into staying with the CCS. Meeting back in Hawaii was his way of making sure I went back to Earth. “No, we have one stop to make.”
Thirty-Six
We found Mikael in Sadie’s old room at the Armory. He had moved her body there and laid it out on the bed. Mages didn’t bury their dead. Unfortunately, working at the CCS meant I had ample opportunity to observe funeral rites as agents died in the field.
“Mikael?” I spoke softly from the doorway.
He rose from where he knelt by Sadie’s bed and turned to see me and Alex standing in the doorway. “I didn’t expect to see you again. Can I assume this means you were successful?”
“Yes. Marguerite is defeated,” I said as I entered the room.
Relief entered Mikael’s eyes, granting a reprieve from the despair. “Dead?”
“No, facing justice at the hands of the Council.”
“I suppose I can live with that. Thank you for coming back to tell me.”
“That’s not the only reason I came. I wanted to return these.” I pulled his wand and Sadie’s from my sleeve. “They made all the difference.”
“Thank you, but I’m afraid I have no use for them.”
“Nonsense. You need to perform the infinitum spell for your sister.” I took his good hand and placed both wands in his palm and closed his fingers around them.
“I can’t.”
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