by Hadley Holt
“Women do foolish things. It’s a man’s job to ensure that certain boundaries of propriety are not crossed, and you, human, will pay for crossing that line.” Zarius raised a hand, chanted under his breath and hurled pale green magic at Rory.
“Zarius! No!” I moved to throw myself in front of Rory, as wizard girls are immune to offensive wizard magic. Before I could act, a translucent purple barrier of light enveloped Rory.
Pale green magic deflected off the barrier with a pop, and fizzled out like a cloud of green fireflies dying.
Zarius didn’t see what I’d seen. I’d noticed the slight waving gesture of Rory’s left hand. Rory Devlin had wielded purple magic, a shield. What did purple mean? Hugo hadn’t mentioned it, but blue and red combined to make purple. Could it also be a sign of transformation into a sorcerer? But how could Rory be transforming into a sorcerer when he wasn’t even a wizard to begin with?
“Next time I will do something about this, but I find myself distracted by preparation for my party tonight,” Zarius said, obviously believing his magic had not worked. He turned his gaze on me. “Adriana, go inside the house.”
Zarius left after spouting off his order. He didn’t wait for me to obey. He simply assumed I would. And normally, I would have, but I didn’t, not today. Maybe never again.
I stared at the dissipating purple shield, which evaporated in a haze of purple sparkles around Rory Devlin. Was I crushing on a sorcerer? When I shifted my eyes to meet Rory’s, he was studying me warily.
“Is something wrong, Lady Adriana?” Rory probed.
“No, why do you ask?” I smiled, but didn’t think it was terribly convincing.
“You were staring at something next to me, or maybe surrounding me,” he suggested, eyes narrowed in speculation.
“Just startled by my brother’s actions. But, Rory, since when did you start calling me Lady Adriana? You know you can call me Addie.”
“I don’t think it’s appropriate anymore,” Rory replied, his features going blank, almost aloof. “You’re sixteen now, and we’re not children anymore.”
“Rory, please don’t let my brother get to you.”
“It’s not just him. People will expect us to follow certain social rules, now.”
“What if I don’t want to?” Even I could hear the petulance in my voice.
“Who are you, and what have you done with Addie Evangelista?” Rory smiled at me, sending those familiar, pesky butterflies fluttering inside my stomach.
That’s what his smile always did to me. He was the cutest boy I’d ever seen. If I was being totally honest with myself, the truth was I’d had a crush on him since, well…forever. Not that I could act on it like a normal human girl. Not if I didn’t want to be retrained like poor Lucia Amador. Rory, as a human, was forbidden to me, but after what I’d just seen I had to acknowledge he was something other than human. Regardless of what he was, I’d been entered into an arranged marriage with someone I’d never met. Any way I looked at it, Rory was taboo.
I realized I hadn’t answered his teasing question. “It’s just plain old me, Rory. I haven’t changed.” Only after the words left my mouth did I realize what a huge lie that was; unintentionally so, but huge. I had changed. I couldn’t even comprehend how much I’d changed today.
“I wouldn’t say that,” Rory countered. If I didn’t know better, I might say he was flirting. “There isn’t anything plain about you, Addie.” He studied me as if he’d never really looked at me before.
Trying to ignore the woozy giddiness that his gaze caused, I argued, “I know I’m plain. You don’t have to say otherwise.”
“Addie, there’s nothing plain about you,” he repeated seriously. He looked at me a few more seconds. “I shouldn’t have said all that.” He shook his head, frustration showing in his face. “I don’t know what came over me. But there’s something different about you today; I don’t know what it is. And you, the girl who never breaks the rules, tried to rescue me. But Addie—” he bent his head, his face coming so close I could feel his breath on my lips— “I don’t need rescuing.”
I pulled back a little, needing to catch my breath, and thought about the fact that Rory had wielded magic. I’d seen it, even though he shouldn’t be able to use magic any more than I should. Then I remembered what a bad position I’d put him in. “I’m really sorry. The handshake was a horrible idea. I don’t know what I was thinking. I was so embarrassed by my brother.” I bit my lower lip. “Okay, I wasn’t thinking.”
“It was kind of nice, holding your hand. But if I didn’t know better, I’d think that Izzy finally convinced you to come over to the dark side,” Rory teased, shooting me another one of his devastating smiles.
For a few heartbeats, I forgot everything but his smile, and when my brain started working again, I thought about the irony of Rory mentioning the dark side, since his magic was purple. Although Hugo hadn’t said anything about purple, it was the byproduct of mixing blue and red. Could it be that Rory just might be on his way to the dark side?
Not if I had anything to say about it.
Step one: I needed to find out exactly what Rory Devlin was—human, human-mage, or wizard—and step two, I needed to make sure he didn’t become a sorcerer if that was where he was headed. I remembered I hadn’t replied to Rory, but honestly, he had that effect on me, so he should be used to my delayed responses. “She hasn’t convinced me to go to the dark side, yet, but the night is still young.” What was that? Had I just flirted, too?
A wider smile split Rory’s handsome face. “Glad I’ll be coming tonight, then. I wouldn’t want to miss that for the world.” Rory shook his head as if waking up, his smile of a second before gone.
His drastic shift had me glancing around to see if Zarius had come back outside, but no one was there. The speedy shift from a dazzling smile to this serious expression was dizzying. “What’s wrong, Rory?”
“Addie, speaking of the party—like I said, you’re sixteen now and we’re not kids playing around anymore. There are rules, and I’ve been out of line today and I’m sorry.” He shook his head, his expression one of regret. “I really can’t believe I’m saying this, but your brother is right. You shouldn’t associate with me. You’re a wizard. I’m not. And you’re betrothed.” He looked away, swallowing. “But it’s hard, when I’m around you,” he muttered so low under his breath that I almost didn’t hear him.
Did he just say what I thought he said? Did Rory Devlin like me? As in really like me, like me? I’d always adored him… but didn’t I need to grow up and face the facts, like he was saying? Instead, I fought back. “Betrothed? My betrothed is missing in action. He’s not in my life, and probably won’t ever be.”
Rory brushed a single tanned hand through his golden-brown hair, seeming to force back his frustration. “So if it’s not Falcon Voltaire, it will be some other wizard, Addie. You’re the daughter of the High Chancellor. You’ll marry a wizard, and an important one at that. Period. End of story.” His frown transformed into another smile. “But you’re making this hard, Addie Evangelista. Where did this fighter in you come from?” And he touched that same forefinger to my chest, pointing at my heart. “I like it,” he said in a hoarse whisper. His touch made my heart pound harder and faster. And he could feel it, which made his smile grow bigger.
Feeling a little overwhelmed by everything, and I mean everything, I stepped back. Clearing my throat, I paused a moment, glancing down at his black Nikes before I looked up to meet his amethyst eyes. “I still want to talk about this, but I need to go in and get ready for tonight.”
He squared his shoulders and nodded. “You’re right, but we probably shouldn’t talk anymore.”
“What is it that norms say? Bull crap! We will talk. And I saw you do magic, Rory Devlin. We have a whole lot to talk about.”
And I turned and left him, but not before I saw his mouth gape open.
CHAPTER 6
In Very Deep Shih-Tzu
For hundreds o
f years, the Nostradamus keep had housed our family and our ancestors before us. Construction of the stronghold had started not long after the time Columbus accidently landed on the shores of North America. Our ancestors believed this land would provide more freedom, taking them far away from the strictures of the Catholic Church and the persecutions of the Inquisitions.
Due to the magical veil that surrounded the stronghold, not even the Native Americans knew of our presence in the land, though there were tribal tales associated with our few ancient encounters.
The keep’s initial structure was massive and much like the old castles or the great halls of Europe, but it had been added to countless times over the years. Many types of architecture, both known and unknown to humankind, formed the sprawling structure.
I knew my father would be expecting me, so I headed straight to his study. Luckily, it was not too far from the front entryway. As I was late, I was jogging, and almost ran straight into Lady Acacia as she was leaving my father’s office. I came to a skidding stop, which earned me a frown from my father.
“Adriana, we do not run in this house!” my father scolded. “You very nearly knocked down Lady Acacia.”
Lady Acacia, who’d deftly sidestepped me, smiled good-humoredly. “No harm, Manfred.” She glanced back at my father. “I can remember doing the same at our keep when I was young.”
“She’s too old for such impropriety,” my father insisted.
“It’s her birthday and she has a party to go to. Let’s chalk it up to that,” Lady Acacia said. She bestowed a winning smile on my father, and then turned her smile my way. She wore a crisp, professional gray pinstripe suit and her dark brown hair was pulled back into an elegant chignon. She studied me with eyes the color of…amethyst. I don’t know why it hadn’t occurred to me before, but her eyes were almost identical to Rory’s. Purple eyes weren’t as rare in wizard genetics as they were in human DNA, but for Lady Acacia’s and Rory’s eyes both to be the same shade of amethyst seemed to be more than a coincidence.
“Happy sixteenth birthday, Adriana,” she said with genuine affection.
I returned her smile, thanked her, and curtsied. Our society continued to observe formalities that were antiquated by human standards.
With a nod, Lady Acacia left us, her heels clacking softly against the marble floors. I watched as she slipped her cloak on and covered her head before stepping outside. Something about watching her cover herself made me think of Izzy’s outrage.
Lady Acacia was the only wizard woman who worked at Allied Alchemy International, a globally diversified company with branches tied to all kinds of cutting-edge technology. Through hard work and a quick mind, she had earned promotions into a management position within the company. Although as a woman, she wouldn’t ever reach a senior executive position, she had earned the respect of many high-level wizards, including council members and my father. She had the freedom, like all wizard men, to pass through the magical veil and go out into the human world and conduct business each day. She’d achieved enormous success, but here in the stronghold, she was expected to cover herself with a cloak like all other wizard women. I’d never thought twice about it before today, but now it saddened me.
And then, perhaps paradoxically, I turned to face my father. “I’m sorry for my behavior, Father.”
“And?”
“And for being late,” I finished with a downcast look.
“Adriana, it’s not like you to behave in this manner. Don’t make a habit of it.”
“I won’t, Father.”
He pivoted and walked into his study, waving me inside. “Now come into my office. I have something for you.”
As I stepped into his study, I saw a beautiful gown hanging from the cherry wood ladder that leaned against one of several vast bookshelves.
The fabric of the dress mesmerized me. It was a charcoal gray taffeta that shimmered with peacock jewel-tone highlights of blue, green, purple and smoky bronze, depending on how the sunlight hit the fabric. The full-length gown was simple and elegant, with a high empire waist from which the sparkling fabric moved in tailored sleek lines down to ankle length. It wasn’t a little girl’s dress. It was a lady’s dress. And I realized my own ash-brown hair and smoky hazel eyes would complement the dress better than any glamour I could choose. The dress was beautiful.
“You look stunned, daughter. Do you dislike this dress?”
I gasped. “I love it! It’s perfect.” I remembered how, earlier, Izzy had been embarrassed about letting her girly-girl loose. Mine was totally running amuck, and that felt familiar and comfortable.
“Ah! That’s a relief. I thought for a moment you hated it.”
“It’s amazing.”
My father sat down on the small settee across from his desk and patted the cushion beside him. “Come sit with me and we will talk.”
I sat next to my father and waited.
“Your mother would be here, but as you know she is very busy with the last-minute arrangements for tonight. I have another gift for you,” he said as he handed me an envelope. “I thought you and Isadora might enjoy a good shopping trip in New York City.”
I held the envelope to my chest. “Oh yes! We would love that. Thank you so much, Father.” It had become an annual event, and was the only time I was allowed to leave the stronghold.
“You can coordinate with Tristan on the particulars. Of course, you’ll need an adequate wizard escort. Although you are growing up, Adriana, I’ll always keep my baby daughter’s safety as a top priority.”
I nodded as expected, staring up at my father’s face. I watched him as he appeared to be formulating his next words.
After everything that had happened today, I found myself feeling hopeful that maybe someday I could tell my father the truth about myself. I took a moment to really look at him. My father, the High Chancellor of the North American Wizards’ Guild, appeared as if he’d stepped from the cover of GQ Magazine. He had the same light brown hair and hazel eyes as Zarius and I; his hair was short, cut in a simple but current style. He’d already changed into his severe black tuxedo.
“As today is a milestone for you and your brother, your future has been on my mind. I have been long concerned about the state of your betrothal.”
Oh no! This could not be good. Today of all days, I didn’t know if I could handle one more change. My stomach sank as if I’d swallowed a smoothie full of iron pellets.
“Adriana, we have tried, but we cannot locate your betrothed, Falcon Voltaire. His parents disappeared under mysterious circumstances.”
Apparently, even my father couldn’t bring himself to say that the “circumstances” may have had something to do with sorcery.
“In our history, there has been little precedent for overturning a betrothal contract, but I’m working on it. I believe that ultimately I will get it ruled invalid.”
Maybe this wasn’t so bad. After all, Falcon was a virtual stranger. I’d supposedly met him once when I was four years old, but I didn’t even remember it.
“I’ve been considering a young man whose betrothed was lost in that tragic accident last January.”
I knew of only one boy who fit that situation—my brother’s wingman, Bart.
“Bartholomew Magnuson is of the house of Archimedes—”
“Bart?” I shot to my feet before I could think better of it. “Bart Magnuson? Father, no!”
My father rose, towering over me. “What are you about, young lady? First you are late, and now you dare to talk back to me? To question my judgment?”
Usually, my father’s glower would have me quaking, but I just couldn’t take one more thing today. “Father, have you ever spent any time actually talking to Bart?”
“No, but your brother holds him in very high regard.” In the very next instant, he seemed to realize he was justifying his position to me. His eyebrows drew together in a scowl, and his face reddened. That almost never happened. “Enough of this!” He didn’t yell, but he might as
well have, for the impact his biting tone had on me. “Nothing is final, but you will be happy with whomever I choose for you.”
A tremor ran through my whole body. “Father.” My voice shook, but I continued, blurting out the words as quickly as I could. “I regret having to say this, but Bart is spiteful, and he’s as dense as a pile of bricks. You would surely find yourself with dim-witted grandchildren were I to marry him. Your line would be forever tainted with a diminished IQ.” I knew my words were uncharitable at best and, more accurately, cruel, but they were also completely true. Most importantly, though, my words represented an open challenge to my father’s authority.
My father stared at me in horror, as if I were morphing into a sorcerer right in front of him. He was a man used to controlling a council of some of the most powerful wizards in the world, and at this moment, he appeared too shocked to respond. Marching across his study, he returned to me with my dress and thrust it at me. “Be off, Adriana, and consider yourself lucky that I’m allowing you to attend the party tonight. Say not one more word that would make me change my mind.”
My heart hammered in my chest, and my knees almost gave out at the realization that I’d openly defied my father. But as I snuck a peek at him before exiting through the study door, I saw that he was deep in thought. Maybe he would reconsider Bart. I wasn’t sure, but I really and truly hoped so. The only thing I was absolutely sure of was that I was in very deep Shih-Tzu.
CHAPTER 7
A Party Fit for a King
By the time I walked into my bedroom, my heart had started to beat at a normal pace. I think I might have been more shocked at my behavior than my father was. What had I been thinking of, defying my father like that?
Turning on the television, I distracted myself watching Ellen. She helped me feel almost normal. Hugo, Izzy, and I loved to watch her show and fantasize that we could blend into the everyday human world, hold everyday norm jobs, and play every-day practical jokes. We imagined how it would be to have relationships with whomever we wanted to be with.