by Linsey Hall
I climbed out of Aidan’s car, the bag of pasties clutched in my fist. I’d snuck one on the way here—a beef and potato that had been delightful—so I was no longer hungry. Hopefully Aethelred wouldn’t notice that the bag wasn’t quite full.
“It’s always so dark here,” I said. It was like the tall, narrow buildings blocked out the sun. Or the taint of dark magic polluted the place.
“It’s not my favorite part of town, either,” Aidan said as he climbed the narrow steps ahead of me and rapped on the door, using the brass falcon door knocker.
The door opened immediately, and a wizened old man dressed in a navy velour track suit peered out at us from behind silver spectacles. His beard reached all the way to his waist, part of it tucked into his trousers. Like before, I couldn’t help but think of him as Gandalf in athleisure wear.
“Hi, Aethelred.” I held out the bag.
He snatched it and peered inside. “Good. Though I see you ate one.”
“Nuh uh. It’s full.” Had he used his seer ability to spy on me?
“You have pastry on your lip.”
I rubbed at my lip, and a piece of flaky pastry crust fluttered to the ground. I glanced at Aidan for backup, but he just shook his head, unwilling to lie to an old man for me. Damned honorable Shifter.
“I was poison checking,” I said.
“Sure. Because Connor dopes up his pasties.”
“Fair point. He doesn’t. Could we come in?”
“Oh, all right.” He stepped back and gestured us into his dark little foyer.
We followed him into a dimly lit living room. Shelves lined every wall, stuffed full of books and trinkets. Dust motes glittered in the light that streamed through pulled shades. I caught sight of the Magic’s Bend Times lying on the coffee table. It said today was Tuesday. Things had been so crazy, it’d been hard to keep track. Tuesday was Black Bingo night, if I recalled correctly.
“Going to Black Bingo tonight?” I asked, hoping that a little conversation about his interests would endear us to him. Aethelred loved Black Bingo. According to our mutual friends Aerdeca and Mordaca, he hadn’t missed a game in a decade.
“Yes,” he grumbled. “That’s what the pasties are for. It’s my turn to cater.”
“Hmmm. Glad we could help.”
“Well, it wasn’t done out of the goodness of your heart. Why are you here?”
I winced, though he was right. I really should work on the goodness of my heart.
“We need some help. I was hoping you could scry for us.”
His gaze traveled to Aidan. “For the right price, maybe. Though you still owe me some transportation charms.”
“I know.” We’d borrowed some from him last month. “But there’s been a shortage. We don’t have a single one ourselves.”
Which put us at a huge disadvantage to Victor.
“We think the shortage is the fault of the man we want you to scry for,” Aidan said.
“Is this the same man who tried to destroy the Museum of Magical History? Who threatened my home?”
“The very same,” Aidan said. “So you can understand why this is important. And we’ll replace the transportation charms. On my honor.”
“And you’ll pay my fee for scrying,” Aethelred said.
Aidan inclined his head. “Of course.”
“A very hefty fee.” Aethelred’s blue eyes gleamed. “I have my eye on a beach cottage.”
“Of course,” Aidan said.
“Good.” Aethelred set the paper bag of pasties on the table and sat on the ratty armchair, then gestured for us to sit on the equally ratty couch. “What do you want to know?”
“Three things,” I said as I sat. “Victor Orriodor is apparently seeking a greater power as part of his plan to destroy the Alpha Council. What does that mean? And what kind of protections does his home in Transylvania have? Are there prisoners inside?” I didn’t say what kind of prisoners, as even Aethelred didn’t know I was a FireSoul. My concealment charm wouldn’t let him see that information about me.
“Your villain lives in Transylvania?” Aethelred chuckled. “Of course he does. Well, I can look for these things, but I make no promises about what I will be able to see.”
“Thank you,” I said.
Aethelred sat back in his chair and closed his eyes. It was all I could do not to bounce my knee impatiently. Seers couldn’t see everything, but what they could see was true.
After a period of time that felt like a century—I checked Aidan to see if his dark hair had turned white—Aethelred sat forward and opened his eyes.
“I cannot see much about his plans for the Alpha Council or the greater power that you mention,” he said. “That’s quite oblique, you know.”
“Yeah, I know. It’s the best I’ve got, though.”
“All I can say is that I get a dark feeling about it. Whatever he is seeking is dangerous. I believe he wants to use you and your two friends Phoenix and Delphine to get it. That is all I could see.”
I knew that already, though I nodded gratefully.
“But I could see his home in Transylvania. I believe it is his primary residence now. And I think it’s something you’d like to see as well.”
“How can we see it?”
Aethelred got up and shuffled toward a large mirror tucked into a corner. The ornate gold frame was covered in a thick layer of dust, but the glass was clean. I followed him to the mirror, Aidan at my back.
Aethelred reached out a gnarled hand and touched the glass. When he closed his eyes, a smoky image appeared in the mirror. The gray haze coalesced to form shapes. Soon, a massive fortress was visible, perched on craggy black mountains. A dim moon peeked out from behind hazy clouds.
“Whoa,” I breathed.
It was the scariest, most intensely fortified place I’d ever seen. My skin prickled as I looked at it, as if the castle’s protection charms were so strong they reached through the glass. Slowly, the image zoomed in, as if Aethelred were concentrating on specific parts. Figures began to appear, demons standing on the ramparts, armed with swords and bows.
“Holy shit, there’s a lot of them,” Aidan said.
“Exactly.” Aethelred removed his hand and stepped back. “I couldn’t count the number of guards, there were so many. There are also prisoners in the dungeon, though there are protections on the fortress that prohibited me from seeing inside.”
“That’s a problem,” I said.
“That whole place is a problem,” Aethelred said. “I could feel the evil in it. Normally, my visions only allow me sight. But this was stronger. Worse. You need to stop that man. Whatever he wants, it is very, very bad.”
We said goodbye to Aethelred, but didn’t speak to each other until we reached the car. Once I’d climbed in and shut the door, I turned to Aidan.
He spoke first. “The only way to stop Victor is to bring the fight to him. If we wait until he attacks, he’ll have the upper hand.”
“We could try going to the League of FireSouls for help. Rescuing FireSouls is what they do.” I’d met the League just last week. They were a secret organization dedicated to protecting our kind. My parents had been part of their number. “But there really aren’t enough of them. Only nine.”
Aidan nodded sharply. “That’s not enough. We need the Alpha Council. They have far greater numbers than the League.”
“You’re right. And this is the Alpha Council’s fight. Victor is after them. They’re the ones who killed his innocent parents and turned him into a monster.” I winced. That sounded a lot like victim blaming. “That’s not to say they deserve to have him after their blood, but they should help with this. They’ve handled FireSouls poorly in the past, and this is the result.”
“They can help us break through the guards,” Aidan said. “Let them fight Victor, who is after their blood, while we go rescue the FireSouls in his dungeon. We can get them out of there while the Alpha Council is busy with Victor.”
“It’s a good plan.”
Aidan wearily scrubbed a hand over his face. “But it’s risky. I don’t want you near the Alpha Council unless you have to be.”
“So we’ll go warn them about what Dermot is up to and request their help.”
“There’s no we,” Aidan said. “I’m still going alone to request their help.”
I bristled, wanting to be involved with every step. But he was right. I could blow this for us if they figured out what I was.
“Okay.” I nodded. “But you’ll wear a comms charm so that I can hear what’s going on. And I’ll be nearby in case you need help.”
“Fine. Good solution. This will work.”
“I hope so.”
5
The sun was setting as we pulled up to the Fairfield Airport, which was located on the outskirts of Magic’s Bend. The airport was tiny, and having Aidan’s private jet made things even easier. We’d fly into a small airport run by supernaturals over in Scotland, thereby avoiding customs and lines on the other side of the journey as well.
Nix and Del were waiting on the tarmac when Aidan and I pulled up. I’d called to tell them our plan and to ask them to bring my bag. They’d left Emile with Connor and Claire.
Aidan stopped the car near the jet.
“I’ll see you on the plane,” Aidan said. “I need to go check with the pilot about takeoff.”
“Sure.”
Aidan and I climbed out of the big SUV. He handed his keys to his assistant, who’d also met us, then set off for the plane. I headed over to Del and Nix.
“Get some good info?” Del asked as I approached. She had a bag slung over her shoulder, and her black hair spilled over the pink, U-shaped airplane pillow slung around her neck.
“Yeah, before it all went to shit.”
She frowned. “What do you mean?”
“I lost control of my power and dropped a house on Dermot and his guards,” I said. “They’re all dead.”
The words made bile threaten to rise in my throat. Aidan’s men had called us when they’d arrived a few minutes ago, letting us know they’d found an Order of the Magica cleanup crew at Dermot’s house. They’d asked some questions and learned that everyone in the rubble was dead. But at least they didn’t know who’d destroyed the house.
“Damn.” Nix grimaced.
“Yeah. I’ll update you with what we learned on the plane.”
“Sounds good.” She handed me my overnight bag. “Here’s your stuff.”
“Thanks.” I took the duffle from her.
“So we’re off to the Alpha Council headquarters?” Del asked.
“Aidan is. I’m backup in case he needs help.” I glanced at Del’s airplane pillow, knowing where this was going. “No need for you to risk being around them.”
The Alpha Council had proven how gung-ho they were about capturing FireSouls. I’d first seen Emile a couple months ago when they were dragging him off to the Prison for Magical Miscreants. I didn’t want my deirfiúr anywhere near them.
“Ha,” Nix said. “You can forget that right now. We’re going with you. Even if we don’t go inside.”
“Yeah,” Del said. “Letting you handle this on your own is no longer okay with us. We’re a team, remember?”
I grinned. There was no point fighting them, and they could handle themselves. “All right.”
Nix held up another bag. “Anyway, I’ve already packed my best kilt.”
“And I’ve got my pillow.” Del poked the pink fluff around her neck.
“Who can argue with that?” I said.
“Then off to Scotland!” Del cried.
The plane took off without incident, for which I was grateful. There’d been so many shocks and ambushes lately that I was wired for them.
After a dinner of lasagna and wine that the plane’s catering company had provided, we discussed Victor Orriodor and what Aidan and I had learned from Dermot and Aethelred. Nix and Del agreed that we’d need the Alpha Council’s help if we wanted to attack Victor on his home turf. There were just too many guards to do it alone.
Our priorities would be freeing the FireSoul prisoners and destroying Victor.
Until now, I’d been so busy trying to survive that the possibility of other captured FireSouls had been distant. Now I had confirmation. And a massive amount of power I could use to free them.
“Right, I’m headed to bed.” I rose. “You guys good out here?”
Del glanced around the private jet like I was crazy. There were two big couches near the back, each draped with cozy throws.
“I’ll persevere.” Del petted the pink airline pillow around her neck. “And I don’t think I’m going to need this fellow.”
I left Del and Nix to stretch out on the couches in the main cabin and headed to the small bedroom at the back of the plane. There were perks to dating the owner. Though honestly, I’d have been with Aidan even if he were a pizza delivery guy.
I slipped into the dimly lit room. Aidan had preceded me and was already standing by the bed in his tight boxer briefs.
The fabric clung to him indecently, and it was hard to keep my gaze on his face. Apparently shameless was my middle name.
“Are you objectifying me?” There was a smile in Aidan’s voice.
I jerked my gaze up from where it’d been glued to his rigid abdomen and grinned.
“You can hardly blame me.” I gestured up and down his body. “You’re standing there all…”
He grinned, then climbed into the bed. I stripped down to my t-shirt and panties and climbed in next to him. He tugged me against him and held me, my back pressed to his wide chest. I flicked off the bedside lamp and leaned back. In the sudden dark, all the problems we faced loomed larger.
“We’ll save them, right?” I asked.
“Yes.” His voice sounded so sure that it comforted me. “And we’ll reunite them with their families.”
“Good.” I relaxed against him.
His warm lips had dipped to my neck, tracing along the sensitive skin. I shivered.
“And then we’ll go away on a trip,” Aidan said. “Just you and me.”
“Oh yeah?” I asked.
“Yeah.” He nipped my neck, his teeth sending a shudder of pleasure through me. I rolled over to face him and looked into his eyes. It was nearly dark in the room, but there was enough light that I could see the glint of gray.
“So, this is all very stressful,” I murmured.
“It is.” His voice was rough.
“But I can think of a way to relieve some of that stress.” I pressed a kiss to his strong jaw. “But you’ll have to promise to be quiet.”
He groaned low in his throat, an animal noise that vibrated against my chest.
“You promise?” I asked. “No sound. Your plane doesn’t have the best soundproofing.”
His strong hand gripped my waist and tugged me to him. He was warm and hard against me, his big body dwarfing mine. Aidan might be bigger than me, but I was the one in control right now.
He dipped his head to mine and feathered his lips across my own. “I promise. But I’m not sure you’re going to manage it.”
I grinned. “I’ll do my best.”
A change in the plane’s engine noise woke me. Aidan was no longer in the room, but I could still feel his presence. He must have just left.
I scrubbed my eyes and leaned over to peer out the little window. It looked like we were landing. On this side of the Atlantic, the sun was shining, highlighting the peaks and valleys of the Highlands. The airport was supposed to be just outside of Inverness in northeastern Scotland.
I climbed out of bed, thoughts of Aidan filling my mind. There was no question that I was falling hard and fast for him. The big L-word loomed at the edges of my mind, but it freaked me out enough that I shoved it aside easily. I’d never felt that for anyone but my deirfiúr. And it was a different sort of L-word with Aidan. I’d save that until we didn’t have so much to overcome.
I pulled on my clothes, then grabbed my bag
and joined Aidan and my deirfiúr in the main cabin. The smell of coffee made my mouth water, and I gratefully accepted a cup from Nix.
“We’re landing in fifteen minutes,” Aidan said. “Better take a seat.”
I strapped in to one of the normal plane seats and sipped my coffee, mentally prepping myself for the meeting with the Alpha Council tomorrow morning.
When we landed, our plane was the only one on the tarmac. Cool wind whipped my hair back from my face as I climbed down the stairs. The mountains that rose on either side of us were green with summer foliage, though there were few trees.
“There’s our ride.” Aidan pointed to a Range Rover with big wheels parked nearby. A young man leaned against the hood, tossing the keys into the air and catching them again.
“Thank you, Alex,” Aidan said as he took the keys from the man. “Give my best to your mum.”
“Will do, sir.” Alex grinned and headed off toward the only building on the tarmac.
We all climbed into Aidan’s car and set off toward his remote childhood home. It was so deep in the boonies that sheep were the only witnesses to our progress, their beady eyes trained on our car.
When we reached Aidan’s land, the car rolled slowly through the familiar protective spells that prickled against my skin. Aidan’s dad, a fugitive from the Alpha Council fifteen years ago, had decked this place out in protective charms before he’d died. My concealment charm had started working again, keeping me hidden from Victor Orriodor’s seers, but the added protection on Aidan’s property made me feel even more secure.
“Home sweet home,” Aidan said as he pulled up to the shack where he’d lived for part of his youth. His tone indicated that this was in no way a sweet home. Even his shoulders were tense. I knew he didn’t like this place, and his tension reminded me how much.
But it was perfectly located in relation to Glencarrough, the Alpha Council headquarters, and it was well protected.