by Ashley Meira
“Please stop,” I said. “It is too early to throw up.”
“Jealousy is a nice color on you,” Damien said.
“Your gallery is in shambles,” I said. “Don’t make me do the same to your face.”
His grin widened.
I gaped at him. “What is it with you and your brother? Would you be less excited if I threatened to do something nice?”
“It’s not really threatening if it’s nice—”
“Magic can’t go against its nature,” Adam said, rubbing his temples. “Damien’s magic is destructive, through and through. Even if he wanted to heal someone, his magic wouldn’t go along with it. Once I saw him try to heal someone’s broken arm — he broke it in two more places.”
“Along with three of her fingers,” Damien added. “Still want me to heal you, darlin’?”
Fiona shrugged. “Kind of.”
“You’re all sick.” I threw up my arms — and nearly hurled all over my shoes. “Shit.”
Adam rushed over, hands filled with healing magic. The hole in my shoulder knit back together with mild discomfort, but his magic more than made up for everything. It was like slipping into a hot bath, and I melted against him.
Too soon, he pulled away. “You okay?”
My Fire growled, angry the magic stopped before it could be absorbed. Adam had good timing. “Yeah. Thank you.”
“If you want to drag this moment on, I could heal you,” Damien said. “Give my brother some new things to fix.”
“Or we could find another way to occupy ourselves.” Fiona threw him a wink.
“Oh? Tell me more.”
Geez. “No, tell me more. About what happened. Fiona said something was stolen.”
“Yeah,” Damien growled. “Guess that was their main goal, because they ran right for the box.” He nodded toward a mess of wood and glass in the corner “A masked figure grabbed it and sic’d those mages on us before escaping.”
Dread slithered up my spine. “Masked figure?”
Fiona nodded. “Couldn’t see much. They were fast. Short. Their mask was white, but I couldn’t make out details.”
“That’s one of the boxes Cyrus stole,” Adam said. “He was on Fairy Dew when you caught him, right? Is that why you said this wasn’t a coincidence?”
“Partly,” I said. “I spoke to Symeon. He didn’t know much about the Heart, but he said that it had the power to control earth.”
“I assume you mean the element,” Damien said. “Makes sense. It is the Heart of Gaia.”
I nodded. “When we fought Cyrus, he summoned golems. I thought it was weird — he didn’t seem like a summoner.”
“He isn’t,” Adam said. “Inquisitors look over all prisoners before they’re sent to the Black Citadel.”
“You think he used the Heart?” Fiona said, quickly changing topic.
“Mhm. I think whoever has the Heart now summoned those golems on the mountain too. I’m just not sure how it all fits together.”
“We can ask whoever’s on that mountain when this is over,” Adam said in a dangerous voice. I pitied whoever our bad guy was. Actually, no, I didn’t. “Can you track the thief?”
“Can you tell me which of the dozens of magic signals around here is theirs?” I asked.
“The one that’s not here.”
“Oh. Still think embarrassed is a cute look on me?”
“Yes,” he said seriously.
My face heated up. I paced around the room, trying to separate all the overlapping magic. Something tugged at my heart. The familiar magic from the vault was here, stronger. Fresh. Hazelnut and sugar cookies — a thief in a white mask.
“Damn it,” I groaned.
“What did they steal?” Adam asked Damien.
“The Gem of Anathasia.”
Adam frowned. “That doesn’t make sense.”
“What is the Gem of Anathasia?” Fiona asked.
“It’s a teleportation gem,” Damien said. “All the Council families have one.”
“It explains why their magic cuts off here. They teleported,” Adam said, running a hand through his hair. “I wanted to use the Gem to bypass the barrier if the beads didn’t pan out.”
“Teleportation gems can’t bypass barriers,” Fiona said.
“This one can,” Damien said. “It belonged to Anathasia, one of the first Fireborn.”
My blood turned to ice. “Fireborn?”
He nodded. “Unlike regular gems, it doesn’t run on its own magic. It uses the mage’s to teleport the user anywhere, past any protections. But that kind of power really drains you... which isn’t a problem for Fireborns.”
“You think the thief is Fireborn?” Fiona asked. Her eyes were fixed ahead as she fought the urge to look at me.
“They could be a regular mage.” He shrugged. “Steal it, use it, and pass it onto another mage while they recover.”
I twisted my ruby ring around. “Sounds impractical.”
“They broke into my gallery and stole from us. Twice. Obviously, they aren’t very—” Damien cut off, suspicion clouding his features. “Let me see that ring again.”
“Why?”
“Because it looks like the Gem,” Adam said. His arms were crossed, his jaw tense. “Large ruby surrounded by a platinum band with engravings on it.”
“From Cyrus,” Fiona babbled out. “The gem. That he had. When we caught him. Yes? Yes. The thing you stole. Not stole, but recovered. From his pocket. When he tried to escape—”
“Are you okay?” Damien asked. Inquisitors would have a field day with us. Or a field second.
Fiona pressed her fingers together. “Just connecting the dots.”
“When we were chasing Cyrus, he tried to escape using the Gem,” I said calmly, despite the storm inside of me. “I took it before he could. Didn’t know what it did though. Thought it was a fancy brooch.”
“A very pretty, fancy brooch.” Fiona sighed. “Told you we should’ve kept it.”
“What about the gallery?” I asked. “The mess and stuff.”
Damien shrugged and pulled out his phone. “I can make a call.”
“You sound like Symeon.”
“I bet I’m even calling the same guy. Try to track the magic if you can,” he called over his shoulder.
“Sophia?” Adam waved a hand in front of my face. “You okay?”
“She just needs some fresh air.” Fiona paused, looking at the giant broken window. “Fresher air. I’m going to take her outside while you deal with all this. I think I saw a broom in the back.”
“I can’t believe that worked,” I said as she dragged me outside. “You got to teach me how to handle him like that.”
“We’ve got, like, five minutes before he recovers from that. Actually, he’s a Pierce. Make it two.”
I stared at the ruby on my thumb. “My ring is a Fireborn relic.”
“Your ring is similar—”
“Fiona!”
“I’m just saying: there are a lot of rubies with platinum bands and engravings.”
I glared at her. “If we weren’t sisters, I’d strangle you.”
“Focus.” She poked my side. “There are bigger problems.”
“Really? Damien and Adam both think my ring looks like the Gem. They aren’t stupid. They’re going to connect—”
“So? Just because you have a Fireborn relic doesn’t mean they’ll—”
“Fiona!” I grabbed her shoulders and shook. “Stop it. They. Will. Find. Out.” Why couldn’t I have her false hope?
“I know.” She pulled me into a hug. “What can I do?”
“I don’t know,” I mumbled into her shoulder. “I want this to end. I want to grab the Heart, fling it at Damien’s face, and move to Tibet.”
“Not Pluto?”
“Tibet’s closer.”
“And it has oxygen.” She chuckled before getting serious. “I’m coming with you.”
“Duh. I’m not living in Tibet by myself.”
&nbs
p; “Yes, you are. I hate the cold. Which is why you should be honored I’m coming to the Pyrenees with you.”
I pulled back. “No, you’re not.”
She rolled her eyes. “Look, I get you want private time with your boyfriend, but me being there can only help speed things up. At the very least, getting the Heart out of circulation is a good thing. And the sooner we do that, the sooner we can deal with the rest of this mess.”
“Any chance your portals can take us to the Pyrenees directly?” Adam asked.
We both jumped. “Knock first!”
He stared at us, then knocked on the single remaining hinge of the gallery’s front door. “Can I come in?”
Fiona leaned over to me. “That was kind of cute.”
“You’re supposed to be on my side.”
“I’m on your side,” Adam said. “Does that count?”
“Yes,” Fiona said.
“No,” I said, smacking her arm.
“Can I speak to you?” he asked. “Alone.”
“No,” I blurted out.
“Why?”
“I don’t need a reason.”
His magic churned, displeased. “It’s important.”
Then, definitely no. But I had an entire plane ride with him. There was no way to avoid him. “Give us a second, Fiona.”
“Fine.” She stepped around Adam and back into the gallery. “But I’m not sweeping.”
He waited until she was out of earshot before speaking. “Sophia—”
“I don’t know about the ring,” I said, covering it with my palm. “I don’t know why they look similar. Honestly. And I know honestly is what people say when they’re lying, but—”
“You’re a very good fighter.”
I froze, mouth still open. A bunch of garbled sounds escaped my lips. How the hell did he keep catching me off guard? “Huh?”
He reached over and traced a finger over where I’d been stabbed before covering the area with his hand. “But you wouldn’t have gotten stabbed if you used your magic.”
The familiarity relaxed me. “I’m not a barrier mage.”
“No, you’re a hybrid, like me. Which means you could be a barrier mage. And if you aren’t—” he smirked “—a fireball to the face would have stopped him way before he reached you.”
I forced a scoff. “Sounds like something a mage would say.”
He flashed me that beautiful smile. “I meant what I said last night. Please let me train you.”
“I hate pushy guys.”
“Let me in, Sophia. I’ll keep your secrets.” One hand wrapped around my waist while the other tangled itself in my hair. His heartbeat thumped against my ear, calm and strong. The scent of pine surrounded me, and I could taste vanilla on the tip of my tongue. His warmth enveloped me, bringing a peace I’d never felt before we met. “I can keep you safe. I can help you keep yourself safe.”
I hugged him, confusion and fear laying waste to my mind. Yes. The word was so simple but carried so much. Part of me thought I could still hide it, that he could train me and never find out what I was. I really wanted to believe that part.
But it was too hard. I’d spent eight years keeping everyone out, including my closest friends. If they found out what I was, they’d either report me or protect me, which would place them in danger. I didn’t want either of those things to happen. I didn’t want anyone to get hurt because of me. Especially not Adam. He’d have to turn me in or risk prosecution himself.
Tears pricked at my eyes. Way too fucking early for this. “I can’t.”
He tilted my head back, his stormy gray eyes determined. A finger wiped away my tears, before sliding to my lips. “I’m not giving up on you.”
“You will.” I said, looking at his lips. They were so perfect. I’d have to stand on my tiptoes and pull him down, but we could meet in the middle.
As if he’d read my mind, he bent down, lips capturing mine. This wasn’t like our past kisses. There was no rush of heat or flood of magic. It was a slow burn that managed to be twice as intense. His magic poured into me, coating the inside of my mouth and sliding down my throat. My Fire swallowed it up like an eager child, grasping for more.
Sense snapped back into me. He’d notice. I wasn’t the only one at risk if my secret was exposed. There was my sister, my friends, him. I turned away but didn’t stop hugging him. He didn’t let go either.
“I’ve got another job for you.”
I let out a choked laugh. “A job?”
“You wanted to keep things professional.”
“I think it’s a little late for that.”
He smiled and brushed my hair back. “You want to kiss again?”
“What’s the job?”
“I need you to find the Gem of Anathasia.”
Trying to hide my disappointment, I said, “Think it’ll be easier to find than the last thing you asked me to find?”
“I wouldn’t mind another adventure together.”
“We still need to get the Heart,” I reminded him. We’d probably find the Gem there, too. I tried to shake off the disappointment that hit when I realized we wouldn’t be going on another adventure together.
“Damn it,” he muttered as his phone chimed. Once he read the message, his eyes darkened.
“I’m guessing it’s not Damien calling from the vault?”
“No,” he said gravely. “Cyrus has escaped.”
Chapter Twenty
We hurried back inside. Based on Damien’s expression, he’d gotten the same message.
“No one is supposed to be able to escape the Black Citadel.” He tugged a hand through his hair. “What the hell is the point otherwise?”
“How did he do it?” And could I replicate it on my own?
“Details are still filtering in.” Adam was furiously scrolling through his phone. “Someone broke in, apparently. A masked figure appeared in Cyrus’ cell, grabbed him, and vanished.”
“I’m surprised he’s already in prison,” Fiona said, coming to stand by me. “It usually takes longer to prosecute.”
“He pissed off some pretty powerful people,” Damien said. “I’m surprised he wasn’t put in high security.”
“He was going to be transferred there in a few days,” Adam said. “Issues with paperwork or something.”
Damien scoffed. “What did Thomas do, give himself more paperwork? I know he loves it, but really.”
“Maybe he’s been too busy with Adrienne,” Fiona said before wrinkling her nose. “Ew. Why did I put those pictures in my head?”
“For real,” I said before focusing on the topic at hand. “Is the Gem powerful enough to break through the Black Citadel’s defenses?”
Damien looked me over, his eyes lingering over my ring. He was frowning, but his magic was wrapped too well for me to read more. “Depends on how much magic the user has and is willing to spend. A strong enough mage could do it, though the protections on the Black Citadel means they’re very powerful.”
“And probably exhausted,” Adam said. “But a Fireborn could replenish their magic easily.”
“Why Cyrus, though?” Fiona asked. “They went through a lot of trouble to get him back.”
“He did say he was connected,” I said. “I thought he was just monologuing like they always do.”
“You get a lot of criminals giving speeches?” Damien asked.
“Not if we knock them out fast enough,” Fiona muttered. Her hand reached for mine, bringing back memories of my dream. A girl in a white mask.
“Can you describe the thief who stole the Gem?” I asked. “Gender or maybe what the mask looked like?”
“Female,” Damien said, still eyeing me suspiciously. It made me want to hide behind Adam, which made me want to set myself on fire. “Or built like one. Slim. Short, maybe five one. Mask had fangs, I think.”
“I just received a picture.” Adam held his phone out. “Is this the person?”
We checked the picture. It was blurry, but I recognize
d the mask right away. Bile pooled in my mouth. It burned twice as much going down, but it was better than throwing up on the floor.
Damien nodded. “Shitty picture for the security in there, but the mask is right. Not sure about the person behind it. Build is similar.”
Fiona nodded in agreement. “I think it’s the same person.”
“There’s no way in hell anyone breaks into the Black Citadel — and escapes — with any magic left,” Damien said. “They’re tapped out. It’s amazing they even had enough magic to leave. There’s as many enchantments to keep people in as there are to keep them out.”
“If they were Fireborn, they could’ve drained Cyrus,” Adam said, wrapping an arm around me. I didn’t push him away — I could barely stand on my own. “No, never mind. He wouldn’t have any magic to drain.”
Fiona frowned. “Why not? He’s a mage.”
“Inhibitor bangles,” Damien said. “They completely block magic. A Fireborn won’t be able to absorb anything because he’s tapped out.”
“What about tracker mages?” I asked hopefully. “Can they still sense someone’s magic if they’re wearing the bangle?”
Adam squeezed my shoulder. “Powerful trackers like us can, yes — though not from as great a distance. Inhibitor bangles are strictly regulated. Each bangle is designated to an Inquisitor in case of an escape. Only Inquisitors and Council members can remove the bangles.”
Unbelievable. One break, that’s all I wanted. Those bangles would’ve made my life a lot easier. I could live like a free woman. My Fire sizzled. Yeah, I could date Adam too. I’d be lying if I said that didn’t factor in.
“Two robberies in less than a week,” Damien said, gritting his teeth. “I don’t like it, Adam.”
“Me neither,” Adam said. He sounded exhausted. I hugged myself to keep from hugging him. “If our Gem thief is connected to Cyrus, they might be connected to the Heart. There could be clues on the Pyrenees.”
“I’m coming too,” Fiona said. “No charge. Though I do like dinner,” she added, winking at Damien.
He smirked, his muscles relaxing. “Maybe I’ll surprise you when you get back.”
“You’re not coming?” I asked. Being stuck on a plane with Mr. Suspicious wasn’t my idea of a good time, but having a dragon on our side never hurt.