by K. M. Shea
I stiffened. “Did he punish you for coming to see me?”
Momoko ignored the question. “I don’t have much time—I’ve been out too long already. But you need to know: at the next Wizard Council session, Mason is going to request that he be made Adept of House Medeis.”
“That’s impossible,” I said. “I’m still alive! And besides that, the council can’t change who inherits the House!”
“He’s going to try,” Momoko said grimly. “He’s trying to frame it that you abandoned House Medeis and are an unfit leader. Even if the council agrees, he can’t be made Adept without the signet ring—which I assume you have now, as well as all the paperwork,” Momoko said. “You need to hide it so he can’t get to it.”
“I don’t have the ring.”
“What?” Momoko’s face turned white with fear. “Wasn’t it in the vault?”
“I can’t get in the vault,” I said. “I need an ID.”
Momoko released me so she could rub her eyes. “And Mason still has your stuff stashed so we can’t get at it. Ugh, it is the worst possible scenario.”
“Mason can’t get in either, unless he convinces the council to make him Adept.”
“Well, even if the ring is in the vault, at least he can’t get it, and you still have the House deed,” Momoko said. “I don’t think they’ll make him Adept without those things.”
“I wouldn’t be so sure about that.”
Momoko’s dark eyes were shiny with fear. “Why?”
“The other wizarding Houses refused to help me—our allies wouldn’t even answer the door. I wouldn’t be surprised to find that if they made a big enough show of united strength, they might convince the council.” My temples pounded as I clutched my paperwork—now useless. I couldn’t wait months for an appeal. I needed to get in now!
“But everyone heard about how you unsealed your magic,” Momoko argued. “They can’t see you as an unfit Adept anymore.”
“Maybe, but no one is lining up outside Drake Hall to offer their support.” I chewed on my lip. “We’ll figure this out. Mason isn’t going to win.”
Momoko combed her fingers through her hair, making her silver bracelet hang from her wrist. “You’re right.”
I bitterly stared at the bracelet. Silver is one of the easiest metals to enchant—which is why it can be effective against werewolves and can hold a spell that cancels magic. Mason had essentially collared all the House Medeis wizards with these magic-canceling bracelets shortly after I left, making them easier to control. I briefly squeezed my eyes shut, then tried to smile. “How is everyone—and the House?”
“We’re surviving,” Momoko said. “It’s rough—the only reason it isn’t worse is there’s enough people who belong to House Medeis that he can’t keep us under watch all the time.”
“And the House?” I prompted again. “Is it weakening?”
Momoko hesitated.
“What is it?”
“It’s stabilized,” Momoko slowly said. “To the point where it’s actually doing…better.”
“What?”
Was the House accepting Mason? But it was common knowledge that if a House was passed out of the main bloodline, it went crazy and things were hard. Why, then, was House Medeis improving?
“Mr. Clark said that maybe Mason has been trying to magic the place, but it doesn’t seem like it.”
“Does the House obey him?”
“No. It still won’t do anything any of us ask. But it’s improved a lot. Mason claims it’s because he’s brought power back to the House—as if we’re stupid enough to believe that.” Momoko grunted.
I stared at a crack in the sidewalk, still trying to process it.
The House was doing better. Without me.
“Hey, don’t worry about it.” Momoko swept me up in another hug. “You’re the Adept. House Medeis is waiting for you.”
“Yeah, okay,” I said—though I wasn’t so sure anymore.
Momoko carefully studied my face. “I wish we could talk more, but I do have to go. If Mason suspects I talked to you…”
“Call me,” I said. “I have a phone now.” I hurriedly gave Momoko the number, which she entered in her phone.
“How did you get a phone?”
“Killian gave it to me.”
Momoko paused. “Do you think it’s safe to use? What if he planted a hearing device?”
“Momoko, I live in Drake Hall. He already hears everything I say.”
Momoko gave me a wan smile. “I suppose that’s true.”
“I miss you. Tell everyone I miss them, too.” I hugged her again, blinking back tears.
“Everyone misses you. Felix is going to be so mad that he missed seeing you—his shift is next. And Ivy asks about you all the time,” Momoko said, referring to Felix’s young niece.
I smiled and stepped back. “Be safe.”
“You too.” Momoko squeezed my hand, walked backwards a few steps so she could wave, then hurried down the sidewalk.
Killian stood directly behind me. “News from the House?”
I was tempted to back up and lean against him as I watched Momoko run. I missed my family like a hole in my heart.
But if I wanted a hug, Celestina was a much better candidate than Killian—as comfortable as it was to be near him because of the coolness he radiated.
I made myself stand tall. “Yeah. A lot of complications. Hey, Killian. Could I attend the next Regional Committee of Magic meeting with you?” I turned around to peer up at his face and gauge his reaction.
Killian narrowed his eyes. “Why?”
The news poured from my mouth as I explained everything Momoko had told me.
Killian was silent—even though he’d probably overheard everything we said. He didn’t stop me even when the SUV pulled up and he opened the door for me—the back door, of course.
I slid in, finishing up as I moved to the far side of the bench seat. “Legally Mason shouldn’t be able to get the position of Adept, but nothing has been going the way it should. And if my allies weren’t willing to back me up when he first tried his coup, I don’t think they’re going to step in now.”
I felt tears sting my eyes. Not tears of sadness—well, maybe a little—but mostly frustration.
I had been betrayed by a member of House Medeis, by my own parents, by our allies. And I was sitting here telling this to Killian Drake of all people.
It was like the world had gradually turned upside down while I wasn’t paying attention. Why was I telling Killian anyway? Even if he was invested in my training and my physical wellbeing, House Medeis was way beneath his notice.
Worried, I watched Killian slide into the SUV and shut the door.
He didn’t say a word as he arranged himself in the seat, then turned to meet my gaze.
There was no sense of boredom in his eyes—and no cunning light, either.
He was just…listening.
His eyes—black with flecks of red—were fathomless, but it was obvious I had all of his attention.
I don’t know if I lost my mind for a minute, or if all of the news from Momoko just broke me, but before I knew what I was doing, I scooted back across the bench seat and set my head on his chest with a thump.
I squeezed my eyes shut and almost sighed at the slight chill he radiated. I had always liked it, but today there was something extra calming about it. I breathed deeply, relaxing into Killian’s welcoming coolness, and about the time I sagged against him so he took most of my weight, my brain finally caught up with my body.
I snapped my eyes open, but before I could throw myself back across the car and begin the apologies, Killian curled an arm around my shoulders.
He didn’t say anything. When I risked peeking up at him, he wasn’t even looking down at me, but out the window.
For a moment I tried to figure out if it was better for my health to stay, or lean back. Another glance at Killian revealed he still wasn’t watching me, though he brushed my shoulder once or twi
ce with his thumb.
I opted to stay.
If Killian wasn’t bothered, I wasn’t going to give up the comfort I had found.
I closed my eyes again and let myself rest my head on him for several long moments before I gathered up my emotions and stuffed them down again.
“I’m okay.” I took a breath and nodded a few times. When I glanced at Killian, he was watching me with a curious tilt to his head. I forced myself to sit upright and scooted back to my seat to buckle myself in for the drive.
Killian and the driver exchanged looks in the rearview mirror. Killian shrugged, and the driver switched gears.
“Thank you,” I said once the SUV was finally moving.
Killian had been poking around on an app on his phone, but he looked up long enough to give me a nod that I almost missed.
I clasped my hands and tried to forcefully pull myself together.
“Do you require another cookie?” Killian asked.
“Kitchen’s out of them,” I automatically replied.
“You seem to be under the mistaken belief that the kitchen staff sets the menu for us all,” Killian dryly said. “The point of hiring such a staff is that they provide what you want.”
“Chocolate chip, please.”
Killian tapped away on his phone. “If I had known wizards can be easily bought with baked goods, the beginning of my political career would have been much smoother.”
I laughed. “I can’t see you exchanging cakes for political votes—it wouldn’t match your brand.”
“Yes, that is more something the Paragon would attempt,” Killian admitted.
“You don’t want a naked cat for yourself?”
“I don’t want to even see that mockery of nature, but it’s impossible to talk to the Paragon without him pulling out a photo of that abomination.”
“I think she’s actually got a pretty sweet temperament.”
“Certainly—for something that looks like a hobgoblin.”
I laughed, and by the time we got back to Drake Hall I was feeling a lot better.
I had learned two things on the car ride, however.
Firstly, I wasn’t going to roll over and let Mason take House Medeis from me. Secondly, Killian had to have cared for me at least a little, or he wouldn’t have let me throw myself at him and then trouble himself with polite niceties. He knew what he was doing when he lured me into our discussion. And that—more than the phone, my clothes, and hauling me off to see the Paragon—made me unexpectedly happy.
By the time the next Regional Committee of Magic meeting rolled around, I had a plan.
I’d gone through all the paperwork for my appeals to Tutu’s, and discovered that if I had a notarized letter from the Wizard Council, I could skip a bunch of steps in the process—which was pretty important given that one of those steps included submitting a form to the Wizard Registration Office in Chicago for a copy of my childhood registration. That registration was going to be pretty sticky because my parents had registered me at a much lower power grade than I really was, so it wasn’t even a certain thing that Tutu’s would accept the outdated registration. (Not to mention Registration was going to get fussy when they realized my wizard mark and power level no longer matched.)
The Committee of Magic met pretty frequently, but they had official, public forums once a month, and before these special forums the subcommittees met—the Wizard Council, the Shifter Board, the Fae Ring, and the Vampire Assembly being the main ones.
That was my opportunity to present my case. Thankfully, Killian Drake was meticulous and cutthroat, so on the days of the public forums he insisted on attending every single subcommittee meeting. (Back when my parents were alive, everyone said he sat in on the meetings as a form of intimidation since he was the only Committee Member who bothered to sit through meetings for a race not his own.)
So even though the Wizard Council met three hours before the actual Committee of Magic forum, Killian Drake and his guards were already there.
We had actually already been there for a while—the Shifter Board met first around noon so their Pre-Dominant—the top shifter in the region—had time to go hunt and eat before the evening meeting.
I hadn’t bothered to attend that meeting—I was in the bathroom practicing my appeal with a very amused Celestina.
“The Fae Ring meeting is over,” Celestina announced after her phone buzzed with a text message. “His Eminence said it’s time to head to the Wizard Council.”
“Okay.” I tapped my papers on the fancy granite counter, then glanced in the mirror to confirm my blond hair was smooth and that my dress shirt sat right on my shoulders. I had figured it wouldn’t be a good idea to wear the official Drake suit Killian had gotten for me as it would probably make the wizard leaders nervous, so I was just wearing the suit slacks with a powder blue dress shirt I had borrowed from one of the Drake Family blood donors. I had to roll up the sleeves to my elbows which gave it a more casual look. But I looked like a kid playing dress up with the sleeves down, so Casual Hazel it was!
I hurried after Celestina and slipped out of the bathroom, following her down the wide hallway, our high heels making quiet clicks on the tiled floor. (Or at least Celestina was quiet. I sounded more like a tapdancing goat.)
We wound our way through the Curia Cloisters, popping into a hallway that ended with a T intersection, which, apparently, was where Killian was holding court.
One eyebrow was dangerously arched at an “I’m-starting-to-get-annoyed” angle, but the vampires lined around him didn’t seem to notice.
A female vampire wearing a Victorian hoop-skirt was in the process of curtsying deeply as we approached the group. “I deeply apologize, Your Eminence, but he couldn’t make it.”
Killian’s eyebrow twitched—not a good sign. “And what could have possibly kept Elder Aberdeen from attending and cause him to instead send one of his underlings in his place for the Vampire Assembly?”
“He was feeling rather melancholy, Your Eminence.” The female vampire stared at the ground and still hadn’t risen from her curtsy.
“Melancholy?” Killian snarled.
“Yes, Your Eminence.”
Killian narrowed his eyes in a way that would have had me running for cover, but the unfortunate vampire was trapped, and shook a little in her fear.
“Fine. But inform Aberdeen that at the next assembly I will send a few of my people to the Aberdeen Family to ready him for the day so he will be properly inspired to attend.” Killian smiled dangerously.
The female vampire audibly gulped and backed away without ever looking up. “Yes, Your Eminence.”
I scratched my neck as I watched the exchange. “Does this Aberdeen guy usually skip out on meetings?” I asked Celestina.
“Many of the more prominent and respected vampire Family Elders are not often motivated to attend important meetings,” Celestina said.
I furrowed my eyebrows. “Really? That seems like a pretty dangerous practice for their health. I can’t imagine Killian puts up with it. Unless that’s why they do it?”
Celestina shook her head. “It’s not like that at all—they respect His Eminence, though perhaps grudgingly so.”
“Then why wouldn’t they attend? Subcommittee meetings are the biggest chance to make suggestions and lodge complaints. The wizard meetings are always packed.”
“It’s their state of mind,” Celestina said.
I wrinkled my forehead. “What?”
Killian turned to the next vampire—a male dressed in what appeared to be Colonial American fashion with a navy jacket and breeches, a black waistcoat, and a three-cornered felt hat. “You’re from?” he prompted.
The hat-wearing vampire bowed. “Lewis Family, Your Eminence. I am Elder Charity’s escort for the night.”
Killian fiddled with his gold cufflinks. “And what do you want?”
The vampire gulped audibly and bowed again. “If it would please Your Eminence, Elder Charity requests that a notic
e of Vampire Assembly meetings be sent out the week before.”
Killian studied the vampire. “Reminders are sent out—through email.”
Another bow. “Yes, Your Eminence. Lewis Family much appreciates the email; however, Elder Charity prefers a notice by mail because she—hrm—is concerned that technology may fail, leaving her uninformed.”
Celestina whistled lowly. “Sacrificial lamb if there ever was one.”
“I’m guessing the Elders send their underlings to Killian with all of their stupid requests?” I whispered.
“Right on.”
Predictably, Killian’s smile turned vicious. “I see. Please inform Elder Charity that if she is so against computers, I’d be happy to send out the reminder by text.”
“Ah—um. Very good, Your Eminence,” the male vampire said to the floor as he bowed a third time. “Unfortunately, Elder Charity doesn’t own a cellular phone of any kind.”
“Then she better get one—or adopt a younger vampire into the Family to handle technology for her since it seems she’d rather rot in the past.”
“Oh, no, Your Eminence, it is not that at all,” the colonial-dressed vampire protested.
Killian turned away from him, his black-red eyes falling on me. “You know where the Wizard Council meeting is held?”
“I’ve attended a few of them with my parents.” I started back up the hallway Celestina and I had walked down.
Killian caught up with me in a stride or two, the rest of the Drake Family vampires falling into position behind him.
I glanced at Killian. It seemed like he’d left his irritation behind with the crowd of vampires based on the smoothness of his face.
“Is it usually like that?” I asked.
He cut his eyes down toward me. “What?”
“Dealing with the other vampire Families?” I asked. “Is it always so…”
“Annoying?” Killian suggested. “Often times.”
I was silent for a few steps as we turned a corner. “It’s weird. We wizards see vampires as being one of the ultimate predators. I never imagined they’d skip meetings and complain about emails.”
“We are one of the ultimate predators,” Killian growled. “Unfortunately, the oldest of vampires are more prone to fits and bouts of stupidity.”