by G. K. DeRosa
My heart jackhammered against my ribs, madly searching for a way out. I inhaled deeply. I had to have faith in my father; he’d find a way out of this somehow.
“As you all now know, Luna Hallows is my daughter. She’s a direct descendent of the Daemonium Sangri, my warlock bloodline. It’s not uncommon for witches descended from warlocks to have some demon powers. She’s been marked as a darkblood at the academy and is quite talented. Performing this test will only call unwanted attention to her and more importantly to me. Given the precarious state of affairs between us and the humans, now is not the time.”
“What does Luna’s supernatural status have to do with the humans?” asked Malaki.
“As the Coven Council representative on the Etrian Assembly, I have a close relationship with the American president, Lazaris. If you’ll grant me this courtesy and forego this ridiculous blood test, I will do everything in my power to convince the president to loosen the border controls. Our people will be happy, and I’ll be sure to let them know it was all your doing, Malaki. Perhaps on the next vote for head of council, you will finally come in the lead.”
The dark sorcerer bristled. He steepled his hands atop the dark mahogany wood. “Don’t you see what he’s doing?” His head rotated from side to side to face his fellow council members. “He’s so desperate to keep the truth from us, the great high warlock is resorting to bribery.”
The young woman with the rose-gold hair, whose name I didn’t know, sat forward. “Malaki makes a valid point, Garrix. By requesting this deal, you are essentially confirming his speculation.”
“A father must do what he will to protect his offspring, Gwinith.”
Malaki rose, his obsidian eyes gleaming. “So you don’t deny that Luna is in fact the first female warlock?”
Garrix’s eyes narrowed into tiny slits. Dark tendrils of energy coiled around him like venomous snakes. “I do not confirm or deny anything. I only ask that you let this go.” A snarl laced his final words as the deep cobalt in his irises blazed to life.
The four council members huddled together, whispering. Anxiety bubbled in my gut, rippling through every inch of me as I watched their heated discussion. No matter how hard I strained my ears I couldn’t make out a word. A slight golden shimmer encasing the dais explained why. Cloaking spell. With all the heady magic filling the room, I hadn’t been able to decipher it at first.
“What do you think they’re saying?” I whispered.
“We’ll find out soon enough, Luna.”
After the longest minutes of my life, the packed circle of heads disbanded and Serafine sat forward. “We’ve discussed your request, Garrix, but unfortunately, it has been denied. We will move forward with the blood test as originally planned.”
All the air evacuated my lungs in one fell swoop. I clutched my chest, the sudden tightness too much. My legs wobbled and darkness encroached my peripheral vision. Oh no. I couldn’t faint in front of the council. Garrix’s hand reached out to steady me, and his other arm encircled my waist to keep me standing.
“Everything will be fine,” he whispered.
I wanted to believe him, but at the moment I couldn’t see how that was possible. In a few minutes, they’d all know the truth. Then what?
Draven stepped down from the platform, regret filling his smoky gray eyes. “Come, child, we will perform a quick blood test and this will all be over.”
I nodded, pretending I didn’t know what was coming next. With a flick of his wrist, two wooden chairs appeared in the center of the tribunal. We sat, and he repeated the procedure he’d performed in Cillian’s office nearly a year ago.
I kept my eyes closed the entire time so my expression wouldn’t give me away. The last thing I wanted was for the others to realize the sorcerer had known all along.
When I heard Draven coughing, I lifted my lids as the dark smoke spewed from his mouth. He took a few sips from a magically-conjured glass of water and turned to face the council. “My dear colleagues, it is as Malaki has guessed. Luna Hallows is in fact the first female warlock.”
I held my breath as murmured gasps swept through the remaining council members. Excited chatter came next. Draven returned to the pulpit to confer with the others as I focused on slowing the erratic staccato of my heart. Thank goodness the old sorcerer had left the chair.
Malaki stood, towering over the others as he glared down at my father. “Garrix, you will be dealt with next for keeping this from us.”
“No!” The word popped out before I could stop it.
My father’s arm slapped across my chest. “It’s fine, Luna. I will deal with this.” Turning his gaze upward, an angelic smile crossed his face. “I knew nothing about her warlock blood, Malaki. And there is absolutely no way for you to prove otherwise.”
“You practically just admitted it a moment ago.”
“I did no such thing. I offered you a chance to speak in your favor to a great ally, and you refused. My daughter’s unique situation comes as much of a shock to me as it does to you.”
“I doubt that very much,” Malaki snarled.
“Enough,” said Serafine. “This is a monumental discovery, ladies and gentlemen. We will need to discuss the ramifications and what the next steps will be.” The witch seared her gaze on me. “Typically, I would require you to remain here in our custody until the appropriate measures can be determined, but given who your father is, I will release you to his custody.”
“Thank you, Serafine,” said Garrix. He eyed me expectantly and motioned toward the others.
“Thank you,” I mumbled.
“We will be in touch in the next few days. For now, this meeting is adjourned.” Serafine’s voice echoed across the vast chamber as I followed my father out.
“Why didn’t you ask Malaki how he knew about my warlock-ness? Wouldn’t that prove he’d been conspiring with Luxora or Nicodemus at least?”
“It wouldn’t prove anything other than confirm their suspicions that I knew all along.”
I huffed, the sound echoing off the marble walls. “What do you think will happen now?”
“They’ll want to keep you on a tight leash, test your powers, etcetera. It’s what I would do.”
I chewed on the inside of my mouth as I considered the council’s conditions of release. “Do I really have to stay with you?”
“Unfortunately, yes. Well, you won’t be staying with me exactly, but you’ll be a guest at my home. I have some pressing matters I need to attend to in Washington.”
Oh, right. Because my father was actually the president of the most powerful country in the human world in addition to being a high warlock.
Garrix opened the double doors and brilliant daylight spilled through, forcing me to squint. Cillian and Ryder’s dark shadows quickly blotted out the sun. Their anxious faces coalesced in front of us as soon as my pupils adjusted to the bright sun outside.
“What happened?” Ryder asked.
“They know,” I muttered.
A slew of curses spewed from his clenched jaw. “Garrix, I thought you said you could handle this,” he hissed.
Garrix threw his hand up. “Enough. We’ll discuss this further at my home.” His raised hand pulsed with light, and a shimmery blue orb took shape. Tossing it onto the middle of the square, a whirling portal appeared. “After you.” He motioned to me, and I led the way through the azure vortex.
A few moments later, we were back in Garrix’s ultra modern living room. Portalling really made travel so much easier. I didn’t think I’d ever get used to having to move the old-fashioned way.
“Please, sit.” He pointed at the white leather couches, and we all filled in the immaculate space.
“So what happened?” Ryder repeated.
Garrix propped himself on the edge of the chair across from us. “I overestimated the council’s desire for freer reign in the human world.” His lips twisted. “No matter. I’ll be sure no harm comes to Luna and that word of what she is doesn’t go any further
than that building.”
“You can’t guarantee that.” I stared at my father with arms tightly crossed over my chest. “Luxora or Nicodemus could have already told any number of their new allies.”
“She’s right,” said Cillian. “With Luxora free, there’s no telling what she’s up to.”
“And what’s the big deal, anyway? Maybe if everyone knew, it would make things easier. We wouldn’t have to fight the Coven Council and the Underworld.”
“Luna, you don’t know what people are capable of—what extent they’ll go to for power. The fewer people that know your secret the better.” He turned his cold gaze to Cillian. “I thought you were working with the SIA to bring Luxora and Nicodemus back into custody. What’s taking so long?”
The angel bristled beside me. “Believe me, it’s not for a lack of trying. The dark lord’s web stretches farther within Azar than we’d realized. I’ve even sent a force of angel warriors along with the gargoyles to aid the SIA. Luxora has simply vanished.”
Good riddance.
“And you’re sure she’s not in the Underworld?” my father asked.
“Lucifer has confirmed it.”
Garrix’s phone buzzed, and he pulled it from an inner jacket pocket. His brows furrowed as he scanned the screen. “I’m sorry, but I must go.” He swiveled his gaze to Cillian and Ryder. “As per the council’s stipulations for Luna’s release, she must remain in my custody until they determine their next course of action.”
“Absolutely not,” Ryder growled.
Cillian’s hand came across his nephew’s chest. “Is there no other way? Luna could be released to my care at the academy.”
Garrix shook his head. “They’d never relinquish her to an outsider. We were lucky they didn’t insist on keeping her at headquarters. It’s what I would’ve done.”
“What about her training and her classes?” Ryder insisted.
“It should only be a few days until they come to a decision, then we can re-evaluate the situation. Besides, Luxora would never search for her here. She’ll be perfectly safe in my absence. I’ll make sure not even a cockroach could slip by the wards.”
“I’m staying with her.”
My eyes shot around Cillian’s big form to gawk at Ryder. “I don’t think that’s necessary,” I squeaked. Even though a part of me wasn’t too thrilled about staying in this big house by myself.
Cillian turned to me, his expression serious. “I think it’s a good idea, Luna.”
“You do?” I thought my eyes were going to pop out of my head. My angel headmaster was usually the first to object to Ryder and me spending any alone time.
“I would stay if I could, but unfortunately, there are important matters I must attend to at the academy on a daily basis. Plus there’s coordinating the Luxora manhunt.”
“Right.”
“Very well, then.” Garrix glanced at his watch. “I must go, but please both of you make yourselves comfortable. I’ll be in touch if I hear anything from the council.”
Another portal swirled to life in the middle of the white room, the bluish hues reflecting off the pristine walls. “Cillian, may I give you a ride back to Darkhen?”
“Yes, thank you.” My headmaster rose and I followed suit, my eyes pleading with him to stay. He either didn’t get it or was purposely ignoring me. Placing his hands on my shoulders, he squeezed and a dribble of healing angel light seeped through my pores. “You know where I’ll be if you need anything. For now, sit tight. Hopefully, when I return I’ll have good news about Luxora.”
I gulped. “Okay, thanks, Cillian.”
He and Garrix disappeared through the portal. A second later, the swirling winds blinked out of existence, and a charged silence filled the air.
Chapter 12
Ryder leaned back on the couch and stretched his long legs out, propping them on the immaculate glass coffee table. “So do you think Garrix has some booze laying around the house?”
A nervous giggle slipped out. Come on, Luna, you can do this. There was no reason for me to be nervous, right? This was just me and Ryder, the fun, flirty demon instructor I met when I first started at Darkhen. There was no reason for this to be weird.
I folded into the chair across from him and willed my heart to maintain a steady rhythm. “I doubt he has much of anything in this perfect model home.”
Ryder stood and made his way to the kitchen. The massive open great room gave me a perfect view of the sleek appliances and high-end marble finishes. He opened the refrigerator and grunted. “Nothing.”
“Check the cabinets,” I called out. I could definitely use a drink to relax.
The opening and closing of doors echoed across the vast space. Without any carpets and minimal décor, the entire house was one big resonant chamber.
Ryder popped up from behind the immense marble island with a bottle in his hand and a silly grin. “I found something.” He sauntered over with two glasses in one hand and an opaque silver bottle in the other.
“What is that?”
His brows shot up dramatically. “Don’t tell me you’ve never had the fabled Maginarian liqueur?”
“I haven’t.”
He placed the glasses on the table and uncorked the bottle. “According to legend, one sip of the fragrant alcohol and all your deepest desires will come true.”
“What?” My mouth formed a capital O.
He lifted a shoulder, smirking. “That’s what they say anyway. I’ve had it a few times, but nothing yet.” He paused, his eyes intent on mine, a flicker of emotion sparking in the dark depths. “But maybe this is my lucky night.”
I dropped my gaze to the glass filling up with the deep maroon liquid. It fizzled and popped like champagne but seemed much denser.
Ryder picked up the tumbler and handed it to me, then poured his. He lifted the glass to mine and caught my gaze. “To you, Luna. That all of your deepest desires will one day be fulfilled.” Clinking his glass against mine, a sad smile crossed his lips.
I buried my nose in the goblet, the fruity scent of ripe summer berries wafting to my nostrils. Taking a small sip, I swirled the fragrant liqueur in my mouth. It was like my taste buds had jumped into a vat of strawberries, blackberries, and whipped cream. “Yum!”
Ryder chuckled as he took a big gulp of his drink. Placing it back on the table, he glanced up at me, his forehead creased in thought. “What do you desire, Luna?”
“That’s a pretty loaded question, Ryder.” I knitted my brows as I took another sip, stalling. “I guess I want what everyone else wants—to be happy. To not have some murderous dark lord coming after me, to not have to fight battles against demons, to not have to prove to some council that I’m not evil… You know, normal stuff like that.”
“I’m so sorry, Luna.” Ryder’s eyes darkened, his expression dropping with it. “You’ve been sucked into this world, and it’s caused you nothing but pain… I’ve caused you nothing but pain.”
My chest tightened, invisible bands lacing around my ribs. Memories of Ryder flashed through my mind, ones I tried so hard to bury—the happy ones. The first time he kissed me, when we danced at the first end-of-the-semester ball, when he told me he loved me, and of course making love to him. A thick knot of emotion clogged my throat. “It wasn’t all pain, Ryder,” I finally choked out. I grabbed my glass and took a big gulp to swallow down the ache.
“Thank you.” His words were so quiet I would’ve barely heard them if it weren’t for the dense silence filling the room. “Sometimes I lay in my bed, recounting my sins from the past months, and the one person I regret hurting most is you. The guilt is so bad it eats away at my insides. That’s my deepest desire, Luna: for the guilt and the pain to go away, and for you—” He cut himself off, twirling the maroon liquid in his glass.
“And for me what?”
He shook his head and snagged his lip between his teeth. “I just want you to be happy.”
Silence stretched out between us.
I f
inished off my drink before I could summon the courage to speak again. His confession had my insides torn to shreds. “I’m getting there, Ryder. I will be happy again, so don’t keep beating yourself up about it, okay? What happened is in the past, and I just want to move on however I can. If you want me to be happy, I need you to do the same. Let the guilt go. I don’t blame you for what happened, so you shouldn’t either.”
His eyes lifted to mine, shiny unshed tears swimming over the profound black abyss. “You are too kind-hearted, Luna Hallows. I never deserved you and that’s the terrible truth.” He lifted his glass to his lips and chugged the remaining contents. Standing, he pointed up to the second floor. “I need to grab a shower. Maybe you can conjure us up some pizza for dinner?”
I nodded, not trusting myself to speak and for my jumbled emotions to spew out. I wanted to tell him it wasn’t true, and that he did deserve to be loved just like every good man. But nothing came out. So instead, I watched him in silence as he disappeared up the stairs.
Day two in captivity with Ryder went much more smoothly. No more heartbreaking confessions or alcohol. Which was key. We lapsed into an easy routine, picking back up where we left off on training.
Sparring with him was ten times easier than talking. Our bodies knew how to move around each other whereas our brains caused the problems.
The warm sun caressed my bare shoulders as Ryder and I stood across from each other in Garrix’s lush backyard. On the opposite side of the open field was a crystal clear pool and attached hot tub.
The temperate spring weather in Maginaria was perfect for outdoor training. The frigid climate was one thing I didn’t miss about Darkhen one bit. Cinder and my friends, on the other hand, I missed like crazy. She’d nearly flipped out when I told her what happened with the Coven Council and then practically jumped through the phone when I mentioned I was staying at my father’s house with Ryder.
“Focus, Luna.” Ryder’s rumbly voice drew me back to the present. He lunged at me and I ducked, dodging his outspread arms. I scrambled beneath his legs as his momentum propelled him forward.