Page 110 of Discovered Magic
Morcant’s hired henchman crumpled where they stood, and their weapons clattered uselessly at their feet.
Suspended inside a column of light, Morcant struggled. His eye movements were jerky, as if he were trying to absorb what he was seeing, and understanding of his plight dawned far too late.
“You can’t hold me,” he rasped, voice distorted, echoing through the energy field.
Damian regarded him as one might study a specimen under glass. “I humbly disagree.”
Abbie’s shoulders sagged, her breath catching as the strain of the spell tore through her system. Wilder was there instantly, steadying her.
“You good?”
“Define good.” She attempted a smile, but her exhaustion won out. The best she could offer was a tired sigh.
“This thing will hold him?” Royal approached the containment field cautiously.
“For now.” Damian brushed his palms together, snuffing out the sigils. “Long enough for The Authority to receive their new guest.”
“You think you’ve won? You think this ends here?” Morcant snarled, his voice cracking with fury.
Abbie gave him a pitying smile. “You’re threats aren’t original, Morcunt. Monsters always believe they’re almighty and eternal. They aren’t.”
He bellowed his rage, and a hissing steam escaped through the barrier. It was dark, oily, and all kinds of wrong. For a heart-attack-inspiring moment, the prison’s glow dimmed, but Damian reinforced it with a flick of his wrist.
“We should move him to the containment center, in case my enchantment is broken,” he said, though he expressed no genuine concern.
Jonas and Draven flanked the cylinder prison, ready with their transport enchantments.
“Wait!” she cried. Once she had their attention, she rushed forward to hug each man in turn. “I don’t know when the portal will open again, and I wanted to thank you.”
Draven squeezed her tight enough to steal her breath. “I am sorry I couldn’t be a better protector, ma chère.”
“You were the best,” she assured him. “You couldn’t know I was cursed or the trials you’d face countering it,” she teased.
“Be well.” His kiss on her forehead felt fatherly, when in truth he was almost half her age. But she supposed his soul was old, making up the difference.
Next, she flipped off the Arcane Devourer—because she could—and faced Damian. “Spoiler: you turn out all right for an uptight rule follower.”
“I follow rules for a reason. Perhaps one day, when we meet again, I will explain.” He brushed his fingers along her scars, and the tingle traveled through the layers, relaxing the tightly knotted skin. His all-seeing gaze locked with hers. “You’ve taught us all much, Abigail. I only wish I’d made your stay easier instead of harder.”
“I forgive you. But should anyone else like me cross your path, don’t be a stubborn ass.”
“I make no promise other than to try,” he replied with a devastating grin.
“Put that thing away. It’s loaded.” She tapped his chin. His responding laughter was pure sunshine on her soul, and a little dizzying, too. “Wow! Yeah, okay. I?—”
Wilder drew her away with an amused smile. “Come on, you. He’s got work to do.”
The canyon light shifted, growing darker, and faint threads of gold illuminated the shadows. In a brilliant burst, their prisoner and his guards were gone, leaving only the Aether.
“What will the Authority do with him?” Wilder asked.
“Yeah, please tell us he’ll be incarcerated forever,” Royal said.
“He’ll be held in stasis until judgment is passed,” Damian explained. His eyes lost focus, and he stared at some distant spot only he could see. A second later, he inclined his head toward Abbie. “You must go to the canyon. They are ready for you.”
“They? Who’s th?—”
But Damian was already gone.
