Page 78 of Magic Claimed
“Don’t believe him.” Shane suddenly appeared a few paces away, looming over my shoulder, golden eyes glittering fiercely. “My mother was murdered by the fae in her own home, only ten minutes from here. They held me hostage for years and forced her to do what they wanted, and when they were done with her, they killed her—right under Faris Lansgrave’s nose. And he didnothingaboutanyof it.So don’t let him fool you into thinking he or his precious Shadow Court will protect you.”
Faris shifted his gaze to Shane. I could tell my boss was tired, heartsore, and completely out of patience. The conflict that had been brewing between these two for months was finally about to come to a head, and I wasn’t sure whether I ought to step between them or grab the kids and run.
“Nothing?” he responded coolly. “Is that what your mother told you?”
“She never had a chance,” Shane retorted.
“If you have any interest in the truth,” Faris growled back, “then come ask me any time. I decided a long time ago never totell you, because I wanted your memories of Misty to be clear. You’d had enough trauma and tragedy in your life, and there was no reason for you to suffer more. But if you’re going to keep spreading this idiocy around, it’s going to fracture the very safety your mother gave her life for.”
Shane went very, very still. “Why would I believe anything you say about her?”
“I don’t care what you believe,” Faris said bluntly. “But she begged me not to intervene. She said that if the fae found out I knew everything—if I made any move to protect her—only death would follow.”
Shane’s fists clenched in anger, but Faris wasn’t finished.
“At first, it was your death she feared. But once you escaped, it was the deaths of everyone else here in the Shadow Court. Elayara was so determined to have Kira, if she knew she’d lost her hold on Misty, she would have done anything—kidnapped, stolen, tortured, or killed. Done her best to obliterate whatever defenses we threw at her. And if you don’t believe me, recall what that woman did to her own son. Your mother knew that. So she said I had to pretend I didn’t know.”
Shane was visibly shaking with some combination of grief, shock, rage, and helplessness.
“Like I said, you don’t have to believe me,” Faris continued. “But until you understand fully what your mother sacrificed and why, I’m going to ask you to stop trying to tear down what she died to protect.”
For the next few moments, I could see Shane fighting some kind of deep, internal battle. And in the end, heturned and walked away—past the rubble, past the boarded-up entryway, and out into the street.
Kes’s face was pale, but she didn’t look afraid—more as if she were going to cry.
But I knew Shane wouldn’t go far. He might have demons to wrestle with, but he would never leave Kes and the kids. Not after all he’d gone through to protect them.
Ethan still appeared to be lost in thought, but I could tell something had changed. He’d tucked his hair behind his ears once more and was staring at the bracelet on his wrist, turning it over and then back again. As if for the first time, he felt free to actually consider what he wanted. What he hoped for. What his future might hold other than pain and despair.
In spite of everything—in spite of Blake’s best efforts, in spite of dragons and destruction, assassins and poison, prejudice and political games—there was hope here, and for the first time since Callum was attacked, it felt as if my mind cleared. I could see all the different emotions competing for my attention and choose my own path forward.
If Ethan could choose hope, so could I.
And not only for myself, but for Jeremiah and for Tabitha. For this entire city—human and Idrian alike.
“We should go,” I said quietly to Callum. “I think they can handle things here.”
As much as I hated to leave while The Portal lay shattered and torched and everyone I loved was in turmoil, Jeremiah and Tabitha needed us more. Tairen needed us more. Someone had to get to the bottom of these events, and right now it looked like that someone was me—with Callum’s help.
And with or without his magic, he was the first person I would choose to have at my back.
“Help me find some kids and ruin Blake’s plans?”
He smiled, and for the first time since he’d awakened, that smile looked real. “There is literally nothing I’d rather do.” His hand caught mine and tugged me closer. “But only because it’s with you.”
I turned around and pulled him out onto the sidewalk behind me before anyone else in the room could see me blush.
NINETEEN
The first pieceof information we needed was Tabitha’s username for the online gaming website, and I had no idea whether her mother would even consent to speak to me, let alone share something so personal about her daughter.
So, in an attempt to avoid frightening her, I suggested Callum wait down the hall a ways while I knocked on her door. He was, after all, a very tall, muscular man, who might come across as threatening to a woman who lived alone.
A few seconds after my knock, the door flew open to reveal my nemesis. She looked haggard and exhausted, with red eyes and hands that trembled as they clutched the edge of the door.
“You.” Her voice was dull. “I thought it might be the police.”
She might be a raging bigot—and a terrible neighbor—but she was also a scared mom, and in that moment, I could find it in my soul to feel just a tiny bit sorry for her.
