Page 39 of The Study of Poisons
Magic. He cursed.
When he reached the area, he paused for a second to analyze the scene and let his eyes adjust to the semi-darkness. Three big men held Yelena, while another strangled her with a garrote. A woman stood nearby watching.
“Hurry up! She’s starting to project,” the woman said.
Oh no. Not tonight. Not ever. Valek stepped forward and held out his mug. “Excuse me, sirs, do you know where I can get a refill?” He slurred his words.
As expected, they turned their attention to Valek. The man with the garrote let go and pulled a knife. Thank fate. But when Yelena went limp, fury sent a surge of energy through him.
The man lunged. Valek turned his mug. The blade stabbed into the mug instead of his heart. Nice. He twisted the mug with a hard jerk. The knife flew through the air. Not wasting time, Valek slammed the pewter mug into the man’s temple. He crumbled just as his three companions rushed Valek. They didn’t waste any time. Two grabbed his upper arms and shoulders, holding him in place while the third managed to punch Valek in the face. Twice.
Pain shot through his jaw and cheek; he tasted the metallic tang of blood. Then magic surrounded him, pushing against his skin, weighing him down, slowing his movements. No way this would be a fair fight. Valek changed tactics. He needed to end this. Now.
Since the two men already supported his weight, he lifted his legs and wrapped his left one around the third guy’s neck, Using the heel of his right boot to apply pressure, he snapped the man’s neck. The two idiots holding him stared in shock. They hadn’t bothered to secure his wrists, so he swung his mug into the right man’s groin, when the goon doubled over, Valek slammed it into his face. Yelping, the man released his hold on Valek as his blood gushed.
With one arm free, he turned to the last goon and smashed the mug into his nose before striking him on the temple. The man collapsed. It took mere seconds, but because of the magic around him Valek gasped for breath as if he’d run for miles. The magic intensified and he met the magician’s gaze. By the incredible force of her power, he suspected she was a master magician.
He wondered what she was trying to do with her power. Kill him? Knock him unconscious? She wore a hawk mistress’ uniform, and her hair was pulled back into a severe bun. Her bronze skin tone was similar to those who lived in southern Sitia. Probably a member of the Bloodgood or Jewelrose Clans.
Yelena stood and wobbled. He almost cheered out loud until the movement drew the southern magician’s attention. Valek swayed as the magic around him disappeared. But then Yelena sank back to the ground with a tired smile.
Oh no.
Panic soon gripped Yelena’s face and she thrashed, clawing at her face. He might be immune to magic, but Yelena wasn’t. The magician was going to kill her.
CHAPTER9
Valek was next to Yelena in a heartbeat. He tried to block the magician’s power with his body while he shook Yelena’s shoulders. The magician must have control of her mind, and there was only one way to break the spell.
“Recite poisons in your mind!” he shouted in her ear.
She calmed and went limp, giving up. Not a good sign.
“Recite! Now! That’s an order!”
Come on, come on,he silently chanted.
Scrunching her face, her gaze sought his. Then she gasped for air and Valek wanted to jump for joy. He’d analyze the strength of that emotion later. Much later.
“Keep reciting,” he urged, glancing around.
The southern magician had disappeared and so had most of Valek’s energy. He stood and helped Yelena to her feet. She swayed and he steadied her, placing his hand on her shoulder. Yelena covered his hand with hers. A warm buzz emanated from the touch. For a second, he thought she’d rush into his arms. And he longed for the contact, would welcome it, but she straightened and stepped away.
He returned to the four men. Turning one man over, he cursed. “Southerners.” Then he checked their pulses. “Two alive. I’ll have them taken to the castle for questioning.” And just where were his back-ups?
“What about the woman?” she asked with a rasp.
She’d have a sore throat for a couple days. “Gone.”
“Will you search for her?”
The magician knew the risks of being caught in Ixia. She was probably halfway to Sitia by now and, if not, she had enough power to disappear in Ixia. Frankly, Valek didn’t have the energy. “Yelena, she’s a southern magician. I took my eyes off her, so there’s no way I can find her now.”
Trembling, Yelena stared at the men on the ground. Not wanting to upset her further, he took her by the arm and led her back toward the festival.
“Magician?” she asked. “I thought they were banished from Ixia.”
“Although very unwelcome, some visit Ixia anyway.” And were killed when captured.
