Page 4 of The Study of Magic
There was his answer. Instead of pricking Dothan, he sent the dart into Ziva’s neck. She cried out in shocked betrayal as she plucked it from her skin.
“I’m reporting you to the…” She wobbled. “The…” Ziva slumped to the ground.
“Did you sleep her, too?” Ruby asked.
“Yes.”
“Truth serum?” Dothan raised an eyebrow.
“I wish. It would make my life so much easier.” Well, he had his goo-goo juice, but that could be unreliable.
“Did Ziva really save your life?”
“Yes.”
“That’s an act of treason in Sitia. She could be hung.”
“Which is why I’m taking her with me.” Valek pulled Ziva over his shoulder. “I’m sorry to disturb your sleep.” As he carried her through the house, he braced for Dothan to raise the alarm and call for his farm hands to give chase. Only silence followed him outside.
The horses were tied to a nearby tree. Valek secured Ziva to her saddle, then mounted his horse. He clucked his tongue and headed north to Lapeer. It was a mid-sized town close to the Ixian border.
What a mess the night turned out to be. Valek had fallen for what Janco had called the “damsel-in-distress” trick. He’d believed her about her ex-husband without investigating further, while it deserved to be taken seriously, he should have confirmed the facts.
Why hadn’t he asked more questions? It could have been due to being grateful for Ziva’s help and for saving his life. Or due to the emotional whirlwind of saving Yelena from an assassin. Or because he’d fallen in love for the first time in his life.
What had Tam said about him?You’ve lost your edge. Gone soft.
Perhaps he had.
He’d promised Fourth Magician Irys Jewelrose that he would give Yelena a year to learn how to control and use her magic without him as a distraction. Plus, she needed to become acclimated with her new home. With Yelena safe in Sitia, Valek should be focusing his full attention on his work for Commander Ambrose in Ixia. He tucked all the messy emotions that had sprung from his heart over the last three seasons back into their dark little corner.
* * *
They arrived in Lapeer an hour before dawn, and he brought Ziva to his safe house. The town wasn’t technically big enough to warrant a safe house, but with its proximity to Ixia, it was a prime location to spot refugees crossing the border.
After dumping her on the couch, Valek groomed the horses and told his agents they could either sell the animals or keep them. Then he dozed on an armchair while waiting for Ziva to wake.
She stirred a few hours later. Sitting up in alarm, she scanned the room. “Where’s Ruby?”
“With her father. Why did you lie to me about Dothan?” he asked with his coldest tone; the one that had criminals confessing.
But her alarm turned to anger. “I saved you. Youoweme.”
He gestured around the room. “This is me repaying the favor. If I’d left you, you would have been arrested. Now answer my question.”
“He took her away from me! Said I was a bad mother.”
“Apparently, the courts agreed.”
“He’s powerful. Of course, they agreed.”
“Apparently, Ruby agrees.”
“She’sfour. Andapparentlytoo attached to her father. If she stays with him, she’s going to grow up to be just. Like. Him. The child needs discipline. Order. A strict schedule. Rules. Because Dothan and I both have magic, Ruby’s going to be a master magician, and she will needmyguidance on the use of her powers. Dothan is too soft. He bought her a puppy! How can she be a ruthless leader with his guidance?”
Valek would be impressed that she managed to keep her beliefs hidden from him for so long, but instead a heavy weight settled deep in his chest. The Commander always said power corrupted, and here was yet another variation on its effects.
“Now you know why Ruby needs me,” Ziva said. “We can try again. Maybe next season? By then, Dothan?—”
