Page 90 of The Study of Magic
There was a couch, two chairs, and a table with some books and an interesting statue of some type of monkey on the top. Otherwise, it appeared that Yelena didn’t spend a lot of time there.
When the key rasped in the door’s lock, Valek stood on the back of the couch and reached for the dark wooden beams that crossed the ceiling. There was a gap between them and the roof they supported. Just enough that Valek could wedge his body on top of the beams.
The door swung wide and one of the guards entered. He did a cursory search, checking under the couch, bed, and in the armoire before declaring the rooms safe. Yelena came inside. She smelled of lavender soap and her hair was wet. She shut the windows, locking them before starting a fire in the hearth.
While her back was turned, Valek swung down from the rafters and eased to the floor without making a sound. Well, if he didn’t count the thumping of his heart, which was so loud he worried her guards would rush in. Not wanting to scare her, he sat in one of the chairs and put his feet up on the table. Trying to appear calm, and not look like a love-sick idiot, he picked up the statue to examine it.
When the flames caught and crackled in the hearth, Valek said, “That’s better.”
She spun and studied him in surprise for a moment. “How did you?—”
“Fool your guards? They’re not very good. They forgot to check the ceiling for spiders.” He grinned. That was his favorite place for both hiding and ambushing. No one ever looked up.
“This is dangerous,” she said.
“I knew falling for you was dangerous, love.”
“I meant coming to Sitia. Being here in the Magician’s Keep with guards just outside my door.” She gestured wildly.
If she thought to chase him away, she was in for another surprise. “It’s only dangerous if they know I’m here. According to them, I’m just Ambassador Signe’s lowly and dull-witted aide.” No longer able to stand being apart, he stood and stretched his arms wide. “See, I’m not even armed.” He tried to appear innocent, but all he really wanted was to hold her.
Instead of rushing to him, she asked, “Should I guess how many concealed weapons you have, or should I strip-search you?”
Ah, a challenge.Desire flared. “A strip-search is the only way to be absolutely certain.”
She stepped toward him. Finally, she was pressed against him. In that moment, Valek was once again complete. All his worries about her feelings for him changing were erased as she proceeded to remove his clothing. She found most of his knives, darts, and even the short sword in his boot as they headed to her bed, but once she touched his skin, it ceased to be a game.
Her clothing soon joined his on the floor and they got reacquainted in a most intimate way.
It was late in the night before they lay tangled in each other’s arms, exhausted but exhilarated. Valek wished time would stop. Wished they could live in this bubble of happiness forever.
“Thank you for the snake bracelet. It’s beautiful,” Yelena said.
“I was thinking about you when I carved it,” he said. “I was wondering how you were fairing, what you were learning, who you were meeting, if you were safe.” He paused. “Why the need for guards, love? Are you in danger? Is something going on?”
“Unfortunately, lots of somethings.” She sighed. “The guards are for my protection. Sort of. There’s a rogue magician turned serial killer who we’re calling Ferde—it’s short for Fer-de-lance, a venomous snake. He’s been doing an ancient Efe ritual to bind a magician’s soul to his body before he kills his victim. Once they’re dead, their power flows into him, making him stronger. He has targeted eleven young women. His last victim, Tula, survived his torture, and we were protecting her. She was healing. Doing so well.” Her voice hitched on a sob.
Valek pulled her closer. What a terrible beast. Another example of power corrupting. Why couldn’t magicians be happy with the magic they already had?
“But Ferde murdered her and kidnapped her younger sister, Opal.” Yelena took in a deep breath, as if to steady her emotions. “Ferde has left us a message. He wants to exchange Opal for me. The last victim must be willing to go to him. Plus, Opal isn’t a magician and I’m…I’m pretty powerful. Surprising, right?” She tried to joke.
“No, love. Not surprising. I knew you were extraordinary from the beginning.” And Ferde was going to die.
“You’re biased.” Yelena swiped tears from her eyes. “Of course, I agreed to the exchange. The master magicians and the council have opposed it. Ferde can’t be allowed to gain that much power, or he’ll take over Sitia. They assigned guards to keep me safe, but also to keep me from doing something dangerous. Like escaping and searching for Opal on my own, which I did anyway. I was caught and Irys put a magical leash on me.”
Valek tensed. Perhaps he should smuggle Yelena back to Ixia and away from all these horrible magicians.
Sensing his murderous mood, she rubbed his arm. “It’s gone. We reached an understanding today and she agreed to let me help search for Opal. To keep me in the loop, instead of blocking me. In fact, we’re going to the market tomorrow to talk to Fisk.”
“Fisk?”
“A beggar boy I befriended. His gang of street rats is practically invisible. They see things no one else does, and we’re hoping he has some information on Opal and Ferde’s whereabouts.”
“And you said it was dangerous for me,” Valek grumped. “Good thing I’m here. You’ll need backup that can’t be influenced by magic.”
Yelena turned to him. A mixture of hope and fear shone in her gaze. “How can you provide backup? You’re supposed to be with the Ambassador.”
He grinned. “Don’t worry. I’ve got that covered. This is not the first time, nor will it be the last time, I’ve been in Sitia. Keeping tabs on our neighbors has always been one of my duties as security chief. Fun stuff.”
