Forgotten Sea

heth.

Once Mil er escaped the grounds, the charm’s usefulness was through. “The heth’s power is to contain, not to control.

It won’t affect Mil er’s behavior at al .”

“Not his behavior,” Simon said.

Silence.

Zayin’s gut clenched as he worked that one out. He tightened his grip on the phone. “You think he’s possessed.”

“It was always a possibility. He was exposed when they were attacked.”

F o r g o t t e n s e a 17 1

“He’s got strong shields.”

“Which could mask the presence of another elemental.”

“Then why wouldn’t the demon take him over before they reached Rockhaven? It could have overpowered them on the road.”

“Maybe its plan was to reach Rockhaven.”

Chil ing thought.

“Besides, Mil er was injured,” Simon continued.

“Maybe Mil er’s unconsciousness slowed it down. And then you laid the heth on them both, and the demon was trapped inside its host.”

Anger licked Zayin. “When were you planning to tel me?”

“I thought you knew. But you insisted on questioning him yourself. I saw no point in sharing suspicions that might influence your interrogation.”

“And in the meantime you had a demon captive in your basement to study.”

Simon’s silence answered him. Knowledge was power, and Simon kept as much power to himself as he could.

“You secretive prick,” Zayin said in disgust.

“Perhaps we could leave your wounded feelings aside for the moment and focus on the danger to Lara,” Simon suggested.

“She wouldn’t be in danger if you’d been honest with her,”

Zayin said. “With any of us.”

“I warned her Mil er couldn’t be trusted. I told her to stay away from him. I forbid her to have anything to do with him.”

“Which explains why she ran off with him the first chance she got.”

“She did not run off,” Simon said. “I believe he coerced her.”

“I don’t give a fuck what you believe.” Zayin turned the 17 2

V i r g i n i a K a n t r a

headmaster’s words back on him with savage satisfaction.

“Mil er was enough of a problem when we didn’t know what he was. But you had to play God, devising your little tests, not letting anyone in on your plans. Now he’s a double threat.”

“So you eliminate two birds with one stone,” Simon said.

“Mil er and the demon. Just bring Lara back safely.”

Miriam had said Simon was waiting for Lara to heal.

To grow up.

Too late, Zayin thought.

He had never taken much interest in the girl himself.

Despite her young age at her Fal , her powers had never seemed particularly impressive. He found both the headmaster’s desire and his self-denial vaguely pathetic.

Zayin had no real desire to feed Simon’s obsession. But if he returned Lara to Rockhaven, Simon would owe him.

An indebted Simon suited Zayin’s own needs very wel .

So he would find the two by whatever means necessary, dispose of Mil er, and fetch the girl home.

Unless the demon kil ed her first.

14

P i t i f u l , t h at ’ s w h at s h e wa s .

Lara sat upright in the bouncing passenger seat, fuming.

Churning. But real y, was it too much to hope for some kind of reaction from a man you’d recently had sex with when you told him you couldn’t have sex anymore?

Iestyn could have offered her a little reassurance. Maybe even an argument.