“You know how to remedy that,” she said.
I sighed and turned my back on her to riffle through a stack of papers in search of a potion recipe. “I made my stance clear.” Something whooshed through the air, and her knife pierced the paper in my hand, pinning it to my desk.
I spun.
She watched me, arms crossed and head held high. With a frown, she said, “Take me as an apprentice, or don’t. Right now, I don’t care. But Dover Thompson attacked me. Damn near killed me. And now you tell me he seeks something that could bring the world to its end? I won’t walk away.”
She fell silent and I wanted to scream at her. Never had I met someone that frustrated me so. Not Julian. Not even Vex
Might as well accept it, Vex said, sounding bored.
She’s untrained, I snarled.
In magic, yes, but she could have slit your throat and you know it. This Dover Thompson bested you at the temple already. You need her help.
His words bit deeper than I expected, and I hated that I could think of no counter argument. I gritted my teeth. Do you think I can’t handle it?
I think it foolish to forgo aid for the sake of your pride.
I can call on the Knight Mages.
The Archmage will provide no aid. In fact, he has ensured there are no other agents in London. Why do you fight this?
Because the last time you gave me instructions regarding the Book, I killed my father. I turned to lean on my desk.
Vex fell silent for a long time. The Book had already destroyed your father’s mind. You could not save him. I only sought to save your life.
Vex had never mentioned what happened in the Nameless City, nor defended his actions.
I didn’t intend to let this moment escape.
I was a child, Vex. A child. Edward Crowley was more than my father and instructor. He was my best friend. And I killed him because you told me to.
I am sorry, Aleister. Truly. I only wanted to protect you.
Tears threatened and the back of my throat burned. For years, I’d known why Vex commanded me to take my father’s life. I realized in that moment that his death hadn’t caused my hatred of Vex. I hated Vex because he never acknowledged the pain his commands caused, much less apologized for it. But now?
Now I didn’t know what to think, or how to feel.
“You’ve been quiet a long time, Crowley. Say something.” Elaine said, making me jump.
I wiped my eyes. “I grow weary of argument. Assist me with bringing this magician to justice if you will.” I faced her once again. “But it ends there. I will not train you, and when the job is done, we go our separate ways. Clear?”
“Crystal,” she said with that mischievous smile. She didn’t care about a word I’d said.
I glanced at the knife piercing my writings and heaved a sigh. I retrieved a thin book from one of the bookcases lining the wall and handed it to her. “Read this. You’ll find it useful.”
She raised an eyebrow and opened the book to the title page. “Magick in Theory and Practice.” She looked up at me. “This looks handwritten.”
“You hold a draft of an instructional book I penned for the Knight Mages.”
“You misspelled magic,” she smirked.
I rolled my eyes. “Hardly. That spelling differentiates our art from the sleight of hand performed by stage entertainers. Read it. Start with the section on warding.”
“Thank you.” She tucked the book under her arm. “But didn’t you refuse to train me?”
“Your inexperience left you vulnerable last night. That can’t happen again.” I pulled the dagger from my desk and handed it to her. “You can stay in my guestroom for the time being. I’d rather not give our foe the chance to catch you alone and unwarded.”
“Thank you,” she said as she took it.
“Don’t thank me yet. We only have a few days before we decide the fate of our country, and the world. If we’re to prepare you, they aren’t going to be pleasant.”
Elaine grunted as she hit the parlor floor.
“Your technique is still sloppy,” I said, gathering will again. “Again.”
“Give me a damn minute,” she shot back, flipping her hair out of her eyes and glaring at me.
“The rogue isn’t going to give you a breather and neither will I,” I said, settling into a ready position. “On your feet.”
“I still barely understand what I’m doing!” she panted as she stood. She sagged onto the couch and covered her eyes with her arm. “If this is your teaching style, I wouldn’t want you as a master.”
If she thought our session concluded, then she thought wrong. I gathered will. Something rattled in my mind and some force struck me. I stumbled, catching myself on one of the tables.
Elaine looked up and scowled.
I waved her off.
What the bloody hell was that? I growled at Vex.
A chastisement very obviously in order, Vex growled back. You will not attack her unawares, Aleister.
We have two days to prepare, I snapped. As it stands, she will only prove a liability.
I understand the stakes very well. But she will learn nothing if you continue to hammer away at her, hoping she will miraculously understand. I know you are afraid, but you will fail if you do not teach her.
I wanted to argue. Good God, I did. But he spoke true, and that vexed me most of all. I was afraid. And I had no real reason for it. Teaching her didn’t mean I had to take her as an apprentice, or that I would become my father if I taught her how to ward herself.
I glanced at Elaine.
The shirt she pilfered from my wardrobe hung free of her breeches, and her
