“Where is Kaippa?” I asked. “What happened?”
Lucus paced the floor, his hands behind his back and his eyes narrowed. His boots made a dull knocking sound as he walked over roots and across the stones, between the carpets. He moved so gracefully, making such little sound for such a big dude.
“He has been punished.”
“Ooh. Good. How exactly? He didn’t somehow go back for Hekla, right?”
“He didn’t. I locked him in his resting place.”
“What does that mean?” I shivered even though Kaippa deserved all the bad things for attacking my friend.
“He sleeps in a stone coffin, a sarcophagus…something of that sort. I’m not certain what you would call it. My vines strapped it shut for the time being.”
My skin went cold, and I gripped the velvet duvet. “He’s locked inside a coffin.”
“Yes.” Lucus spun on his heel to face me, his emerald cloak whirling. “Did you have another punishment in mind?”
“I…no, that’s fine. I guess that’s what you do with vampires. He doesn’t need to breathe. Right?”
“No. Breathing is a luxury. Did he feed off you again?”
“I don’t think so. My attack happened before he had the chance, and I think he was pretty sure I’d die if he tried.”
“Correct. You very nearly did pass. If you don’t learn to control this magic of yours, it will take your life.”
I hugged myself, letting that info soak in. If I didn’t get some mage training, I would die. The magic had already almost killed me. This rosy new development meant I couldn’t work against Lucus and the others until I had my magic in hand. Because I didn’t want to perish. Raising my knees, I squeezed my legs, really glad I was still around. I liked me. More than I liked a lot of people.
“Thanks for taking care of me,” I said to Lucus. Sure, he was doing it only for his own purpose, but still.
“I did nothing aside from keeping watch over you.”
“And possibly undress me.” I lifted the edge of the robe and raised an eyebrow. He grinned, and my heart turned over.
My phone began buzzing like a swarm of bees, and I picked it up.
Hekla, Ami, and Titus all were texting me.
Since you’re not dead in that creep’s basement, I plan to murder you myself. What the F is going on? Hekla said.
Titus had included ten red hearts with his text. Glad you’re okay. Just let me know who I need to throttle in your honor and get your tail over here asap so I can see you with my own eyes.
Ami just sent three shocked emoji faces and a boatload of swears.
Then Hekla texted me again. This might not be you. Tell me your favorite Buffy the Vampire Slayer character.
Well, this was ironic. Spike, I texted back, thinking of how much Kaippa’s attitude actually reminded me of the smart-mouthed vampire from the old TV show.
I looked up at Lucus. “My magic tried to kill me, but it’s also the reason I can survive three days without food or water?”
“Your power doesn’t aim to destroy you, to destroy itself. You simply have no control of it and it is too great.”
“Great?”
“Strong. Impressive. Wide-reaching. You are incredibly gifted, Coren.”
“Not feeling that vibe right now.” I climbed out of bed.
“Your instincts are there. It will be all right. In fact, your magic will most likely extend your life expectancy.”
“Whoa. What? How long do mages tend to live?” My palms began to sweat. This was beyond weird.
“Perhaps two hundred years.”
The room tilted, and I grabbed Lucus’s arm. He put a hand on my back and helped me stay upright.
Lucus’s fingers tightened on me. “Do you need—”
I shook him off and stood. “I need a minute. That’s what I need. Where is the bathroom in this joint?”
He walked me to a weird closet restroom that I wasn’t overly excited about. It was basically a bench with a hole in it and a countertop with a wash basin and a pitcher. I closed the door and was glad of the privacy regardless of the environment.
I pressed my hands against the door and took one slow, deep breath.
Two hundred years.
If I lived through the spell, through whatever training Lucus had in mind, I might see the next century in full. Hekla and Titus and Ami would be dead. Would I age? Would they notice I wasn’t growing older? Of course they would. What the heck was I going to do with this freakish information? I spun and leaned my head where my hands had been. I just wanted to go back to my life of baking and friends and punching things with Titus.
Magic tingled at my wrists and across my chest.
Or did I? Yes, this had been a nightmare, but it hadn’t been boring. Watching Lucus interact with the trees, seeing men fly, finding out I could possibly shoot lightning in the near future—it was thrilling. I missed my old life, but I didn’t really want to go back to doing things all the same way. Wiggling my fingers, I realized I wanted to layer in the new, wondrous elements, to live a life of…magic.
I washed my face with the water in the basin and returned to Lucus, who was waiting patiently at his chamber door.
I surprised myself by smiling. “I think I’m actually ready to train.” I really hoped Kaippa was wrong and that Lucus could help me learn to let my magic flow out of me when it was too strong.
His eyebrows lifted. “Now?”
Passing him, I headed into the corridor. “I’d rather not wait until my magic gets bitchy again, thanks.”
“Understood.” Lucus chuckled.
And off I went to learn how to be a fully fabulous magical version of myself.
Chapter 26
Silver moonlight cascaded through the casting chamber’s high windows and pooled in the center of the room, illuminating the markings—
I sucked a breath. “Lucus. I can read them. Those symbols, I know what they mean.” The one closest to my boot had something to do with wind and rain, and the
