“Hello,” said Celeste, opening her white-woolen arms, and Mae realized who her sweet smile was for.
“Hi,” Jamie responded, sounding awkward but pleased.
“It’s a most unexpected pleasure to discover one of our kind at this little meeting,” Celeste said. “You’re very welcome to our territory.”
“Oh, thanks,” said Jamie. “Um, it’s very nice. Your territory. Good shopping, and—I’m sure other good—magical stuff.”
Celeste laughed and a silvery ribbon appeared as if her laugh had created it, the sound ringing out and the ribbon drifting toward Jamie, twisting in the breeze and leaping back like a puppy who wanted to play. He reached for the silvery line of magic: It touched his hand, shining on his skin for a moment, and then bobbed backward. Jamie took a few more steps toward the Aventurine Circle, reaching out to have the magic again.
“Jamie, don’t be an idiot!” Nick snarled.
Jamie blinked and stopped, the silvery tendrils clinging to his arm like a bracelet of light.
Celeste’s eyelashes, little golden fans like the lashes on a doll who could be sent to sleep, snapped up. Her gray eyes were cold and still as lakes in winter.
“I don’t think any of us require a lecture from a demon.”
She stepped forward, and the others all stepped with her in what seemed for a moment like a procession.
Mae took a step backward to be on Alan’s right as Nick was on his left, so they were flanking him in as much of a show of solidarity as they could make with Jamie still standing to one side, wrapped in magic and wonder.
Mae noted with disgust that even tiny china doll Celeste was taller than she was.
Alan held out his hand and said, “I’m—”
“I know who you are,” Celeste told him, ignoring his outstretched hand. “You’re the traitor, the boy who has managed to cut himself off not only from his own people but from all of humanity; the one who stands with the demons.”
“And you agreed to meet with me anyway,” said Alan. “Why is that?”
There was a tiny, smug curl to Celeste’s lips. It made her look like a cat smiling. “Put it down to a curious nature. What do you have to tell me?”
“The Obsidian Circle invaded your territory last month,” Alan said. “They’re in Exeter now. I understand the penalties for trespassing on another Circle’s territory are fairly severe. I wanted to point you in their direction.”
“Oh, I see,” Celeste remarked in dulcet tones. “Thank you so much. I’m delighted by the idea of being a tool in the hands of a demon.”
Alan’s voice stayed calm and friendly. “I just thought you might like to know.”
“Well,” said Celeste. “I’d like to let you know some things. I know perfectly well where Gerald Lynch and the remains of Arthur’s Circle have run. I know that Arthur Dee, the maniac who gave a demon its own body and who dared to come into my city without my permission, is dead. I know that I am not the kind of woman who would start murdering my own kind, particularly when their new leader is young and promising and was only following orders when he did me a wrong. Some of us have loyalty to our own kind, Alan. Now tell me something I
Some of the Aventurine Circle magicians were smirking. Mae had a sudden urge to grab Alan’s hand, but she didn’t want to betray even that much weakness to their watchful eyes.
“I guess I don’t,” Alan said quietly. “Sorry for taking up your time.”
Celeste shrugged. “That’s perfectly all right. It wasn’t a wasted trip.”
Mae really did not like the tone this woman was using. “And why’s that?” she demanded.
Celeste’s eyes rested on her, betraying nothing.
“Speaking of young and promising magicians,” she purred, “you brought one to my city. Do you think I would abandon him to a demon, or even let him waste his power on the ruined fragments of the Obsidian Circle? That would be a crime.”
The shining bracelet of light around Jamie’s wrist became thick as a steel snake, closing around his arm like a metal tentacle. Celeste held out a hand and curled her fingers, and the other end of the shining line leaped into her palm. Jamie yelped as the silver leash of magic tightened and twisted, and he stumbled forward, falling over his own feet, inexorably drawn to her side.
Before Mae could even move, her brother was trapped in the midst of the Aventurine Circle.
“We’re keeping the young magician,” Celeste said, still smiling. “Have a good evening.”
7
The Blade of Light
You’re wrong,” said Nick.
He was the last person Mae would have expected to speak, but his voice carried clear and deep over the whispering, rushing sound of the Thames below. The magicians seemed surprised that he had spoken too; they stirred and went still. Jamie’s wide eyes swung to Nick’s face.
“Oh?” Celeste inquired, her voice becoming a little higher and sharper. “And what am I wrong about? Do please feel free to enlighten me, demon.”
“You’re not taking him,” said Nick. “He’s ours.”
“I really kind of am,” Jamie put in. “I mean, I’m mine. Nick is being horrifying and inappropriate as usual, but I’d much rather go home with them. Not that I don’t appreciate the kind offer of hospitality as expressed by kidnapping me.”
