“What will?”
“Her sister is the mate of one of the Guardians, so now I have leverage.”
“But you had me leave the female at the Portal?Why didn’t we keep her if you have leverage?”
“Trust me,” he said, stubbing out the cigarette in the crystal dish.“With the female’s magic gone, she’s going to be desperate, and she’ll do exactly what I want her to do.In the meantime, set up spies around Mother Nature’s coven and let me know the female’s movements.”As Azure turned to leave, Jack said, “I’m still waiting for the downloaded report of my brother’s trek around the world.The one the human government publishes every year.”
“I’m on it.”
“See that you are.It’s almost solstice, you know.The plan needs to be in place in time, and I need to put a dent in my brother’s security team before his big night.”
Azure nodded and left.
Jack settled back in his chair and put his feet up on the desk.Last year, he’d been defeated because he’d clearly sent the wrong male to do the job.But Azure was a warlock, and Jack thought he would definitely be the one to carry out the plan and ensure it was Saint’s very last Christmas Eve run.
* * *
Emberlin watched Sebastian bring her sister through the magical perimeter and she could have cried.Talia looked close to death.
Sebastian carried her to the Well, but Santa put his hand up.
“It’s too late.”
“What?She’s not dead!”Emberlin said earnestly.
“No,” Santa said with a grimace, “I mean, her magic is gone.The Well won’t help her.Sebastian, get her to the infirmary and call for Trouble and Melody.”
“Are you sure?I have healing magic.Can’t I fix what he did to her?”Emberlin asked, pleading silently for Santa to say he was wrong.
He stared down at her.Shit, was he seven feet tall?He seemed like a literal giant right now, and she felt so, so small in comparison.
He flicked his gaze to Sebastian and nodded once.“I’ll be in the office.Keep me apprised of her healing.”
Sebastian settled Talia next to the Well and said, “Go on, sweetheart.Put her hands in the Well.”
“But, he said…” She started to speak but a sob caught in her throat.Then she numbly took off Talia’s gloves and dropped them, shoving her hands into the golden, glowing magic of the Well.
Nothing happened.
Emberlin could feel the magic like a warm weight under her hands, but she knew it wasn’t going to help her sister.Her healing magic could heal her physical issues, but not her lack of magic.
Tears spilled over her cheeks, and she sat back on her heels with a hitched breath.“Damn it, why?Why did Frost do that to her?She hardly had any magic left in the first place!”
Sebastian rose to his feet and looked down at her.“Let’s get her inside and allow the healers do their job, and then we can talk.The important thing, Emberlin, is that your sister is alive, and she hasn’t been turned evil.There are elves in Northernmost who don’t have the luxury you do of still having your loved one be themselves, magic or not.”
She nodded and stood, brushing at the tears on her cheeks.
They walked with other security team members into the big building, which she’d never been in before.In years past, she’d simply plunged her hands into the Well, replenished her magic, and headed home.She’d never even had an inkling that her truemate was here, and she wondered why that was.
He carried Talia to the infirmary and stood with her as two elves hooked Talia up to monitoring machines, placed warming blankets on her, and infused her body with healing magic.Emberlin had offered to help heal her sister, but the two elves had promised they didn’t need her assistance since she was just unconscious from Frost taking her magic.
Trouble walked over and shook Emberlin’s hand.“She’ll be unconscious while our healing magic does its job.A few hours, perhaps.If you want to go rest, I can call you when she’s up.”
“I don’t really want to leave, if that’s okay?Except maybe I could get some dry clothes?”
“I’ll take you to the market for a change of clothes, and we can come right back,” Sebastian said.
She smiled.“Okay, thanks.”
