Only the Mage Council had access to the Naud Chains. It was rumored that they’d traveled to another realm to find the unbreakable metal, forged the chains, and used them toenticethe demigod to go back to sleep after the portals opened. I shuddered. I was several feet from the chains, and yet it already felt as if it was becoming more difficult to reach for my own power. The chains felthungry.
“Hi Mella.” Whatever she’d done to piss the Mage Council off must have been a doozy. It was rumored that she’d committed an unforgiveable betrayal. Instead of killing her, the Mage council had hidden her pelt, removing her ability to access her magic. The chains were just a symbol, as if she could ever forget that she was bound.
I ripped my gaze away from the chains. “I need anything you have available on a witch, please.” I said, and Mella turned to her computer with a nod. I rattled off Mary’s name and address, and Mella inputted the information, scanned the screen, and then disappeared into the office behind her desk.
She returned a few minutes later with a thin file in her hand. I leaned against her desk as she opened it, rifled through it, and then clicked a few buttons, printing off a few more pages which she added to the file.
Her shoulders hunched and I followed her gaze, glancing over my shoulder. Bruce was stalking toward us.
Not long after I’d first started working for the Mage Council, I’d quickly discovered that Bruce was only out for himself. The mage was happy to work with others as long as he got all the credit, but as soon as another mage or bounty hunter was recognized by the Mage Council, accidents happened when they were out in the field.
We all knew Bruce was behind those accidents, but he was always conveniently on the other side of town when shit went down. Nothing had ever been tied to him. There were five discipulus mages standing between him and a promotion, and Keigan was one of them. In order for Bruce to be promoted, one of those mages would have to either step down, or die.
I was keeping a very careful eye on Bruce.
“I need you to run a search for me,” he snapped at Mella, ignoring me.
“Mella’s busy running a search for me,” I said sweetly. “You can wait your fucking turn.”
His head moved slowly on his thick neck until he was glaring at me, his beady eyes narrowed. Bruce had a face that only a mother could love, and he wrinkled his crooked nose as he stared at me.
I’d bet numerous people had punched him in that nose over the years. If he wasn’t careful, I was going to be one of them.
“I don’t listen to traitors and cunts,” he said and Mella flinched.
I raised an eyebrow and glanced at Mella. “Which one of us is which, do you think?” I turned back to the mage. “Still trying to prove you’re a tough guy are you, Bruce?”
“I don’t need to prove anything, you bitch.” He turned his back on me and growled at Mella. “Hurry up.”
“Wow,” I murmured. “You must have a tiny penis.”
He spun, fist poised in the air. I gave him a wide grin. “Do it,” I urged. “See what happens.”
Bruce glanced over his shoulder as a librarian approached, her mouth turned down in disapproval. The mage may enjoy throwing his weight around, but he was in her territory now.
“You’re not worth it,” he hissed, turning and stomping away.
“Thank you,” Mella whispered. “But you shouldn’t have annoyed him. Now he’s going to be a jackass to you, too.”
“He doesn’t get to talk to anyone like that. You let me know if he bothers you again.”
“Why do you care? I’m just a traitor,” her lips twisted, her eyes sad. But beneath her obvious grief, rage burned.
“Hold on a second. Why do you get to be the traitor? You know what that makes me, right?” I winked at her shocked laugh. “Look. They’re calling me a traitor too, but they don’t know anything about my life. Or your life. I don’t give a fuck what you did in your past. We’ve all done things we’re not proud of.”
Mella stared at me for long enough that it got a little creepy. Then she smiled, handing me the file. “This is everything I could find on your witch. It’s not much I’m afraid.”
Opening the file, I glanced down at the sheet of paper on top and sighed. It wasn’t much at all.
“Thanks Mella.”
She smiled. “Anytime. Be careful out there.”
“You know it.” I hurried out of the library and back down to Cara’s office. She was leaning over a stack of paperwork, but she glanced up when I arrived.
“Ahh, the woman of the hour. Everyone’s talking about you.”
I scowled and she laughed at me. “What can I do for you?”
