“So what’s new? If I were in his shoes, I’d be more worried about staying alive than becoming Second.”
“He’s too stupid…and that makes him a risk. After he’s done, I want him gone.”
Kadin’s eyes widened as he listened to Zohar ordering Niam to kill him. Forgetting Remy, he turned to Zohar, his eyes becoming narrow slits. “You fucking asshole! After everything I’ve done for you…you were going to kill me?”
“Shut up, you fool!” snarled Niam. “Don’t you see what they’re trying to do?”
“Fuck you,” Kadin growled, reinforcing it with a gesture. “I’ll take my chances with them since it appears I can’t trust you or Zohar.”
“Zohar was right,” muttered Niam, “your stupidity will get us all killed!”
“Don’t you fuckin’ blame me, you prick!” Kadin barked. “This was all Zohar’s doing. He’s the one who said we didn’t have to follow the Ruler’s orders.”
“Will the both of you just shut up?” grumbled Thayer.
“Why? So you can stab me in the back too?” Kaden snapped. “I bet you knew all about Zohar’s plan to have Niam kill me, didn’t you? What did he promise you? Or maybe you were just happy someone other than you would have to do it because you’d found a new fuck buddy…well?”
“Will you just shut the fuck up?” roared Thayer.
“If you don’t mind, I’d rather he continues,” Gerard said. “This is all very confusing.”
Kadin looked at Gerard then back at Thayer, frowning at what he saw. “You were fucking Gerard at the same time as me?”
“No…” Thayer began.
“I can’t fuckin’ believe this!” Kadin cried. “You promised me we would get married once you got rid of Zohar!”
Chapter 19
“ENOUGH!” Remy thundered, his voice shaking the light spheres, causing its captives to fall silent. Moving his hand slightly, Remy made the light spheres sound-proof and opaque before speaking. “Thoughts…anyone? You too, Cody. They cannot see or hear you.”
Brady spoke first. “I was watching Gerard while the others were fighting and even though he professed to be confused, I don’t think he was.”
“He wasn’t,” Carson agreed. “But then I wouldn’t expect him to be, especially after Remy found out who he really is.”
Removing his invisibility, Cody stared at his brother. “Who is he?”
“I’d like to know that, also,” said Brady.
Carson glanced at Remy and, after seeing his quick nod, turned to Cody and Brady. “Gerard isn’t a second level magic user…”
Brady frowned. “Why would he pretend to be one, then?”
“Because he would appear less threatening to other magic users,” Remy answered.
“So he’s a first level magic user?” Cody asked.
“That’s not possible,” Brady responded. “His classification would have been certified at birth. The law is quite clear on this matter.”
Cody thought about that for a few seconds before saying, “Maybe a mistake was made when his level was recorded.”
“I don’t see how that could have happened, either,” said Brady. “There are a number of steps that need to be taken before the record is submitted to the Witches’ Governing Council.”
“There weren’t any mistakes made because Gerard is not a magic user,” Remy said, grimly. “He’s a demon, posing as a warlock.”
“A demon!” exclaimed Brady. “Why? And more importantly…how?”
“Good questions,” Remy replied. “And I know just the one who can answer them.” Flicking his fingers, he restored Zohar’s ability to see and hear him. “When you summoned the demon, what happened?”
