He ran back outside to the street and scanned the faces around him. “Where have you gone? Dyna!”
No one answered. His worry grew into panic as he felt her terror grow. He pushed and thrust through the mass of people, searching for her. She didn’t appear, no matter how many times he shouted her name above the market noise. He checked the bakery again, but she wasn’t there. She wasn’t anywhere.
Zev would finish him!
“Serves you right for leaving her unprotected,” someone hissed in his ear.
He jumped back, searching for the owner of the female voice. “Who said that?”
“You’ll need my help to find her. I can cast a tracking spell for a small fee.”
“What? Where are you?” Cassiel spun around. “Show yourself!”
A young woman materialized a foot away from him. He stumbled backward against the bakery. She was almost the same height as him in her heeled boots, dressed all in black leather. Her white hair drifted in the mild wind.
“Witch …” Cassiel said under his breath.
Her strange lilac eyes flashed with magic. “Pompous lord.”
Then he realized who she was. “You’re the witch from the market. What did you do to her!”
The woman hissed, “Don’t insult me, fool. I did nothing to her. Now stop wasting my time orhers. She doesn’t have much of it.”
“What do you mean?” he demanded. “Where’s Dyna?”
“They took her.”
His insides dropped through him, sinking into the ground. “Who took her? Tell me!”
“You have no one to blame but yourself.”
Cassiel glared at her. “How do I know you are telling me the truth? This could be a trap.”
Her eyes narrowed, electricity crackling at her fingertips. “If I wanted to trap you, it wouldn’t take more than a snap of my fingers. I know what you are,Cassiel. Named after the first Celestial king of Hilos. It’s well known in history yet you walk around letting others call it out. You’re fortunate no one has noticed you yet. Fool.”
He blanched, his whole body tensing in alarm. Was this witch under the Accords? He couldn’t trust her, but Dyna’s fear flooded through his chest, drowning him.
“Now if you want to find her, it will cost you.”
“How much?”
“One tracking spell for one feather.”
He scowled. “No.”
She crossed her arms. “You do not wish to find her?”
“Of course I do. But it’s illegal for my kind to trade or sell.”
“I see. Well, best of luck to you both.” The woman shrugged and walked away.
“I can’t give it to you,” he snapped.
She kept walking.
“Wait,” he whispered sharply. “Fine, but no one can see.”
The woman motioned at the bakery’s alley. Cassiel rushed in and she followed, hurrying further out of sight of the market. Making sure they weren’t being watched, he reached into the collar of his coat and winced as he plucked a feather.
