“Then she must be a mage.”
Maya shook her head. A mage began life as a human with a mother who had some ability to use magic. A witch, a fortune teller, a midwife. As she became an adult, her powers would manifest as the wild magic seared through her blood, transforming her into a mage. The powers ranged from Peri, who was off the charts, to some mages who could barely sense their magic. But the one thing that was universal was the initial rush of wild magic.
“She’s too young to have come into her powers.”
“I was young.”
“In the video she looks about twelve.”
“Looks can be deceiving,” Peri insisted.
Maya shrugged. She didn’t have her friend’s skill with illusions, but she understood that things weren’t always what they seemed to be.
“Which is why I want to meet her face-to-face. If we discover she’s a harmless kid, then I’ll let her go about her business.”
“It still feels excessive,” Peri groused, more out of habit than annoyance at being called to help. The young mage had always been headstrong and fiercely independent. It kept their relationship interesting. And by interesting, Maya meant snarky. “This isn’t because Sinjon has called a meeting of the Cabal in Greece and you were lonely, is it?”
Maya clicked her tongue. Although Ravyr wasn’t an official member of the Cabal, his years as a spy for Sinjon, the current leader of the vampires, meant he was often requested to attend the meetings.
“I spend my days with a half dozen mages in training who snipe and snarl and indulge in epic meltdowns on a regular basis. I swear it would be less stressful to try and tame a pack of hyenas,” she said dryly. “Certainly it would be quieter. That doesn’t include keeping the Witch’s Brew running smoothly and fulfilling the contracts I’ve signed with several impatient demons. I can promise you that I would far prefer to spend the next few nights alone, soaking in a hot bubble bath with a glass of wine and utter silence. Which is exactly what I would be doing if I hadn’t spotted the kid hanging around the shop when I was cleaning up.” She reached up to touch the perfect emerald that hung on a chain around her neck. The gem held her magic if she needed an extra boost. “The trap has been baited and the prey is on my doorstep. I have no choice but to spring it.”
Peri studied her, as if sensing the tension that vibrated through Maya. “You really are worried.”
“I don’t understand how she’s slipping through the magical barriers. That should worry all of us.”
Peri wrinkled her nose. “For once I wish Joe was around.”
“I’m not that desperate,” Maya growled.
Joe had been a part of Maya’s existence since she set up the Witch’s Brew years ago. He hung around the shop, looking like a street person with a bushy beard and velour tracksuit, but Maya had eventually realized he was the mysterious Benefactor who’d offered her protection for her business while at thesame time demanding that she perform small tasks for him. Like a mob boss on steroids. More than one of those tasks had nearly gotten her killed. Eventually he revealed himself to be the Watcher, an even more mysterious creature who was the ultimate guardian over the vampires, demons, and dragons.
Whether he’d been in his disguise as Joe or the Benefactor or the Watcher, he’d been a pain in the ass.
“Come on,” Peri teased. “You have to miss him at least a little.”
“Like I miss an infected toenail.”
“That’s very...graphic.”
Maya shrugged. “He had his uses, but there is enough testosterone in my life. He’s welcomed to pester someone else.”
“I wonder where he is,” Peri mused. Then without warning her magic tingled in the air. “Someone’s coming,” she whispered.
Maya thought she heard the soft sound of footsteps, but didn’t have Peri’s talent for sensing who or what was approaching.
“Human? Demon? Mage?”
“I don’t know.”
“Damn, I wish Skye was here.”
Peri looked confused. “We’re two of the most powerful mages in the world. We could take down a vampire if necessary. Why are you worried?”
“Skye has something we don’t.”
“What’s that?”
“The patience to deal with a child.”
