The entrance hall had two doors that led deeper into the house. Cormac led them across the marble mosaic floor and to the left. As they passed through the door, Gray realized why there wasn’t more security. Cormac didn’t need it. The magic protecting the doorway nearly knocked Gray off his feet.
With a gesture from Cormac, the magic eased, and Gray continued into the room. Simon seemed unaffected, but Liam rubbed his arm like he’d been punched. Gray felt the same. Cormac was much stronger than he’d even imagined, and there wouldn’t be much they could do to stop him if it came down to a fight.
The inside of Cormac’s home was the epitome of class and money. Antiques from several periods were placed discreetly around the main room. Framed paintings lit by fixtures in the ceiling decorated the walls. Gray didn’t recognize any of them, but he had a feeling he should.
The room they entered drew a happy gasp from Simon. It was a library, but unlike any library Gray had ever seen. The books all lined one wall, but that wall stood about twenty-five feet high. A small ledge floated around the upper row of shelves, and a low black metal railing kept the intrepid reader from falling to the parquet floors below. A circular wrought-iron staircase wound up one side of the room, allowing access to the upper level.
Simon released Gray’s hand and walked toward the books. He trailed his fingers over them and traced over certain volumes lovingly. He turned back to Gray with a happy grin, then continued his perusal. Cormac watched him with a pleased smile of his own. Gray had tofight back a sudden burst of jealousy. Neither he nor his wolf liked that someone else was making Simon so happy.
There was a pair of matching couches in the center of the room, and while Simon explored, Cormac gestured for Gray and Liam to have a seat. They sat and waited, Gray’s knee bouncing out an impatient rhythm. After a few moments, Simon noticed them and hurried over. He looked at the empty space beside Cormac for a brief moment before moving over to settle between Gray and Liam.
Gray’s knee quit jerking, his nerves soothed by Simon’s show of loyalty. Simon’s fingers took up its nervous beat though, tapping as his anxiety built. Gray laid his hand on Simon’s leg, and the movement stopped.
“Simon,” Cormac began, “would you please explain to me what is happening here?”
Simon nodded and began from the when he had first heard the cubs crying out for help. He made clear that his torn feelings on whether to become involved were due to his fear of breaking mage guidelines.
His explanation of the first demon attack drew an angry expression from Cormac, and Cormac’s frown deepened as Master Thomas’s reaction to the events were recounted.
“It’s disheartening to see so little has changed over the generations of my existence,” Cormac said when Simon finished.
“And that’s not all,” Gray added. “We’re actually here for another reason Simon failed to mention.”
“So you are not asking for my help with the Conclave of Mages?”
“No,” Simon insisted. “I made the decision to help and am willing to face the consequences.”
“Then what is it?”
Gray squeezed Simon’s knee, and Simon let out a long breath before continuing. “The demon placed some sort of spell on Gray’s son. Garon has some mage abilities and was able to contact me psychically for help.”
At this, Cormac leaned forward, his eyes wide. “There is a wolf with mage abilities?”
“Yes, sir. He’s only ten, so he’s still growing, but I think he’s going to be strong. Probably stronger than me, anyway.”
“Stronger than you? That seems unlikely.”
“Simon, tell him the rest.”
“Well, I couldn’t figure out how to get rid of the spell on Garon, so I took it into me.”
Cormac jumped to his feet and strode over to Simon. He placed his hands on Simon’s head and closed his eyes. “Oh, my. Simon, you should not have done that.”
“I had to. It was killing Garon.”
“Yes, it would have. You were right to come to me with this.”
Gray tried not to get overly protective at the sight of Cormac’s hands on Simon. He tensed, and Simon laid his hand over Gray’s where it still rested on Simon’s knee.
“Can you help, Grandfather?”
Cormac’s eyes closed on the word. “I can help. You weren’t supposed to find out about me yet, you know. I promised your grandfather that I would wait until you finished your apprenticeship before I revealed myself.”
“Well, it doesn’t look like that’s going to happen now.”
“Of course it will, Simon. The Conclave will not be unreasonable in this, especially since children were involved.”
Simon shook his head. “Master Thomas said I’ve been tainted by the demon and refused to continue my training. I’ll be twenty-five in a week and haven’t been able to reach full mage status.”
