Perhaps I am not the only one who was trapped in a role.
I eat slowly, sneaking Snack Thief a few pieces of fruit under the table. Lander pretends not to notice, though the corner of his mouth twitches as if he is amused by my bribery.
“You’re still magically depleted,” he says at last. “An energy circle might bring your magic back up.” Then, as if dropping it casually, “What did you do with the paperweights?”
The paperweights—the only things that can harm my magic. He mentions them lightly, as though he has not just reminded me how fragile our trust is.
“As you know from watching me, there is a bunker in the chapel grounds. I’m using it for storage and practice. Ten weights are down there, in their original case, sealed and warded so they cannot affect my magic.”
“Good,” he says. “I’d remove them myself,but I presume I’d have a fight on my hands.” His gaze stays on me. “I guess you don’t want them out of your sight.”
“No, I do not. I have been destroying that magic whenever I can, but it is an almost impossible task; you cannot trace magic designed to suppress your own. I tracked down every document that contained that spell and burnt it out of existence.” My jaw tightens. “The paperweights should never have existed. I will destroy them after breakfast.”
“You’re exhausted from handling them last night; give it a couple of days.”
“I am fine. As you said, I will do an energy-recharging circle first.” I take a cautious sip of tea. “What happened to Meredith and her coven?”
“The sector police let them go.”
My head jerks up. “What?”
“There was nothing I could do,” he says. “She has people—human police and Magic Sector officers. The man I spoke to last night was one of hers.”
“So… they let them go.”
He runs a hand through his hair. “It may look slow, but we have rules. Meredith’s high on the council. Councillors aren’t allowed to attack citizens, so Dayna and I have called for a vote. With your camera footage and everything else, we should have her removed. She hasn’t a chance of keeping her seat.”
I am still unaccustomed to eating, and right now I can’t bring myself to take a bite; anything I swallow will stick in my tight throat. I prod a slice of pancake with my fork. Lander has no such trouble. That man can eat.
I force myself to take another mouthful. My body needsthe fuel, even if my mind would rather chew on the problem of Lander Kane.
“She won’t attack you again,” he says. “I won’t let her. You’re safe now.”
“Lander, I’m not worried about Meredith.” I can handle myself. But with nothing left to lose, Meredith is even more dangerous.
And I am angry that I did not kill her when I had the chance. Beryl’s pragmatism has rubbed off on me. Life was easier when bodies could simply disappear.
“If you get council approval, what then?” I ask. “Will she merely have her knuckles rapped and be sent back to twist young minds in a not-fit-for-purpose magical education system?”
“Meredith will be wearing anti-magic cuffs for the rest of her days.”
If they catch her.
I was right; she will be confined to some deep, dark cell. I do not know about Meredith, but if it were me, I would rather they put me out of my misery than lock me away.
I almost feel sorry for her.
Almost.
I insist on clearing up, and he insists on helping, so together we pack away the leftovers and tidy the kitchen. With Snack Thief flying beside us, we make our way to the bunker.
Of course, Lander already knows where it is; he was merely being polite before, pretending he didn’t. Snack Thief may not have followed me underground, but he certainly saw me vanish down here for hours over the past two days.
I must remind myself that Lander is sneaky.
The light spheres I created days ago still glow softly, suspended in the air. He frowns at them but says nothing.
He pulls my wand from his pocket. “Here,” he says, handing it to me.
