Page 72 of King Tomb

After all, our Prodigies had to go to school somewhere.

There was no better place to watch over them than in our backyard.

We were the Kings and Queens that broke all the rules.

We would not expect any less from our Prodigies.

Even if we led them to believe otherwise.

Epilogue

Julia sat on a tree stump on King Hall’s property, watching the Mystical Kings and Queens from afar. The gigantic mosquitos were out in full force here. She slapped as another tried to take a bite out of her. One day she wouldn’t mind bagging a hundred of the pesky insects, then releasing them inside a certain golden cloak. Glancing over her shoulder, she glared at the man finally arriving. “You’re ten minutes late, Mage.”

Elder Harcourt chuckled softly. “Sorry to keep you waiting, Lady.”

She huffed, fully irritated with his non-sorry expression. “I almost left.”

“I would have found you.”

Julia rolled her eyes and stated sarcastically, “Your ego is hurting my teeth.”

“Perhaps they need brushing?” With ease, he sat on the grass beside her tree stump.

“You’re an ass.”

Elder Harcourt merely grinned. “Enjoying the view?”

Julia whacked another mosquito. “Didyouenjoy the view while you played your game?”

The Elder Mage cracked his neck. “They were becoming reckless. I did what I had to.”

“They hate you.”

“So it seems.”

She hummed, lifting a red brow. “You allowed Bindi more access for the DNA test.”

His lips gradually curved…until he snickered quietly. “She always had the access.” His slow blink almost appeared amused, like he had been dealing with halfwits, not powerful Mysticals. “When I cast the spell, they were inside my magic. The Shifters couldn’t scent what was alieand what was thetruth. They only knew…that I am me.”

Julia stared. Blinked. “Well, that’s interesting.” She would not give him the satisfaction of knowing she thought that was genius. If Bindi had believed the most powerful Elder Mage had restricted her…then she never would have tried. Not until she could help it, anyway. After all, Bindi was a healer, so finally having Ezra and Lily in the same room would have been too much temptation. Julia was not even going to ask what head games the Mage had played on the other four Elders. She was not entirely sure she wanted to know.

Though, she did have one question. “How did the world stay sane when the Rulers didn’t?”

Elder Harcourt’s resulting grin was pure evil. “I could have taken away the blank spots and given the Rulers pretty memories to fill the voids, as I did the rest of the population, but then they would not have realized anything was off.” He paused. “They also wouldn’t have learned the lesson they so badly needed.”

Julia snorted, watching the Kings and Queens keep a safe distance from each other.

Elder Harcourt made no move to speak, his quiet patience bothering her further.

She eventually stood from the stump. “I brought what you want.”

“I know.”

Her glare was a force unto itself. “Can’t you even pretend like you don’t?”

His deep snicker was devious. “Of course I can.” He raised his hand where she stood over him, and wiggled his fingers. “I’d like it now.”

Reaching into her cloak, she pulled out a black bag. “I’ll need it back.”

He nodded. “I’ll do what I can.”

Grunting softly, she tossed him the gift. “Just make sure I have it back before I need it.”

“That I can do,” he murmured, and opened the bag to stare down into it. A pure white light shone up onto his face. The glare made him squint. “That won’t do.” He hurried to close the bag and stuffed it into his own cloak. “I’ll have to work on it.”

Julia tittered quietly and stalked away. “Just return it as it isnow.”

Elder Harcourt didn’t watch her go, his gaze steadfast on the Rulers.

Only a golden eagle in the sky saw the wicked smirk that curved his lips.