“Whatever curse that thing packed is rewriting itself in your bloodstream,” Ko muttered, opening his laptop.
“It’s contained.” Cas leaned against the table, the display from the computer screen casting sickly green light across his face.
“Contained isn’t cured.” Ko’s fingers flew across the keyboard, pulling up spectral analysis graphs that meant absolutely nothing to me. “Your blood’s fighting it, but look.” He zoomed in on shifting crimson waveforms. “The hex patterns keep mirroring your bioelectric resistance. Adapting.”
“So what’s the verdict? Do we amputate before the sparkles spread?”
The low growl building in Cas’ chest cut off when the hawk’s remaining eye suddenly lit up crimson. We all froze as the creature’s shattered beak clacked open, spewing black smoke. Fortunately, the containment orb did its work and held the smoke about a foot above the table
“Dark magic with an air witch signature,” Ko growled.
“Amabel and Eluned Harrow are both air witches,” I pointed out helpfully, “and pretty damn Dark.”
“Not enough evidence they were behind this,” Cas grunted, a bead of sweat rolling down his cheek.
I spun my stool, memories of this afternoon playing on repeat: The hawk screaming toward Seri, her laugh cutting off as Brumous tackled her, silver talons missing its target of her throat and sinking into Cas’ forearm. Then Ko’s dagger singing through the air, me scrambling to catch fizzing feathers before she saw them, Cas’ voice steady as he lied straight to Seri’s face when he didn’t correct her comment about never seeing a hawk attack a person before.
“You said the warded perimeter runestones would hold.” I didn’t mean for it to come out accusatory, but Ko flinched like I’d slapped him.
“Groundperimeter’s secure.Airspace?” He rubbed the back of his neck. “I missed the vertical parameters.”
“She almostdiedbecause you forgot birds can fly?” Cas’ fist hit the table hard enough to dent the steel surface.
“Easy, Thor.” I slid between them, catching the dangerous glint in Ko’s eyes. “No blaming the half-human who knows more magical theory than the two of us combined.”
“What was thepointof the attack, though?” Ko asked. “Whether it was the Harrows or someone else, sending a cursed construct to attackourbeloved onourterritory? The plan was doomed before it launched.”
“Guess our rep hasn’t spread to every mercenary corner yet,” I volunteered.
“No.” Cas flexed his hand, tendons standing out from flashing skin. “The sender wanted us to panic. To waste time chasing shadows while they line up the real shot.”
The overhead lights flickered as his power surged. I reached for the emergency breaker, but Koa was faster. His palm slammed down on an engraved copper plate, activating dampening fields.
“Control it! Or I’m pumping you full of benzos!”
For a heartbeat, I thought Casimir might actually throw a lightning bolt at him. Then the glow faded from his skin, leaving scorch marks on the cuffs of his shirt.
“I. Can’t. Feels like a live wire arguing with itself.”
“So we’ve got a curse that treats lightning blood like a funhouse mirror?” I tilted my head in confusion.
“Three layer attack, Z,” Ko barked. “Layer one now!”
“Oh, hell, yeah!” I punched my fist into the air and plucked a mistletoe tonic from the chaos of our makeshift pharmacy. “Bottoms up, Sparky.”
“I’d rather swallow live eels.” Cas recoiled like I’d offered rat poison.
“Tempting, but not helpful.” I tapped his nose with my index finger, and he snapped at it like Brumous after a fly. “Drink the damn potion, Cas, so we don’t have to explain to Seri why her Simmy croaked overnight.”
“It smells like fermented shit!”
“Good.” Koa’s smile held all the sweetness of a guillotine blade. “Maybe it’ll remind you not to barehand cursed constructs next time.”
The lights surged again. Brighter. Hotter. Shadows writhed across the walls as Cas hissed through clenched teeth.
“You’re notcontainingit. You’re giving it time to adapt.” Ko threw up his hands, exasperated.
“What’s it trying to be? A virus? A parasite?” I leaned in close enough to feel ozone prickle along my skin. “Inquiring dhamps want to know.”
