Acri took a step backwards and bowed to Liliane. “My apologies,Mother.”
Evariste stared as his magic drifted closer.Come on,hurry!
Liliane laughed. “What do you have to be sorry for? You weren’t followed, wereyou?”
As Evariste watched, magic stopped swirling around the mirror and instead brushed againstit.
Yes!
For the first time in years, he felt the pleasant hum of his magic when it tapped the spot where his palmspressed.
“No.” Acri’s shoulders were so stiff, one could have balanced a sword on them. “But…I failedyou.”
Evariste was so surprised by the brat’s admission, he temporarily dropped his connection with hismagic.
The cavern was silent for several long, oppressivemoments.
“What?” Liliansaid.
Acri audibly swallowed. “I did not eliminate ApprenticeAngelique.”
“What?” Liliane repeated in a voice hot withfury.
“We fought, but I was forced to flee when she overpowered my magic and took control of my shadow weapons,” Acrisaid.
She overpowered him? Does that mean—did she use her war magic?She must have—there was no other way for her to fight back against Acri. But the thought both worried and encouragedEvariste.
Because if Angelique had resorted to using her war magic…just how much pain had she suffered through for the pastyears?
“How could she have overpoweredyou?” Liliane demanded. “After all your years oftraining?”
Acri took a step backwards. “She used her war magic.” His usual smug bravado had entirely failed him. Though he spoke plainly, Evariste could see the fear in hiseyes.
He’s afraid of his ownmother?
“She isn’ttrainedin her war magic! Luxi-Domus abhorred her powers,” Lilianesnarled.
“She’s learning now,” Acri said. “I poured everything I had into my weapons, and I couldn’t get themback.”
“No.” Liliane shook her head, a sharp expression settling in her eyes. “No. She is feeble with her powers—I madesureof it. It is your failing that you couldn’t eliminate one bumblingapprentice!”
“I was forced to confront her in Zancara—she purposely flashed her magic and brought the local government down on us,” Acri rushed to say. “Andshe summoned that wretchedconstellation!”
“You should have killed her before she had time to do either of those things!” Liliane shouted, her mint-green magic flickering in heranger.
“Please.” Acri dropped to a knee. “I won’t fail you again. Nexttime—”
“There will benonext time,” Liliane snarled. “It seems you are not as skilled as I thought. Disposing of Angelique is a task that will have to fall upon someone more dependable andtalented.”
Acri’s jaw shook with the strength with which he clenched it. After a moment, be bowed his head. “Yes,Mother.”
Evariste thought the issue was finished, but Liliane grasped Acri’s shoulder, her fingers digging into themuscle.
“You are no son of mine—not when youfail.” Her magic swirled around her hand, spinning into a painful spell based on the veins in Acri’s neck. But Liliane—her eyes glowing with fury—had no mercy on her own offspring. Instead, she clenched his shoulder tighter, making Acri wince with pain. “You will paydearlyfor this mistake so it doesn’t happenagain!”
She roughly hauled him to his feet and stormed out of thecavern.
Her magic encircled Acri. He took several pained steps before the magic crackled, and he collapsed, spasming on thefloor.
