Liliane chuckled. “If you seek to irritate me, I’m afraid it won’t work. Ithastaken my son longer than I would like to track your little apprentice, but even the strictest mage in our company would be forced to admit it’s understandable given what sherides.”
What? Why would it matter what she’s riding? Unless, did she manage to find Emerys, and he gave her an elf mount? But she’s not an elf-friend. How could she have gotten into the Alabaster Forest?Evariste kept his expression even in the hope that he could swindle more information from the woman. “If you say so.” He colored his voice with obviousdoubt.
Liliane rolled her eyes. “Youarebeing obtuse. For even you must admit there’s not an enchanter or enchantress alive who could keep up withPegasus.”
Evariste almost lost control of his jaw.Pegasus? She’s been riding Pegasus? Why in the blazing stars would she call him down? He’s less safe than keeping a wild wolf in yourhouse!
“Constellation or not,” Liliane continued. “Acri will end your little apprentice’s miserable existence. The blood of ancient mage families flows within his veins.” Liliane smiled fondly at the thought of her son. “He is powerful and possesses deadlymagic.”
“Lucky for him,” Evaristescoffed.
“Not lucky at all,” Liliane countered. “It took my husband and me several attempts before we had a child with magic—and a kind that was to ourliking.”
“What?”
“Youmustknow, Lord Enchanter, that just because the parents possess magic does not guarantee the offspring will, and even if they do, there is no telling what sort of core magic they’ll end up with or even how much they’ll have.” Liliane laughed airily. “Suzu isquiteembarrassed by her powerless daughter. I’m sure she would have happily ended the girl’s life if not for the meddling of herhusband.”
Evariste stared at Liliane. “What happened to your other children?” he asked, fearing theanswer.
Liliane shrugged her elegant shoulders. “I culled them until I had what Iwanted.”
Evariste’s stomach rolled, and he didn’t have to feign the nausea that churned in his stomach.She’s not just a black mage—that’s too trite of a term to describe her darkness. How could she kill her own children overmagic?
Liliane didn’t seem to notice his reaction. She was adjusting her skirts as she returned to her art easel and plucked the painted canvas from its surface, tossing it on a pile of otherpaintings.
“That’s why your apprentice is doomed, Evariste. IchoseAcri. He will crush Angelique with all of the might I have invested inhim.”
Evariste watched numbly as the black mage swept from theroom.
His legs gave out from under him, and he sat downhard.
This is what the Veneno Conclave is up against—a vileness that can’t be fathomed. I have to get out—I have to warn them! If that is what Liliane does to her own children…I can’t imagine what kind of plans she has for theworld.
The thought made him shudder, and for once he gratefully looked into the unfeeling grayness of themirror.
Minutes passed, and Evariste’s thoughts eventually turned back to his apprentice.So Angelique has taken up riding Pegasus.He shook his head.It’s almost brilliant—there’s not an animal alive that can keep pace with his top speed, and he’s powerful enough to be a legitimate threat to even a talented mage. But I’ve only ridden him occasionally because he owes me. He has no such deal with Angelique, and she’s not one to court trouble. Why, then, does she ridehim?
Evariste stared at the shadows of the cavern, his heart squeezing painfully—not from the draining he had undergone, but from concern.What has happened that made Angel so desperate that she’d turn to a wild card like Pegasus for help? And what has been so grim that he would willingly helpher?
Chapter 2
Verglas was blanketed in snow.
Everything was cold and icy, but with the night so clear, the snow seemed to glow in themoonlight.
Though it was beautiful, it failed to distract Angelique from herthoughts.
She had spent the majority of the several-day-ride trying to forget about Blanche and Rein, about Evariste’s absence, and even about the last few months. But the more she tried to distract herself, the more her surroundings seemed to remind her of her frequent failings inlife.
I thought my days in Luxi-Domus were trying. Wasn’t that life’s greatest joke?Angelique stared at the ornamental reins of Pegasus’ bridle. They were shiny and smudged to her tired eyes. She wanted nothing more than to lie down and sleep—even if it was in the snow—but they were close to Stil’s tent. It made more sense to push onthrough.
Ahead of her a little sparkle of light glittered—the tracking spell Angelique was using to find her waywardfriend.
Though a great deal of the trouble I’ve encountered recently hasn’t been anyone’s doing—or rather, it’s the doing of black mages.She cringed in the saddle.I detest my magic, but I am grateful Evariste insisted I keep up with my fighting abilities and had Puss drill me endlessly. I’d probably be skewered by a goblin by now if it wasn’t for all that practice. It’s just one more thing I have to apologize for when I finally findhim.
Though Evariste had saved Angelique, they hadn’t parted on the greatest of terms. Or, rather, they had argued and weren’t even speaking to each other when their home wasattacked.
One would imagine that as months passed and turned into years, Angelique’s guilt over the fight would decrease, but ithadn’t.
