I frowned as the flames grew even smaller. “That is a very valid question.”
“Blood!”
It took me a moment to recognize the voice as April.
I turned around and waved when I spotted her—with Binx and Tetiana—picking their way through the crowd.
“What happened?” Tetiana’s eyebrows knit together in concern as she looked from me to the blaze.
“It looks like something in the gardens caught fire. The building is empty, but it seemed like the fire was going to spread there until five wizards from House Tellier showed up.They contained the blaze and are in the process of snuffing it out.” I paused while waiting for someone—anyone—to add to my debriefing.
No one said anything.
“Does anyone recognize any of the wizards?” I asked. “They are identifiable as House Tellier wizards by their colors, but that’s all I could pick out.”
“The big guy—the one built like a gorilla? That’s Gideon Tellier, Heir of House Tellier,” April said.
Heir was the title given to the child of the main family in a wizarding House—the family the House was named after—who would eventually inherit and lead the House as the Adept.
I studied the wizard April had pointed out and recognized him despite the orange haze cast by the firelight.
Brody whistled. “The Heir? That’s convenient.”
“Yeah…” April narrowed her eyes as she studied Gideon Tellier—who, if I had to guess, was probably in his mid to late twenties.
The team fell silent.
I glanced from member to member waiting for someone to take the lead.
To my horror, all of them were staring atme.
“What’s the gameplan, Blood?” Tetiana asked.
“I’m not familiar with wizard magic,” I said. “I don’t think I should be the one to make the decision.
“Your orders, Blood,” Binx growled, her expression unrelenting.
Brody nodded, while Grove fussed with his satchel, so it looked like nobody was going to argue against me.
I guess this is undeniable proof that Sunshine is right. They respect me, which is why I get stuck making decisions in situations like this. But why does respect mean they won’t talk to me?!
“April, would you go help the firemen with the House Tellier wizards and use water on the flames?” I finally asked. “And…would you check for any foreign sparks of magic? I didn’t have time before House Tellier arrived.”
April’s expression tightened. “Understood.” She eyed House Tellier like a hungry tiger, then sauntered off in their direction.
Binx watched her with a thoughtful expression. “Was it just two years ago that there was a clash between House Medeis and House Tellier, or three?”
Shoot. I forgot about that—that was before my time.
“Doesn’t matter,” Brody said. “April can outmaneuver any of those dolts. If they pick a fight, she’ll handle it.”
“No fights,” I said. “Not in front of the humans.”
Grove gave me a thumbs up. “So, you’re saying we should drag them downtown and let Ruin beat them up for us. Got it.”
I’m not going to touch that.
“Brody, Binx, could you sniff around the library?” I asked. “I know it’s going to mostly smell like smoke and wizard magic now, but if you can find anything odd that would be helpful.”
