Page 16 of Out of Sight

Win was eating another pastry. “So can Mik. So can I.”

Ted was interested. “What would you recommend?”

“When he reaches out for you—and they always reach out for you—split his hand along his fingers and run the split up his arm. He will be distracted as hell.” Win grinned with strawberry sauce in her teeth. “If you aren’t grossed out, keep going.”

Ted paused. “I thought I would pull my energy back and see what is left of him.”

Mik nodded. “Very poetic. Very dramatic. Did you want a hand?”

Ted’s magic was running a search pattern. She paused. “Mik, does your magic run off without you?”

“Sometimes, if it has shit to do. We are the vessels, the carriers. We have been remade to host it. We do our thing, and it does its thing. It has an agenda I know nothing about, and it just wants to keep the dark elves out of our way.”

Ted nodded. “Good thing that they are aiming a pretty orc at you.”

The low rumble behind her said, “Thank you. You mages are adorable and fascinating in equal measure.”

Ted looked behind her, and the orc was now wearing rich brown skin, short cropped hair, and silver earrings in his human form that was still twelve inches taller than she was. She smiled. “Pretty is pretty, and cute is cute. Mik is both. You are?”

“Avenget Molari. Mage to the imperial court.”

Teyval walked in behind them. “I had to give them the local languages. Elf brains are a little different.”

Ted paused. “Oh. Ohnonononono.”

She ran outside and closed her eyes, using a seek spell. She didn’t look for Hrinian; she was looking for other mages. They had to be bright and strong and away from people. She opened her eyes. There was a shadow moving toward another bright blob of magic.

Mik ran over. “Where are we going?”

Ted’s magic showed her, and they were on their way.

* * * *

Avenget looked at Teyval. “Where did they go?”

A pale woman was sipping a beverage. She said, “They are going to get Hrinian before he attacks another woman like he attacked Ted. She ran out and did a seek spell for mages, and then she and Mik poofed away.”

Avenget said. “Hrinian?”

“Shadow mage who put the thrall curse on Ted six years ago. He’s about to have a very bad day.”

She sipped at her coffee. “I am going to give them a head start and join them. Just want to finish my coffee.”

She smiled. “So you are the sacrificial mates that the empire sent this way?”

Avenget felt his face darken. “Something like that.”

“So there is you for a mage and four for the other djinn? Are they going to smash her flat or each take a limb and pull?”

Teyval grinned. Avenget looked at him for help. Teyval shrugged. “I have to keep Myrtle in a good mood. I am not going to try to explain how it is a one-to-one with djinn, if possible. If they need more backup, they have it.”

Nemia cocked her head. “So do the extras go home? Is it like recycling?”

Teyval snickered. “No, they are here to stay.”

“So how many are you importing? I mean, I am guessing that they each have seen files for Nyla, and they have their heart or whatever set on her.”

Teyval snorted. “This is fun. Yes, they are all geared toward her.”