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Zayan barked out, eyes filled with glee, “Sorry, wrong, Huggybear. It’s none of them. If you can believe it, Bluebeard set these up as decoys to catch thieves. They have some magic, but not the magic.”
“Sounds like something our mage would do. Now I can add paranoia to my list of his charming personality traits.”
“It’s over here. Come on.”
He pulled a screw-top jar off a crowded shelf, with the familiar label Fisher Scientific, Boiling Chips.
“I have some of these in my lab,” Tom said. “They’re little chips of marble, nothing special.”
“And that’s the point. The jar is hiding a magical oak in a forest of mundane trees. Hold out your hand.”
Zayan plucked one particular chip out of the jar, almost identical to the rest but slightly shinier, and passed it over.
Zayan made the grand reveal, clearly thrilled to share. “You now have the secret to transmutation of elements and the key to eternal life, right there in your palm.”
CHAPTER 25
“What are you working on, dear?” his traitorous wife asked, drawing small circles through the sweat on his chest, in the quiet moments of pillow talk after passion. He was exhausted! Before they got to the main event, she had done that thing again with her fingers and the scented oil, unlocking pleasures he’d never explored before. His plans for her final marital duty were coming to fruition, and he was almost sorry. He would certainly miss her creativity in the bedchamber.
“Nothing that concerns you,” he teased, knowing she wouldn’t let it drop there. He had to admit, it had become a great sport, dribbling tiny drops of information to her and seeing her squirm for more. But the games were soon to end. He and Thierry had sold the last dram of refined terror that morning, the last remnants of his previous wife, and he was ready to move on to the next. He moved her hand lower and said, “But there’s a matter here that requires your attention.”
As she stroked, he looked ahead. The domination would be exquisite. She would surely not go willingly, with none of the fainting and impassioned pleas of his many former wives. This was going to be a rare treat, and with luck, he didn’t have long to wait. A day or two at most. The anticipation was excruciating.
She asked, “Are you working on a new elixir for the spa? I’ll be happy to help you test them. How do you do it, creating these luscious regenerative concoctions?”
“A bit of this and a bit of that, working with the body not against it. Nature delights in Nature.”
He felt his passion stir, veins pulsing with hot blood, raising him toward the second act, feeling her warm hand and anticipating it growing cold, pale, and lifeless. Finally obeying him as she promised in their wedding vows and surrendering her life to him.
“What does that mean? Nature delights in Nature? It sounds like something Hoyle would say about his plants.”
“Perhaps, but in a different way,” he says, enticing and laying a subtle trap. “It is the basis of alchemy, the first step I perform in my laboratory. Taking joy in the subtle nature of the chemical transformations.”
“It sounds glorious. I’d love to witness your magic and experience this delight myself.”
“I promise, my dear, I’ll show you personally,” he teased again, stringing her along and guiding her to the promise he needed from her. “But for now, my secrets must remain secrets, locked in my laboratory, and your concerns are here in the castle.”
“I’ve never seen true magic,” she said, gently coaxing with just a touch of challenge in her voice.
“Perhaps one day, but for now I must keep it locked away with my golden Key.” He took her chin in his hand, kissing her, knowing the time was right to extract the promise. “Do you understand, dearest wife? I share with you my fortune, my castle, and my life, but this small thing must for now remain mine and mine alone. My magics are sensitive and fragile, so they must be protected under lock and key. Promise me you won’t go seeking them out.”
She tried to hide her frustration, but lied, “I understand, my husband. I promise. The treasures of the laboratory are your domain.”
With her lie, Bluebeard knew he had laid his trap yet again, securing the promise that would be broken. Now, he simply needed to set the stage for the entire pantomime to play itself out, as it had a hundred times before. But that could wait. While she still had warmth in her veins, he would put her creativity to the test.
A few days later, as they gathered for their breakfast meal, the perfect opportunity dropped neatly into his lap, custom-made for success. Rarely had his plans proceeded so smoothly. This was an auspicious sign from the Fates.
As they were sitting down with their eggs and toast, Hoyle announced, “I’ve heard rumors of a new parasitic plant that lures the local wildlife to their death. It sounds fascinating, and I was thinking of tracking it down. If we can find it, it might give Tom another challenge in the laboratory.”
Bluebeard seized the opportunity, saying, “As luck would have it, this is an excellent time for it. I have business in the capital, so I won’t be needing anything from you. Why don’t you take Thomas and Charlie and make an adventure of it? I’m certain my lovely wife could hold down the fort while we’re all traveling.”
His wife perked up at these plans, as he knew she would, clearly planning her own subterfuge. “Yes,” she said. “That sounds like a lovely idea. And Zayan too?”
“No. I’d rather he continued with his alchemical studies. He’s ready to proceed to the next step in his training.”
Hoyle said, “Splendid! These rumors come from the Louisiana swamps, so it’s bound to be loads of fun, and New Orleans is down the road.”
“Well, watch out for alligators,” Bluebeard said, catching Thierry’s eye. “The swamps are full of dangers, and I want to ensure that everyone returns in one piece. We wouldn’t want to lose anyone from our happy castle family.”
