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But she had to leave because she had just assassinated the Primemage.

As she rose to her hands and knees, a wheezing breath behind metal emerged from the corner of the room. She couldn’t see him yet, but she knew he was there.

Rakkley’s beak appeared out of a magic gate.

“So it is true,” Rakkley said as he stepped into the office. “The amulet is destroyed.”

Mira backed toward the wall, as far away from him as possible. He blocked her way to the door. She was still protected against spells, thanks to Rylan’s potion, but Rakkley didn’t want to cast any spells on her—he wanted to kidnap her, and that was very much still possible.

“Sorry to disappoint you,” Mira rasped, hoping to keep Rakkley talking while she thought of her next move. If there was one. Her back hit the wall. She could smell the rot on him.

“Oh, but I am not disappointed at all. I never cared much for Mercer’s amulet. I don’t miss the old man. Only his invention.” He stopped in the middle of the room. “I am…surprised.”

“Because you didn’t believe someone like me could destroy the amulet?”

He stared at her just like he did in her nightmares. Like death.

“No,” he finally said. “I didn’t believe Aidric when he told me he had finally found someone gullible enough to destroy the amulet for him.”

Her blood froze. Her entire world flipped upside down.

“I was confused to see him protect you at that party but then he asked me not to come for you because he was sure you would free him of the enthrallment. And here we are.”

The words stung. Burned. Even more than her arm.

“You lie.” Her voice was heavy with desperation.

It couldn’t be true. She clung to that thought with every fiber of her being.

“Did you believe it was all a coincidence? One of Mercer’s most prolific assassins would never stoop so low as to be with a Caster. But he saw the potential in you. Or rather, the desperation. Something that can easily be manipulated.”

Part of her replayed every interaction she and Aidric had ever had.

“He said you were the only person who could destroy it,” he continued. “Both Caster and Wielder, and someone he could easily corrupt. Why do you think he trained you in Dark Magic? He needed you to do this for him. And now, you fulfilled your mission and my patience has been rewarded.”

Mira felt as if she was slowly drowning.

“You’re wrong,” she insisted, needing to hear the words out loud, needing to believe them. “He specifically told me to stay away from Corvin and the amulet.”

“Of course he did. It would have been a tad too obvious if he had told you to destroy it, wouldn’t it?”

Was that why he had involved her in the investigation? To gain her trust? Was Aidric protecting her only because she was his golden ticket to freedom? No. Never.

She fought tears. Her lungs burned. It all felt so heavy.

“He would never make a deal with you,” she spat, grabbing her arm as the pain seared hotter. “If his end of the bargain was to deliver me to you, then where is he now?”

From the darkness in the corner came two steps, each practically echoing through her soul.

Aidric’s pale face emerged from the shadows with a wicked grin on his sharp features.

His silver eyes looked dragon-like. Almost inhuman. Cold shards of ice that seemed to slice right through her and shatter her heart.

“Hello, Caster.”

40

Mira stared at Dawson, hoping for a sign that this was all a nightmare. But she found only depthless cold in those gray eyes.