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When they finally arrived, the estate flickered to life and Aidric immediately checked the shields. Mira’s eyes fell to a copy of the Osterbury Chronicle on the table in the hallway.

PRIMEMAGE CORVIN DEAD

A picture of Corvin was accompanied by the article, discussing the amulet and how he had summoned Rakkley, who had killed him.

No mention of her. But what worried her was another crucial detail that had been left out of the official statement.

“The council is not revealing anything about Corvin’s enthrallment plan,” she said, outraged.

Aidric wrote a scroll, presumably to Obryn. “What did you expect? For the council to tell the truth?”

She had. For once, she assumed they would do the right thing. The next passage made her equally stunned.

“Highmage Tinley is the interim Primemage.”

He kept writing his scroll. “A logical choice. A high-ranking Caster replacing Corvin. Casters still hold the Primemage position for another year.”

Tinley was going to be sworn in to her position in the morning.

Aidric sent his scroll. “For the time being, it’s safest for you to stay here, and I mean only here.”

She hated the idea of being trapped in the estate all day, but she understood it. This was like a vault, and Rakkley was now determined to get to her.

If anything, Aidric’s betrayal had made things even worse. He stared at the floor, his hands on his hips, and by the expression on his face, she could tell he was thinking the same thing. Angry with himself for the mistake. For the miscalculation on his part.

He couldn’t have known Rakkley was unkillable, but she knew better than to try to convince him of that.

As he opened a button on his shirt, she saw that flecks of blood still covered his chest.

“I’m going to take a shower,” he said absently, and walked upstairs.

Trembling from the cold journey, she stepped closer to the fire and warmed her hands. For the first time, seeing the dark ink on her right hand and knowing it worked in this sphere gave her a sense of peace. What terrified her now was what might await her in her dreams. But she didn’t have to go to sleep just yet.

She walked up the stairs and opened the door to the bathroom. Hot steam filled the air, and for a moment she couldn’t see anything until she stepped in closer. Aidric stood in the shower, his hands pressed against the wall and his head hanging low, as water ran down his body. His knuckles were bruised and covered in cuts. She made a mental note to heal those later.

She got undressed and stepped into the shower. He still hadn’t noticed her until she touched his back softly and he jumped.

“Sorry,” she chuckled, and moved in front of him, but her smile froze when she saw the incantation on his chest. It hadn’t disappeared. The ridges of the writing had faded…but it was still there.

“I…I thought destroying the amulet would remove the incantation.”

“So did I,” he rasped.

Her fingers traced the grooves of the incantation, wondering what else she could do.

“What did Obryn say?”

“I haven’t had time to talk to him about it yet. It doesn’t matter. The enthrallment is over. That’s all I care about.” He picked up her hand, brought it to his lips, and gently kissed her fingers. “Stop worrying. I’m finally free. Thanks to you.”

Hot water streamed down his sharp features, and she stared up into his blue-gray eyes. With her other hand she traced his stomach, feeling the hard muscles tense further under her touch. His eyes traveled slowly down her body. She brought herself closer to him until she felt his skin against hers. His teeth clenched together and his eyes darkened, but otherwise, he remained motionless. He clearly wanted this as much as she did, but he was holding back.

She wrapped her arms around his neck and drew him closer, teasing his lower lip with her teeth. Her hand ran through his wet hair as their tongues met.

What they couldn’t say with words, they were able to communicate with kisses. With precisely placed touches.

When he broke the kiss, he stared at her and she felt him internally debating something. Perhaps it was still his guilt about what he had done to her in Corvin’s office? Maybe he was aware of how he had just brutally killed two men in front of her?

But Mira didn’t care about any of that. All she wanted was one more moment of escaping her own darkness. One more moment of forgetting the grim reality of their situation.