Maria Snyder - Spy Glass

Devlen hovered near the stable’s entrance and Kade paused next to him and said something. I held my breath, but Devlen nodded and Kade left.

When Devlen came closer, I raised my eyebrows, inviting him to explain. He peered at me in amazement. “I never dreamed you would forgive me. Would want to be with me.” He cupped my cheek, wiping away my tears with a thumb.

I covered his hand with mine, pressing it against my face.

“Kade asked me to be the voice of reason when you dash off into danger. Note he said when .”

Valek arrived to escort us to Galen. It had been a full day since Devlen injected my blood into him. They had chained him in one of the cottages. Quinn’s glass ball/null shield nearby. Valek had also gagged him so he couldn’t order me to free him.

A deep hatred consumed me when I saw him. I gripped the orb hard. Devlen stood behind me. He squeezed my shoulder in support. Quinn’s parents acted as witnesses. Since the revolt, Quinn’s father, Lane, had been unofficially voted as the new clan leader. According to Valek’s report, he planned for a more democratic society where everyone shared the work and the profits. Since Quinn was the only Bloodrose with magic, I had asked him to stay away from me just in case I accidentally grabbed his magic.

I started with Devlen, draining the blood magic from him. Then I nodded to Lane. He moved the null shield away from Galen. Without hesitation, I concentrated on the orb, siphoning our magic. Galen’s eyes widened in surprise. The steady ring of diamonds filling the orb sounded. Between the two of us, our power was considerable.

Controlling the pull of magic, I drew it all. Galen bucked and screamed. But for me, the burning sensation of the magic leaving felt purifying, cleaning Galen from my body and soul. The pings of diamonds slowed and I closed my eyes, reaching for the last bit. A heavy fabric of magic settled on my shoulders and I instinctively pulled it as well.

When no power remained, I opened my eyes. The effort had sapped my energy, but I stayed on my feet.

Able to speak for the first time in days, I said to Galen, “A good friend told me that criminals get caught because of greed and stupidity. Loophole number two, Galen. You ordered me not to siphon your magic, but not our magic. And you underestimated Walsh, who took steps to protect his family before he died.”

I turned away. Valek had taken Devlen’s place behind me. He pulled the fabric from my shoulders and the significance of its presence finally sank in. It was a null shield jacket. I glared at Valek.

“I thought it was worth a try. Did it work?” He gestured for Lane to approach.

Lane held Quinn’s glass ball. The null shield’s magic pushed me back. It did work. My immunity had returned. Damn it! I sputtered. “You… How… I don’t want magic! ”

“Being immune isn’t magical. There’s no magic involved,” Valek said in a flat voice.

“Save that speech for the Commander of Ixia. I know and you know and the horses know better.” And Reema and Teegan, but I wasn’t going to tell him. He’d try to recruit them to our team. And they were too young to decide if they should join or not.

“Before you start lecturing me, I have a present for you.” Valek handed me a spyglass.

“Is this—”

“No. Yours was crushed in the cave-in, but I thought you’d like a replacement.”

“Thanks.”

He waited.

I pulled the spyglass’s sections out and peered at Devlen through the barrel. “You’re right. I can see the future.”

“And?” Valek asked.

“And if you need our help for any future missions, just ask.”

“A package deal?”

“Yes,” Devlen answered.

“Good thing, I brought another.” With a dramatic flourish worthy of Janco, Valek presented a spyglass to Devlen. “Now you need to leave so I can finish our business with Galen.” Valek showed me one of the glass knives. “I thought it fitting.”

“It is.” I took the knife from Valek. “You once told me Galen was my problem and I should deal with him.”

“You’re not a killer, Opal,” he said.

Devlen agreed. “You’ll regret it.”

But they didn’t know what it felt like to be magically bound to another. To feel helpless. “This isn’t about murder. It’s about justice. We know the Sitian Council will discuss the situation until the subject is exhausted. Anything could happen during that time. They’re already backing away from charging Vasko.” He claimed Galen had engineered the blood magic test laboratory and he had no knowledge of it.

Fire flashed in Valek’s eyes. “Vasko’s due for a visit.”

“I’ll let you handle him, but Galen is mine.” I spun and sliced the sharp edge of the glass knife deep into Galen’s throat, drawing a line from ear to ear. Blood spurted. I watched until he died. No regret.

I paused on the doorstep. Was she still disappointed? Would she be upset over my delayed visit? Would she be able to accept all the changes in my life? So much had happened, she might be overwhelmed.

“Opal, the door is not going to open by itself. She’s your mother. How bad can it be?” Devlen asked.

Sweat dampened his tunic. The bright sun blazed. It was midafternoon in the middle of the hot season. The humid air felt hot enough to melt sand into glass. His skin had darkened as we traveled south, but our paler traveling companions hadn’t fared as well.

Grabbing Devlen’s hand for strength, I knocked and entered the kitchen, pulling him in with me. As expected, my mother prepared the evening meal for my father and brother. She gaped at me as if seeing a ghost. Considering that I hadn’t seen her since she learned I was alive, I shouldn’t be surprised.

I braced for recriminations or for her to ladle on the guilt for not rushing home as soon as possible. Instead, a smile lit her face and she ran to me.

“Opal!” She embraced me and held me like only a mother could.

All my worries dissipated, and any hard feelings between us had been forgiven and forgotten in an instant.

“Your letter asked us to wait. That you’d be visiting us at the start of the cooling season. Why didn’t you tell me you were coming sooner?” she asked. She finally noticed Devlen standing by my side. Stepping back, she clutched her hands to her chest. “And you brought a guest?”

“Yes. Mother, this is Devlen, my…” All moisture fled my mouth. My tongue refused to work.

“Her betrothed.” Devlen extended his hand.

Shocked, my mother stared at him for a moment. I fiddled with the ring on my finger, spinning it around and around.

And then my mother pulled it together and shook his hand. My emotions flipped from being terrified of her reaction to being impressed.

“Nice to meet you,” she said then addressed me. “Are you planning on staying with us for long?”

Time to drop my final surprise. “Yes. We hoped to visit for the rest of the season. All four of us. If that’s okay?”

My mother brightened. “Of course! You know me. I love a house full of friends and family.” She peered behind us. “For sand’s sake, Opal. Did you abandon them outside in the hot sun?” She tsked. “Where are your manners?”

“They’re giving the horses water,” I said.

Devlen offered to check on them.

When he left the kitchen, I said, “Before you fuss about not having enough to eat, I also brought plenty of food.”

“Thoughtful of you,” she said in a flat tone. “But you can’t bribe me. You will tell me everything, including what was so important at the Citadel that you had to go there first. ”

I hung my head. “Yes, Mother.”