Infinite Magic (Dragon's Gift: The Huntress Book 5) (10 page)

 
Aidan would drive through the gates alone. I would stay outside, shifted into falcon form. If he needed my help, I could fly over the ramparts and rescue him. Hopefully no one would think twice of one native bird. Once inside, I could use my powers—illusion, lightning, whatever it took—to get him out of whatever pickle he was in.
 

“I really don’t think you need to do this, though,” Aidan said. “It will be fine.”

“I know it will. I just want to be on hand in case it isn’t, okay?”

He nodded sharply.
 

I grinned, taking off my comms charm and handing it to him, then let the magic flow through me, warming my limbs. A second later, the world flashed before my eyes, and I shrunk into falcon form.

I sat on the passenger seat as Aidan shortened the cord on my comms charm and fastened it around my neck. It hung a bit awkwardly, but it worked. I’d have preferred to shift into a sparrow or smaller bird, but they weren’t big enough to support the weight of the charm.
 

He touched his charm and said, “I’ll be back soon.”

The words echoed out of the charm around my neck, and I tilted my head as a nod. The charms worked.
 

Aidan lowered the car’s side window, and I hopped onto the window sill and flew out, catching the breeze beneath my wings.

I flew away from Aidan’s car, approaching Glencarrough from the south. About a quarter mile from the gates, I found a tree branch to sit on so that I could watch.

Aidan’s car pulled up to the gate and stopped.
 

“See you when this is over,” he said through the comms charm.
 

A heavy groaning noise came from the charm, the heavy wooden gate lifting.
 

This was it.

My feathers prickled.

I watched him drive through, catching sight of a man with wild yellow hair walking along the ramparts, then disappearing, presumably down some stairs.
 

Only one man had hair like that. Mathias. The lion Shifter who knew I was a FireSoul, but who’d kept my secret. I’d managed to convince him I wasn’t a threat, but it’d been hard. I doubted I could convince the rest of the Council if they figured out what I was. I may have helped them save Amara, the little girl who’d tended the Heartstone, but that wouldn’t buy me complete immunity from their fears and superstitions.

“Mathias is approaching,” Aidan murmured through the charm.
 

I could just imagine Mathias walking down the long steps pressed against the interior wall of Glencarrough. He’d greeted me from that direction last time I visited.

I heard a car door slam and assumed that Aidan had gotten out of the car and stepped into the enormous cobblestone courtyard of Glencarrough. As I remembered it, cars would be parked at the edges in front of the large stone buildings.
 

Worry gnawed at me. There were at least a hundred Shifters in there, many of whom would be watching Aidan from their position guarding the walls. Aidan was more powerful than any of them, but he was vastly outnumbered.

“You’re back soon,” Mathias’s voice echoed through my comms charm.

“I have something important to discuss,” Aidan said.

“It’s a good thing that Cass didn’t come,” Mathias said in a low voice. “I worry about the others sensing her signature.”

“They haven’t been suspicious otherwise?” Aidan asked.

“No. I’ve heard nothing. She’s best off keeping a low profile.”

“I’ll see that she does,” Aidan said.

I bristled, but knew he meant the best.

“The Council is waiting for you,” Mathias said.

“Lead the way,” Aidan said.

There was silence for a while, and I pictured them walking through the grand entranceway into the main building. Marble floors and silk wallpaper adorned the large foyer, as I recalled. Rare weapons lined the walls. I’d wanted to pocket one last time I’d been there, but I didn’t steal. No matter how much my dragon side wanted me to. I was a treasure hunter, but I followed careful rules.

They were probably in the hallway by now. It was there that I’d seen the Alpha Council guards dragging Emile to their dungeon.

I assumed they were going to the Council room—a massive, ornate affair that screamed wealth and power. The Alphas of all the clans would be there.

The sound of light, running footsteps echoed through the comms charm. I focused hard, trying to hear.

“Aidan!” a young voice called.

I recognized that voice. It was Amara, the little girl we’d rescued from Victor. I pictured her in my mind, a slender, dark-haired girl of about nine. She always had a ragged stuffed bunny clutched in her arms.

“Amara!” Aidan’s voice echoed through the charm. He sounded happy to see her. I imagined him kneeling and hugging her. “How are you?” Aidan asked.

“Good! We’re making a new Heartstone!” she said.

A gruff voice said, “That’s enough, Amara.”

That would be Amara’s father, Angus. I was sure of it. He hadn’t liked me when he’d met me before. Thought I smelled funny. Good thing I wasn’t in there, as much as I might like to see Amara for myself.

“We’re late for our meeting, Angus,” Mathias said. “Excuse us.”

There was silence for a moment, and then Mathias said, “Aidan Merrick to see you, Alphas.”

So they were in the Council room now. I imagined all the Alphas turning to look at Aidan from their seats at the round table. I waited for their greeting, but there was only silence.

Shouldn’t they be saying something? Fear chilled my blood.

Suddenly, an angry voice broke through the silence.
 

“That is the one I told you about. The accomplice to the FireSoul, Cass Clereaux.”

“Dermot Mulvey,” Aidan’s voice was cold. “Aren’t you looking well.”

Dermot was alive? How? Shock rooted me to the tree.

“Is it true, Aidan?” a feminine voice asked. Elenora, the leader, if I had to guess.

“He doesn’t know what he is talking about,” Aidan said. “Dermot Mulvey is—”

His words cut off, and a loud crash sounded.
 

I cried out in surprise. What was happening?

“Dermot! You didn’t have to knock him out!” Elenora yelled.

“Lock him in the dungeon,” Dermot said. “You can’t trust him. When he comes to, you can speak to him there.”

“I agree with Dermot,” a masculine voice said.
 

Other people agreed.

I heard a rustling noise. They were dragging him off.
 

My heart pounded as I pushed off the tree limb, taking to the sky. I flew as fast as I could toward the tower wall. I needed to reach Aidan.

What would I do once I was in?

Figure it out. Use invisibility. Steal a key to the dungeon. Something.
 

The wind cut through my feathers as I neared the walls. I’d approach from the back, where there were fewer guards. I was just a bird, so they were unlikely to notice me, but better safe than sorry.

I swooped low over the rampart walls, staying far from the men who paced, their eyes ever alert.

I was about to land when I heard a shout.

“Intruder!”

No!

I was just a bird! How had they sensed me? I didn’t have time to panic. Something heavy crashed over me, dragging me to the ground. I shifted as I fell, my transformation forced by the magic in the net.

When I slammed to the ground, pain radiated through my body. I lay there on the cobblestone courtyard, stunned, able to feel all the magic in the air. Beneath my cheek was a strange, star-shaped ornament inset into the cobblestones. I stared at it dazedly as I tried to get my bearings.

The signatures of the many Shifters bombarded me—tastes, smells, sounds. So many Shifters in one area gave the place a buzzing feeling.

I scrambled upright, throwing the net off me. Before I could call upon my magic, something sharp pierced me in the neck. I reached up, feeling a dart of some kind.
 

Then I passed out.

Cold crept along my skin, seeping deep within my bones and dragging me from slumber. The bed beneath me was hard as rock. I curled my hand against it, realizing that it
was
rock. Hard and gritty stone.

My head pounded as I opened my eyes. Four stone walls surrounded me. A heavy wooden ceiling stretched above. I turned my head to see a wooden door, reinforced with iron strips. There was nothing in the room except me.

My power was suppressed. Not even a spark of it burned within me. I pulled off the golden dampener cuff at my wrist, but my magic stayed repressed. There were some seriously powerful anti-magic charms on this cell. Shifters couldn’t do magic like Magica could, so of course their prison would have strong enchantments against it.

I was in another freaking prison.

Helpless rage made me clench my fists as I jerked upright. My brain throbbed, feeling like it bounced against my skull.

Aidan was gone. Possibly in his own cell.
 

And I was locked up.

Again.

But Dermot was alive. Aidan’s men had reported that the Order said all the bodies in the rubble were dead. Dermot must have survived without injury and escaped before the Order showed up.

The bastard must have used one of his protective shields to save himself from the falling roof. The only person I’d wanted to kill had been the one to survive.

He must have realized we’d come here to rat him out, so he’d beaten us to it. Barely. But it’d been enough time to sow the seeds of doubt in the minds of the Alpha Council members.

I almost growled, but the noise was cut off by the sound of a key in the lock. I jumped to my feet and raced to the door, tucking myself beside it so that whoever was entering couldn’t see me.
 

They’d taken the daggers I’d had strapped to my thighs, but I was still a good fighter. And I had my other charms. I just had to get away from the dampening charm that had been put on this cell. Then I could really fight my way free.

The door creaked open and I tensed, ready to pounce. A massive grizzly bear stalked into the room, his claws as big as steak knives. He smelled like salmon and old dirt, and his fangs were longer than my forearm.

I sank back against the wall.

A woman in a long green dress followed the bear into the cell. Her brown hair was pulled back and streaked liberally with gray. Elenora. The wolf Shifter who was the leader of the Alpha Council. We’d been on friendly terms when I’d helped save Amara. I hadn’t expected her to be my buddy, but tossing me in this barren cell was a bit much.

“Why am I here?” I demanded.

She turned her sharp gaze on me. The bear at her side growled.

“Shut up, Smokey,” I said.

Her brows rose. “I’d think you’d be on your best behavior, considering your circumstances.”

I glanced around. “Oh, this? I’m used to it.” I made my voice sharp. “But I shouldn’t be in here. Not after how I proved myself with Amara. I saved your niece’s life. At great risk to my own, might I remind you. You said that I went above and beyond. Those were your exact words.”

“I recall. But you broke into Glencarrough. Did you think we wouldn’t notice an unidentified bird? We’re very sensitive to other animals. They don’t come here. Only Shifters do. And Dermot Mulvey, a high-ranking member of the Order of the Magica, has leveled some serious accusations against you.”

“That I’m a FireSoul? Ridiculous.”

“Of course you’re a FireSoul. While you were passed out, we had our healer check your magical signature. You are most definitely a FireSoul.” Her green eyes took on a thoughtful sheen. “I always thought your magic smelled odd.”

“The Origin wouldn’t spend time with a FireSoul,” I said. “No way.”

“Aidan Merrick will do whatever suits him,” she said. “As you well know.”

She was right about that.

“Give up the charade.” Elenora crossed her arms elegantly in front of her chest.
 

She was right. I was found out. “Aidan doesn’t know what I am.”

“Lie,” she said.

“He doesn’t.” I’d go to my grave maintaining that.

“I appreciate that you are trying to protect him.”

I scowled at her. “Where is Aidan?”

“He’s in the cell down the hall. You’re here in this cell because you’re a FireSoul, and we don’t know what to do with you.”

I wanted to growl at her. Had she so quickly forgotten the risks I’d taken for Amara? But Dermot must have pleaded his case well.

“Don’t know?” I scoffed. “Toss me in the Prison for Magical Miscreants, obviously.” I’d escape on the way there, hopefully.

“Normally, yes. But as you said, you helped us with Amara. At great risk to yourself. I believe that you are fundamentally good, Cassiopeia. Your species has a well-deserved reputation for evil—how could you not, given the amount of power you can wield? But I believe you are the exception to that rule.”

Little did she know, I had more power than she could dream of. “You’re wrong. I’m not an exception. Most FireSouls are harmless.”

“Oh?” Her brows rose. “You’ve met others?”

I cursed myself inwardly. Now was not the time to be defending my species. I had to play it smart and safe and selfish and get my ass out of here. “I knew some when I was a child. But you believe I’m an exception—that I’m fundamentally good—so you’re locking me up here?”