Grim Fate (Codex Blair Book 5)

by Izzy Shows

  I laid a hand on his arm, a grateful smile on my lips. “Thank you. I really appreciate you doing that.”

  He smiled back at me. “I expect great things from you. It would be a pity if all of that disappeared because the Council were too boneheaded to listen to you.”

  And with that, he left, leaving me truly surprised by his words. He thought the Council were boneheaded? Well, so did I, but I hadn’t thought a Wizard of the First Order would think the same. I thought they were all smoking the same dope and that they thought their lords could do no wrong.

  Apparently, not everything was as it seemed. I tried to take some comfort from that as I turned to face the High Council once more. At least things were working out now.

  “We can only handle one crisis at a time,” the Chancellor said. “And we will resolve the matter of Blair Sheach first.”

  Murmurs of assent filled the room as the Wizards all nodded their heads. Diego looked grim, but I tried not to read too much into that. They hadn’t been given any time to deliberate on my fate, which meant that the matter rested entirely in the Chancellor’s hands.

  If he wanted to kill me, this was his opportunity.

  “It is the will of the High Council that you be allowed to train to become a Wizard of the First Order, Blair Sheach.”

  At first, I didn’t hear what he said. I’d been so certain that he was going to pronounce my death sentence that I wasn’t really listening to him.

  It took a few seconds for it to sink in, and then the relief and euphoria began. I was going to be allowed to train! I had made it through the Proving, and everything was going to get better from here!

  I gasped out a breath of relief and sent up a silent prayer to the Gods, thanking them for seeing me through this. I might not believe in a single one of them, but I wasn’t above covering all my bases when the opportunity arose.

  It certainly felt like something had stepped in to save my skin at every dark turn.

  “However,” the Chancellor said, and dread seeped into me again. “We will not be naming a mentor. Though you have passed the trials, we do not see a reason to provide you with one.”

  I didn’t want to be upset about that. I tried to tell myself that I could study just as well without one, but I remembered Diego’s words from earlier. Since I had no mentor, they were going to name someone else to cover London’s ass now that they knew Aidan hadn’t got the job done for them.

  Without a mentor, I was going to die at some point in the future, when whomever they named to protect London decided I was too much of a nuisance to be allowed to continue.

  “You can’t do this!” I took a defiant step forward. “You just can’t. It isn’t fair.”

  “Silence!” The Chancellor glowered at me. “You will not second-guess our decision.”

  “I’ll mentor her,” Diego said quietly.

  My jaw dropped, and our eyes met. For a moment, it felt like I could read his mind; his intentions were so clear. He was going to step up and take care of London and, by association, me. He was going to help me, even though it meant he wasn’t going to see his family. He’d told me that he barely got to see them anymore, that he was only spending so much time here because he was negotiating for assistance with the vampire wars—but now he was taking on my training as well. I didn’t know what all that entailed, but I had a sinking feeling it meant he was tied to London for much longer.

  The Chancellor didn’t look pleased as he turned his attention to Diego. “You understand that, by doing this, you are taking full responsibility for her actions until such time as she completes her training and is named a Wizard of the First Order?”

  “I do understand that. I have full confidence in her, and I’ll be more than pleased to stake my name on her,” Diego replied.

  Empathy for his decision swamped me, and guilt as well. He shouldn’t have to do this.

  “You also understand that we will be naming you Guardian of London, in the place of Aidan Wallace?”

  “I understand that as well.”

  “Very well. We cannot stop you from making this decision, although I greatly advise against it.”

  “Noted. I’m moving forward, regardless.”

  The Chancellor looked like he was on the verge of apoplexy, but he quieted his emotions soon after. “Very well. It is decided. Diego, you will oversee her training and take up responsibility for the wellbeing of London.”

  And so it was done.

  Forty Seven

  Shortly afterwards, I was dismissed from the Council chambers with the information that Diego would contact me soon to begin my training. I knew that he’d need some time to settle in London, though no one had said a word about that.

  Either way, I was thrilled to be going home with all of this done and behind me. And I wouldn’t have to wear a blindfold this time, thank the Gods.

  The trip home was uneventful. There was no more taunting about my impending doom. That doom was well and truly behind me.

  I could breathe a little easier now. Although I knew the road ahead of me would be paved with difficulty, that the training wouldn’t be easy, I was also thrilled to begin. I wanted to be a Wizard in name, not just in duty, and I wanted the knowledge that came along with it.

  A part of me didn’t trust the High Council to investigate the Others as well as they needed to. I doubted that they were going to take the situation as seriously as was necessary, and I doubted that they’d do much about it. I had to hope, though, that this would be one thing that was lifted off my plate.

  At least for the time being.

  I walked up the path to my house and saw Emily sitting on the steps in front of my door. She was wearing a simple sweatshirt and jeans, but she looked as beautiful as always. Her cloud of red curls circled her head, her bronze skin was gleaming in the dying light of the day, and her emerald eyes lit up when she saw me.

  “I knew you’d make it home!” She leapt to her feet, a radiant smile on her face.

  I didn’t hesitate. I rushed the rest of the way up the steps and threw myself into her waiting arms. We held one another for a long moment, her body crushed against mine, and I allowed myself to take pleasure in being so close to her. Her proximity was nearly my undoing, and that was when I stepped away, knowing that my body was charged with the victory I had just secured, and from being so close to her.

  “I have to thank you for everything you did, Emily, and I should have said as much a lot sooner. I was distracted, but that’s no excuse. You saved my life. I wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for you.”

  She waved a hand as if to dismiss the whole thing. “I’d give my right arm to keep you safe. There’s nothing to thank me for. I didn’t do anything great or wonderful at all.”

  I stared at her for a long moment, debating. Then I reached up and stroked her cheek. “Seriously, Emily, thank you,” I said.

  She blushed and looked down, the beautiful red colour filling her cheeks. “It was nothing,” she murmured, her voice a soft whisper on the wind.

  Without hesitation, I stepped closer to her again, my hand shifting from her cheek to her chin to tip her head back so she could look at me. I brushed my lips against hers, just once, gently. “Thank you. For being you.”

  I’d waited so long to do that.

  She looked at me with surprise in her eyes, and I thought for a moment that she was going to step away from me. Instead, she wrapped her arms around me, leaned in, and kissed me with all she had in her.

  Her pure light rushed through me, filling every inch of me.

  I had never felt such joy.

  Book six is coming soon!

  Curious where Malphas is? Grab a copy of Fire & Fantasy to find out! Buy it now!

  Want a free book? Sign up for my mailing list to get The Fallen’s Crime for FREE! Subscribe now!

  Also by Izzy Shows

  The Codex Blair Series

  Grave Mistake

  Blood Hunt

  Dark Descent

  Wild G
ame

  Grim Fate

  About the Author

  Izzy Shows writes urban fantasy novels for adults, and much more in her spare time. She’s also an avid LARPer and enjoys storytelling in all art forms. She can be a little cooky, and really enjoys talking about her works, writing in general, or all things fantasy. To learn more about her you can follow her on twitter or check out her website.

  IzzyShows.com

  Izzy@IzzyShows.com