by Nichols, TJ
But he wanted to go back.
He immediately felt bad because Terrance was waiting for him, and he wanted to spend time with Terrance. He liked him, and it had nothing to do with magic, yet at the same time, his body craved magic and rebalancing. But that couldn’t be a good thing. No sensible person should get caught up in the rituals and enjoy what happened.
But part of him craved the drawn-out release, and the buildup of lust until he thought his heart would implode. He had a level of trust with Saka that he’d never had with anyone else.
But it was just magic. Saka needed him, and he needed Saka. And when the worlds were safe? He couldn’t think that far ahead. While he was in Vinland, he’d make the most of his time with Terrance. Terrance deserved so much more than that.
He nodded meekly as though he understood things were too dire to just rebalance. Once he would’ve believed without hesitation, but now he questioned everything. Saka had ruined him in that way, with prodding, discussion, and debate.
“We’ll come and get you when plans have been made,” the man who liked to be obeyed said.
Again Angus nodded, but he had no plans to sit around and wait. He needed to tell the mages what was going on.
Who should he obey?
The human underground or the demon mages?
Chapter Six
The cold brushed against Saka’s skin as the void opened. He was being summoned. He moved away from the people he was eating with, bowl still in his hand as the tear widened. The others could see it, but they no longer pitied him for having a warlock. Angus had gained some standing and was treated the same as a demon apprentice. That had also lifted Saka’s standing, as had the human trainees.
While it was no longer raining hard, a light drizzle kept everything damp. Soon the tribes would leave Lifeblood. It would be another year before they regathered. Although some wouldn’t go far from the surface rivers around Lifeblood because their mages weren’t strong enough to draw up water for a whole tribe.
He crossed the cold gap between worlds with his bowl in hand. If he had to, he could use the hot stew as a weapon. Human cows were tasty, both the first night and the second, when the roasted meat leftovers were boiled.
Angus sat on a chair in a small room. None of the tension that had once existed when Angus summoned Saka remained. It was then he realized that if Angus was sitting, he hadn’t walked to make the circle. He held the circle out of will alone.
And Angus wasn’t by himself. To the side was another man. Tall and dark-haired, he had his arms crossed over his chest and was doing his best not to look concerned. A small smile played over his lips, but it didn’t reach his eyes. That was the warlock who’d had a scarlips for a demon and who liked Angus—who Angus liked. Angus might be relaxed, but tension inhabited his body.
He was a mage. Angus was his apprentice and could do what he wanted. They were not partners or life mates or anything close. But that didn’t explain the claws that dug into Saka’s heart.
If Angus was truly to be a mage, he would have to give up connections to individuals and take on the responsibility of serving the tribe and his tribe of humans. But Saka knew how good it felt to step away from that weight for even a few moments. For a heartbeat he felt the cool bark beneath his palm and the heat of Angus’s body around him—the need and the release with nothing to complicate what was between them.
He drew in a breath and then took a spoonful of the stew. He would not think about that. It was an error, but it was one he would treasure.
“Sorry for interrupting your meal,” Angus said. He smiled, but his voice was level.
Saka took another bite, but he no longer enjoyed the taste of the cow. It was like sand in his mouth. He chewed and swallowed. “It must be important.”
Angus wouldn’t summon him unless it were. That was what they’d agreed on. In Vinland Angus was supposed to put into practice what he’d learned in Demonside and be more wizard than warlock. Wizards drew power from around them. They didn’t need a demon. There was less magic in Vinland, though Angus was capable of drawing some up. Was that why Terrance was there? The college had spent a long time making sure that people thought wizards were weak… and then they moved on to controlling all magical studies.
Saka had no idea how humans had let that happen.
Something changed in Angus’s face—a slight hardening around the eyes. The friction was back between them because he’d said a few careless words. Of course it was important, but it annoyed him that Terrance was there and Saka couldn’t be alone with Angus.
The harshness faded with Angus’s next breath. “The underground plans to go after Ruri’s warlock, Dentin. I thought you should know.”
It was clear there were no secrets between Angus and Terrance, and that neither of them had thought it worthwhile to keep underground secrets to themselves.
Saka wasn’t sure what to say. The underground was supposed to be on the same side as the demons. Though apparently that only went so far. “What will they do with him?”
“Maybe only question him.” Angus shrugged. “They didn’t tell me. All I know is I’m supposed to be the bait to get him to the trap location. They don’t care about the misinformation. They think he’s a risk.”
“And you?”
“I don’t know. You both make good points.”
Saka almost smiled. How demon Angus was sounding when he looked at both sides but didn’t make a decision. It was the lack of decision-making that had led the demons to this point. If something had been done when they first noticed the drying, neither world would be on the verge of death. But it was too late to dwell on past errors. All they could do was learn from them.
“I will let the council know.” Guda would not be pleased, as she had put a lot of faith in the underground and her warlock. Without her support Saka’s ideas would never have been given due consideration.
“Thank you. Is it still raining?”
“Not continuously. We will be moving soon. Miniti doesn’t want to linger.” She wanted people to know she had two strong mages who could draw up water. “We will absorb another, smaller tribe.”
“And the trainees?”
“We are still deciding if they should remain with the tribes at Lifeblood or if they should travel in smaller groups.”
“You need someone who can open the void for them,” Terrance said.
“You have no demon.” Saka studied the dark-haired man as jealousy nipped at the edges of his mind. He needed to remember that Angus belonged in Humanside. It would behoove him to not become too attached to his human apprentice. He took another mouthful of his dinner, and the congealing in his gut suggested that he already cared too much. He’d kept a bedside vigil while Angus fought for his life. What had Terrance done?
“But I can open the void in an emergency.”
“Do you want a demon?” Saka asked. Terrance hesitated. That was all the answer Saka needed. No, he didn’t. But he should be glad Angus had people who cared. Saka forced gratitude and hoped it would become real as he spoke. “Thank you for your offer. It will be considered.”
And disregarded.
A look passed between the two humans, and Saka knew they had already made their own plans. He would have to wait for Angus to tell him in his own time and ignore the thorn that twisted in his side.
What was wrong with him?
“If that is all?” His meal was cold and unfinished, but he’d lost his appetite. What a waste of food. He’d make himself eat it. When the rains stopped and the rivers sank there would be lean times again. He already dreaded those last months before they gathered at Lifeblood next year. Maybe it wouldn’t be so bad. There had already been plenty of rain.
But that all depended on how much magic the warlocks sucked out of Demonside, and he knew they wanted it all.
“You don’t want to stay?” Angus looked surprised. Had he thought they’d all sit around and talk magic? Maybe he had.
“Terrance is not a trainee. I ca
nnot teach everyone I stumble over, and neither can you.”
“He’s been teaching me. I can open the void without the walking ritual.”
“I noticed. You are becoming stronger.” Angus was at the point when apprentices became a little too sure of themselves and accidents happened. “Be careful you do not overestimate your abilities.”
It wasn’t meant as a barb, but Saka saw the moment it hit and knew that was how Angus had taken it. Perhaps when Angus came back, Saka would let him see how easy it was to go too far. A lesson in control, or rather, the lack of it. Gathering power was the first simple step, but like any child who had just learned to walk, Angus thought he could run.
Saka hoped he wouldn’t fall and do himself too great an injury on the human side of the void.
“If you want a demon, then I’m sure there would be a mage willing to take you on, Terrance.” It was the only concession Saka could make, but it didn’t cover the wound his comment had left. He stepped back through the void before he could make the situation worse.
The heat washed over him, but instead of rejoining the people he’d been sitting with—new demons to Miniti’s tribe who were getting to know everyone—he walked through the tents until he reached Guda’s.
As soon as he sat, his bowl was topped up with more food that he had no stomach for. They were being polite, and he couldn’t refuse.
After pleasantries and conversation that he couldn’t be bothered with, he and Guda retired to her tent. All happiness was erased when he repeated what Angus had told him.
“Are you certain? Is he certain?” Guda’s wings lifted but didn’t open.
“He is to be bait. I do not think they fully trust him.”
“And they would be right, as he told you their plan.”
That was true. He’d been so busy wallowing in his own stung heart that he’d missed that obvious truth. “Unless they wanted us to know.”
“Or they are testing him to see if he is trustworthy, in which case, anything we do proves he isn’t.” Guda tilted her head. “Ellis has mentioned nothing to me, but she has been ill.”
Ellis was a warlock of some regard. She worked for both the college and the underground. And while she shared information, it was useful to have more than one source. Saka didn’t think Guda trusted Ellis completely. No warlock could truly be trusted.
Chapter Seven
Being bait was about as much fun as Angus expected. But Dentin seemed happy to swallow it without thinking about the consequences. Perhaps he wanted the glory of catching Angus and the power that would come from killing Angus’s demon. And it was all going according to plan. The underground moved closer, though not fast enough, from where they had been waiting on the bridge.
His heart pounded from the chase, and he pretended to panic at being trapped—most of which wasn’t actually pretend. If the underground didn’t step in, he was off to warlock prison forever. The cold pinched his lungs with each pant.
Come on. Dentin had him trapped. They needed to step in—unless this had been a way for the underground to get rid of him.
Snow hit the edges of the circle but didn’t fall within. He lifted his gaze to watch it slide down the outside of the invisible barrier. In Demonside the circle would be bright blue and crackling with energy. He could see it in his mind. His boot slid on the slick cobble, and he went down into a crouch.
Dentin summoned his demon to draw up the power that would bind Angus and make him safe to be collected and transported. The void opened, and the plan to catch Dentin unraveled in the space of three heartbeats.
Ruri, Dentin’s demon, stepped through, closely followed by three others. Angus tried to bring down the circle with magic and force. But Dentin was strong and his circle stable. Angus swore. He’d told Saka, but he hadn’t expected the mages to do that. Dentin struggled but was no match for the demons. Before the underground could arrive, Dentin was dragged across the void and the tear closed. There was nothing Angus could’ve done because he was trapped. Even if he’d gotten free, he wasn’t sure if he would’ve stopped the mages.
Angus bit his lip. Snow landed on his black coat. With no one to maintain the circle, it had fallen.
He got to his feet as the underground arrived. And he, like the other members of the underground, stared at the space where Dentin had stood not three seconds before.
Because no college-affiliated warlock was willing to be seen getting their hands dirty on the mission, the underground group was made up of only wizards. They stamped their feet in frustration.
“That’s it. We’ll never see him again.” One of the men huffed out a breath. It formed a soft cloud.
Snow stung his face. Angus was cold to the bone after being out for so long. While he knew the mages would rather have Dentin in the college, Angus hadn’t expected them to take the warlock from under the noses of the underground. He pushed his hair back and blinked, not sure what to do next.
Gradually Angus became aware of a change in the mood. Behind him the ice that had formed on the edge of the river creaked and cracked. The snow was crunchy underfoot, and he couldn’t feel his fingers. None of which bothered him nearly as much as the look on some of the wizards’ faces. They glared at him as though he were the cause of all their problems—which he technically was. If he hadn’t told Saka, Dentin would be on his way to underground headquarters. He took a step back, only to have his boot slide again.
One of the men grabbed his arm and hauled him up. “You betrayed us.”
He had. But they’d betrayed the mages first. “I did exactly what you asked. I can’t help it if his mage took him.”
Dentin would never leave Demonside. But even his death by sacrifice would not rebalance enough magic to lift the early winter. All they could hope for was that Spring would come and there would be a summer of some sort. If not, they would starve.
His companions didn’t like him, and they trusted him less. He was bundled into a car. For a heartbeat he was tempted to open up the void and disappear so he didn’t have to talk to anyone, especially not the underground leaders, but that would only make him look guilty. Was he guilty?
Maybe he shouldn’t have told Saka, but when pushed, he put his faith in the demons and not the underground. Angus was a demon in human skin. He stared out the window to avoid the unhidden accusation in their glares.
By the time they reached the building, an old school, the driver had told the leaders what had happened and Angus knew he was going to take the blame. The underground should concentrate on the college. Dentin was nothing. He wasn’t near the top—just a midlevel warlock who reported to someone else. The demons would extract that information and rebalance at the same time—wasn’t that a better use of the resource?
He caught his thought as soon as it formed. A life wasn’t a resource. Shouldn’t be, and yet that’s exactly what a warlock was right then. The faint marks on his arms and legs tingled from Saka’s little blade, and his blood heated. He was a resource—one that would be replenished to be drained again. He was a willing participant. Fuck, he even enjoyed it. He stared at the ice-encrusted windows.
If he did nothing, two worlds would die so a few could have power, and he couldn’t step away from that and forget. Though it would be nice if he could.
Terrance could.
If Angus were more like him, he’d push it all aside and focus on his training as though the world weren’t freezing up around him. When they lay on Terrance’s bed and watched a movie, Terrance had shown him how to watch news from other countries. It was different from what they were told about those countries. The Mayan Empire to the south didn’t appear to be full of bloodthirsty demons who trained humans to die for them. They had priests who were very concerned about the storms and flooding of their farmlands. One priest wore the feathers of his demon, and his demon wore a bracelet of his human’s hair. Their temples were vast, and they seemed to hold the demons in great esteem. Angus had never seen a feathered demon.
Why had Saka n
ever talked of those demons?
It wasn’t just the Mayan Empire. He’d seen snippets of news from other countries that plainly hated magic and were calling for the deaths of all who used it.
He’d had to turn off the TV at that point. But Terrance was excited. There was a whole world out there that had been kept from them—and maybe for good reason. Some of them wanted to kill all humans who used magic, even wizard magic. The night had ended with just a kiss, as though it had been a proper first date. It had left him wanting more.
He got out of the car. Someone kept a hand on him at all times, as though he were under arrest, and maybe he was. Could they really hold him accountable for something the demons had done?
While he would’ve liked to say no, he had a feeling they would.
The tall man who liked to be obeyed was waiting in what might have once been the principal’s office. His mask was firmly in place. Must be nice to be able to hide behind anonymity. Angus would never have that again, not with the reward for his capture so public. What would it be like to be a no one and to just live his life?
He’d have to leave Vinland, but leaving was impossible. To the East was an uncrossable no-man’s-land. To keep out the Nations people, as he’d been told, or to keep the Vinnish in?
To the south was the Mayan Empire, and some smaller independent nations that aligned themselves with the Mayans for the most part, assuming that his geography lessons were correct. If the people in charge were lying, why not lay false groundwork at all levels so no one would question anything?
“What did you say to your demon?” The masked man leaned forward.
There was no presumption of innocence. Angus did his best to sit still and not fidget, but he didn’t answer. He didn’t want to lie, but he didn’t want to tell the truth either. He would’ve preferred to talk to Ellis.
“Answer, or I’ll have someone go through your head,” the man barked.
Angus didn’t want any more warlocks to poke around in his head and give him a migraine. The first time had been bad enough.
