by Sadie Moss
Trying to reason with my magic as if it were sentient was probably pointless, and it only made me feel more like a host to some dangerous, unwanted parasite.
This magic was a part of me. I should be able to control it.
Except… it wasn’t just a part of me.
It was connected to four other people—the four men who had been present when my magic first flared, breaking through the suppression charm in the ring I had worn since I was a little girl. It bonded to each of them, and according to the old reader, Asprix, the bond was permanent.
Which might explain why my magic had been going so haywire lately.
I’d only known I was Gifted for a little over a month. Once I confirmed I truly did have magic, I’d spent hours training with my four, learning to use the powers I possessed. It had been going pretty well, too. But after two weeks of being separated from them, I could feel my control over the wild power inside me slipping.
At that thought, the bed tipped sideways again, dropping three feet and forcing my heart up into my throat.
Baring my teeth, I reeled the magic back into myself slowly, loosening its hold on the objects in the room. After another sharp drop that made me yelp, the downward trajectory evened out, and a few moments later, the bed cleared the final few inches and settled on the floor with a heavy thud.
It was followed by the rest of the furniture thunking down in quick succession, like a herd of elephants all sitting down at once. The walls shook, and then the room settled into a still silence, broken only by my sharp breaths as I tried to slow my pulse.
I flopped back on the bed, staring up at the ceiling that, moments ago, had been only a few feet away. As my panic subsided, flashes of the dream I’d had ran through my mind. My heart rate began to pick up again as I remembered the fear in the man’s face. My father’s face. That had been my father; I was sure of it. Dominic Lockwood, a name I’d only recently learned from my grandmother. Now that I was awake, I couldn’t even remember his features, but in the dream they had been as familiar as my own.
The bed shuddered beneath me, and I wrestled my emotions back under control, pressing my fingers to my closed eyes so hard it hurt. Without looking, I reached over to the bedside table, my hand closing over the teardrop earring that held the communication charm Jae bought for our break-in attempt at the People’s Palace. Cradling it near my ear, I rolled over onto my side, curling into a tight ball as I pressed the middle stone to activate it.
“Hello?” My voice sounded too loud in the quiet room, and much too weak.
A half-second later, Jae’s sleep-roughened voice sounded in my ear, panic making him alert. “Lana? Are you all right?”
Just the sound of his voice soothed my frayed nerves, and I leaned my head closer to the communication charm as if it would bring me nearer to him.
“Are you all right?” he asked again, voice quiet but intense. “What’s going on?”
I swallowed. “Yeah. Yeah, I’m fine. Sorry, I didn’t mean to wake you. I don’t even know what time it is.”
“Don’t worry about that.” I could hear a shuffling noise in the background, and then the low sound of a television. He must’ve gone to the living room where Ivy, my ghost roommate, always had the TV on. The four men had been staying at my apartment in the Outskirts since I moved in with my grandmother in the Capital. Jae occasionally left to put in an appearance with his family in the city, but I hadn’t seen him since I’d come here.
It couldn’t have been comfortable for four grown men to share a one-bedroom apartment, but since Akio’s house had been destroyed, they didn’t have a lot of other options. They could’ve stayed at the Resistance headquarters, but after its location was almost discovered by the Representatives, Christine thought it best to minimize the number of people coming and going. And honestly, I was glad they’d chosen to remain at my place. It made the distance between us feel less vast somehow.
“Are you sure you’re all right? You can talk to me, Lana.”
The concern in Jae’s voice warmed my heart, but I could hear the strain of tension too. If I’d called Corin or Fenris instead of the even-keeled mage, they’d probably be on their way over here already, convinced I was in mortal peril.
“I…” I twisted a long lock of red hair around my fingers, stalling. “I had a magic flare in my sleep. I was having a dream, a nightmare, and when I woke up… everything in the room was floating.”
“Oh, gods. Lana, are you—?”
“It’s fine now. I got it under control. Everything’s where it should be. It just freaked me out, you know?”
“Yes, I can imagine.” His voice was calmer. “It’s good that you were able to pull the spell back on your own though. Your control is improving.”
I snorted. Waking up surrounded by levitating furniture seemed like the definition of “not in control” to me.
Jae picked up on my unspoken skepticism and continued. “What you’ve been asked to do is extremely difficult, Lana. Most mages of your power have years of training and practice to master their skills. Add in the incubus and shifter magic you got from Akio and Fenris, and it’s truly incredible you’re able to control your power at all. And on top of that…”
His words trailed off, and I waited, wanting to hear him speak again. It wasn’t as comforting as his touch would have been, but his voice was still a balm.
“Have you… been feeling a strain?” he asked, almost hesitantly. “Since you’ve been away from us?”
“Yes!” I nodded forcefully, even though he couldn’t see me. “It’s like my magic keeps trying to reach out, to latch onto you, but it can’t get to you. So it stretches farther and farther until I lose control of it like I did tonight.”
“I thought so. Asprix said there might be a negative reaction if we spent too long apart. I feel certain that as you gain more control over your power, you’ll feel less strain when we’re separated. But your magic is so new, so wild, it needs stabilization now more than ever.”
Sighing, I stared at the pattern the moonlight streaming through the windows cast on the floor. “So maybe me coming here was a really bad idea.”
“No, it wasn’t. You have an opportunity to learn more about the inner workings of the government than we ever have before.”
“Do I? I mean, your father is the Minister of Justice. Couldn’t we learn enough through your connection to him?”
There was a brief pause, and I grimaced, kicking myself internally. Jae’s relationship with his father was strained, to put it mildly. It wasn’t surprising he couldn’t leverage that family tie for insider information—not because his father suspected him of being part of the Resistance, but because his father hated him.
“I…” His voice was strained. “I’ve tried, but—”
“I’m sorry, Jae,” I cut in quickly. “I know you have. And I’ve met your dad. It’d be easier to get information out of a block of ice.”
His slight chuckle unclenched the knot in my stomach. “Much easier. You’re our best chance, Lana. We just need to find some way to keep training you while you’re there. I’ll talk to Christine again. She’s been adamant about none of us having any traceable contact with you, but I’ll explain the situation to her and see what we can work out.”
My heart fell.
Part of me had hoped Christine would just pull me off this assignment, though I knew that would be a mistake. I could be a hugely effective spy for the Resistance here and possibly shift the entire course of the Resistance. I just needed to suck it up and do my job.
I rolled over onto my back. “Thanks, Jae. Oh, and did you tell her about the file I saw with her name on it?”
When I broke into a room in the palace to destroy the receiver for the tracking spell that had been placed on me, I’d seen a piece of paper bearing Christine’s name sticking out of a folder. A palace guard attacked me before I could read it, so I had no idea what the Representatives knew about her besides her name. But I couldn’t think of any information
that would be good.
“Yes, she’s aware. We’d hoped the Representatives didn’t know who our leaders were, but it seems they’ve been paying more attention than we thought. She should be safe since she rarely leaves the Resistance base, and it’s hidden behind the concealment spell.”
I bit my bottom lip. “And you’re sure nobody here will know I’m with the Resistance? I had that tracking spell on me when we went to the ball. What if they traced my movements to the palace and realized I was the one who broke in?”
“If I thought that was a possibility, I wouldn’t have let Christine give you this assignment. But the concealment spell I put on you hid your movements long enough for us to arrive at the palace undetected. If the tracker were still running, the Representatives might be able to connect you to the break in eventually. But you destroyed it.” Jae’s voice was warm but firm, and I could almost picture his green eyes gazing at me intently.
A yawn caught me by surprise. As my adrenaline faded, weariness rushed in to take its place. “Thanks, Jae. I don’t—”
“Is that Lana? Killer, is that you?” Fenris’s voice came through the communication charm, a whisper that wanted to be a yell.
I chuckled. “Hey, Fen. Yeah, it’s me.”
“We miss you like hell! Did you figure out all the top-secret government shit so you can come back to us already?”
Biting back a smile, I deadpanned, “Yup, I’ve pretty much cracked the whole thing wide open. I’m just waiting for them to hand over the keys to the palace, and then I’ll be on my way.”
“Fuck, I miss you, killer,” he repeated, his tone losing some of its brightness.
The longing in his voice and the answering thrum in my heart made me clench my jaw. I needed to hang up soon or my furniture really would end up smashed against the walls. Powerful emotions were burbling inside me like I was a covered pot set to boil, and I could feel them mixing with my already agitated magic.
“I miss you too, Fen.”
I bit my lip, remembering the feel of his mouth on mine. It’d been over two weeks since the kiss we shared in my bedroom, but I could still remember exactly what his lips felt like as they devoured me, stealing my breath and my sanity.
“Be safe, Lana. And call us if you need anything. Even just to talk. Please.” Jae didn’t wear his emotions as openly as the wolf shifter did, but even his voice carried a weight of sadness.
“I will. Thanks, guys.”
Before I could stop myself, I pressed the stone on the communication charm again, cutting off the connection. The too-large room grew quiet again, and I rolled to my other side, pulling the pillow over my head.
Come back to us.
Fenris’s words echoed in my head, and I grimaced. That day was so far away it seemed almost unreachable.
I’d been joking with him about being given the keys to the palace, but the sad fact was, I’d made almost no progress on my mission since I’d come to the Capital. I was supposed to be ingratiating myself with the Representatives and other government officials, positioning myself to dig up information valuable to the Resistance.
The problem was, I had no idea how to do that.
If my assignment had been to beat it out of them, I would’ve been back home a week ago.
But the more subtle methods of extracting information were a lot harder for me, especially when they involved acting out a role I had no idea how to play. I didn’t know the first thing about these high society people, and I didn’t particularly want to.
I wasn’t even sure how to talk to my grandmother, my own flesh and blood… who also happened to be one of the seven Representatives that ran the Gifted government.
She should’ve been my first and easiest target. I was staying in her house, after all, and she wanted to get to know me. But over the past two weeks, I had found myself avoiding her, unable to deal with the mixture of joy, hurt, and disgust that rose up whenever I looked into her unnervingly familiar eyes.
Tomorrow, I resolved. Tomorrow, I’ll find a way. Badass mercenary Lana Crow will not be brought down by fear of her past.
With resolve hardening in my chest, I closed my eyes, letting sleep claim me again. I could do this. I’d learn how to schmooze, get some actionable information from the Representatives, and get the hell out of here.
Then I’d rejoin my men.
And we’d bring down the Gifted government.
Chapter 2
In the harsh light of morning, my room looked like a tornado had hit it.
Dresser drawers hung open, clothes spilling out of them. None of the furniture had landed exactly where it started; it sat at odd angles around the space, some of the smaller pieces tipped over, a few of the bigger items marred by cracks.
Sighing, I surveyed the damage.
This probably wasn’t what Beatrice had in mind when she invited me to come live with her.
I moved the furniture back into place as best I could, probably doing more harm than good as I shoved the heavy pieces across the smooth, gleaming hardwood. I couldn’t do much about the cracks or the scratches left on the floor.
Maybe I should see if Jae would teach me some home repair spells. I had once considered that the most boring application of magic I could imagine, but given my lifestyle, it actually seemed like something I’d use often. I wasn’t a klutz, but I did have a knack for destroying things.
Before sliding the dresser drawers back into place, I pulled out a black tank top and a pair of jeans.
Then I grimaced and shoved them back in the drawer.
If you want to act the part, start dressing the part.
Grudgingly, I walked over to the large wardrobe that stood opposite the bed. Drawing it open, I glared at the collection of posh dresses hanging innocently inside. I snatched one off the hanger and slipped it on, tossing my sleep clothes on the bed. The dress was knee-length and deep green, with a belted waist and a small slit up the back. Although it clung to my curves, there was some give to the fabric. I couldn’t deliver a roundhouse kick in this dress, but I could move and, most importantly, run. It’d have to do.
I slipped on a pair of black flats—because fuck heels—and wound my long, flame-red hair up into a knot on top of my head, securing it with a plethora of pins. It probably looked terrible, but without Ivy around to coach me, I wasn’t sure how to create a fancier updo than this.
After a quick glance in the mirror to make sure I didn’t look too ridiculous, I slipped out of the bedroom and padded down the quiet hall.
Beatrice’s house was so big it felt like living in a museum. I was afraid to touch anything outside of my room and was almost surprised the luxurious furniture and beautiful, expensive art weren’t roped off like precious artifacts on display.
The place was also way too quiet, making me feel the urge to whisper and tiptoe everywhere.
There was only one room in this giant, sterile mansion that seemed lived in, and I headed there now, creeping down a wide set of stairs and heading toward the back of the house. As I neared the kitchen, the soft murmur of voices met my ears, and I grinned.
The kitchen, like every other room in this monstrosity of a home, was huge. A large marble-topped island filled the middle of the space, and pots and pans hung decoratively from a rack above it. A large woman with soft brown hair brushing the tops of her shoulders bent to peek inside the oven, releasing a sweet, spicy aroma.
“Morning, Darcy.”
I made a beeline for the already-full coffee pot as she glanced up at me.
“Good morning, Miss Crow. Don’t you look nice today!”
Darcy had a large nose, slightly droopy eyes, and thin lips, but the overall effect was actually quite pleasant. Or maybe it was just that her lips always seemed to be smiling, and her eyes had a kindness in them that not even years of servitude to the Gifted had been able to steal from her.
I grabbed a delicate white mug from an overhead cabinet and poured the steaming coffee into it. “Oh, thanks. I feel… weird.”
“Well, you look lovely,” the room’s other occupant, Retta, confirmed in a voice so quiet I almost didn’t hear her. She was middle-aged, about the same age as Darcy probably, with a completely untamable frizz of light brown hair, and round glasses so thick they made her eyes look huge.
A chuckle escaped my lips. “Maybe that’s why it feels weird. I don’t think anyone’s ever used the word ‘lovely’ to describe me before.”
Joining Retta at the island counter, I hopped onto a stool and blew on the hot coffee before taking a sip. She was polishing silverware, and without even thinking about it, I grabbed a rag and started to scrub at a spoon. The housekeeper’s steady movements faltered, her gaze flicking up to me quickly.
Ah, fuck. I forgot I wasn’t supposed to help her.
This was the kind of thing that was keeping me from fulfilling my mission for the Resistance. I couldn’t seem to stay in character as a wealthy Gifted socialite. I’d been living in the Capital for two weeks, and the only people I’d managed to befriend so far were my grandmother’s Blighted servants.
Feeling particularly homesick on my second day here, I’d wandered into the kitchen where Beatrice’s cook and housekeeper were working and chatting. The sight of me had nearly scared them to death. Their mouths had snapped shut like bear traps, and I’d been unable to get them to relax the entire time I was in the room.
But I’d come back the next morning. And the next.
I had kept coming back until they were… well, if not entirely comfortable around me, at least over the shock of having one of the Gifted address them informally and treat them as an equal.
Some of the Gifted elite used magic for all of their daily household maintenance, but a lot of them took advantage of the cheapest and most plentiful resource there was—the Blighted. I was glad to see that although my grandmother did employ nonmagical help, she at least seemed to treat them well. That kind of treatment was by no means a guarantee for a Blighted person working in a Gifted household.
Darcy and Retta continued to chat amongst themselves, joking and teasing each other, while I got lost in my thoughts. They had both worked here for years and acted almost like sisters, even though they clearly weren’t.
