The Consumption of Magic (Tales From Verania 3)

“You may lead the way, Moishe,” Morgan said. “And thank you.”

We followed him down the ornate hallway, the sounds of sex coming from either side of us. I took Ryan’s hand in my own, squeezing his fingers gently as we followed behind Moishe and Morgan. I knew that places like this always made Ryan uncomfortable. Not because he was a prude—no, it was exactly the opposite. Ryan had sold his mouth and body on the streets to make enough money to get himself out of the slums. It wasn’t something we talked about often, given that Ryan had clearly expressed that the less said about it, the better. It didn’t help the guilt I felt at it, though, given that I was a big reason he’d tried to get himself out of the hellhole that had been our childhood home. He’d told me it wasn’t my fault, that he’d made his own choices.

“I’m okay,” he muttered, voice low so that Moishe and Morgan wouldn’t hear him.

“I know,” I said, just as quiet. “Maybe I’m not and need you to hold my hand to feel better.”

He quirked his lips, seeing right through me. “You’re kind of an idiot, you know that, right?”

“It’s part of my charm.”

“I suppose it is. Inexplicably.”

“I’m good at being inexplicable.”

“So I’ve noticed.”

“I’m taking that as a compliment.”

“Of course you would.” His hand tightened on mine. “We’re safe here?”

“I think so.” I didn’t know that one could ever really be safe in Meridian City, but I got what he was asking. Myrin had told me he was going after Meridian City. We’d gotten here, and nothing had happened, which left three possibilities: he’d been bluffing, we’d beaten the Darks to the city, or this entire thing was a trap.

I didn’t know which was worse.

If he’d been bluffing, why? Just to rile me up? Or to get my attention elsewhere while he went after some other corner of Verania?

If we’d beaten the Darks here, we still had a battle ahead of us.

If this was a trap, well, I was going to be pissed.

I fucking hated traps.

Only because I seemed to get stuck in them more than I’d like to admit.

But it’d be smart, wouldn’t it?

Getting all of us in one room: me, Morgan, and Randall.

One fell swoop, all at once.

I’d seen Meridian City burning when Vadoma had blown her powder in my face, her runes adorning my body. It didn’t mean it had to be today. It didn’t mean it had to happen at all. I could have been seeing what she wanted me to see. With Lockes, with Meridian City, with… Ryan. The star dragon had told me it would burn like nothing had ever burned before, this sacrifice.

The pieces didn’t fit together.

It was annoying as fuck.

“Just keep your eye out,” I muttered to Ryan.

“Should have brought my sword.”

“Nah. Your chest is distracting enough.”

He squeezed my hand.

Moishe led us to the end of the hall to a large wooden door carved with leaves and trees made to look like dicks. MAMA was burned into the wood. It was ridiculous and yet somehow still ominous, just like the drag queen who waited inside.

Moishe glanced over his shoulder, looking past Morgan, gazing at me briefly before he turned back around, knocked on the door twice, and entered without waiting for a response.