I snorted softly. Nothing like refining the way you destroyed someone’s present and future lives. “What about those stones I came across inside? Could you find anything about those?”
He nodded. “It is a minor protection circle, as you have already guessed. It hides stairs that lead down into the basement.”
“I wonder if the basement leads into the tunnels the pit falls into?”
“I don’t know. His memories seemed to imply the magic merely protects storage areas, but that does not mean that is all there is to be found down there.”
It would be typical of the sort of luck we’d been getting, though. “If it’s only minor magic, Ilianna will be able to unpick it for us.”
“Shall I go retrieve her?”
I hesitated. “I don’t think the witches would react too favorably to your presence in the Brindle.”
He frowned. “Perhaps not, but it would drain too much of your strength to transport her here in Aedh form.”
And it would take longer than we probably had to drive here. The shifter had been sent here for a reason, after all, and sooner or later someone was going to miss him. I blew out a breath. “Okay, you fetch her. I’ll wait here and knock our friend out again if he shows signs of waking.”
“No need.” Azriel briefly pressed two fingers against the shifter’s forehead, and energy caressed the air. “He will not waken until I will it.”
I frowned. “How come you could do that, and yet not access his mind telepathically?”
“Different sections of the brain. I have also adjusted his memories. He now believes he came out here to investigate a sound, and was knocked unconscious and subsequently robbed. I suggest you claim his wallet.” He touched my hand, his fingers warm against my skin. “Stay alert. I won’t be long.”
“Even I can’t get into trouble in the two minutes you’ll be gone,” I said, voice wry. But I was talking to air.
And tempting fate.
Because the words were barely out of my mouth when an odd glimmer caught my eye. It was little more than a wisp of silvery smoke that was quickly shredded as it passed under the glow of the streetlight, but my stomach nevertheless dropped.
Because it wasn’t smoke.
The Ania were back.
Chapter 9
Ania were minor demons and were generally summoned to perform tasks such as harassment, assault, and murder. The last two times they’d come after me they’d done so under orders from the Raziq, and I had no doubt that was who had sent them this time.
The attack itself wasn’t really surprising. If my father was aware that the sorcerer had the second key, then surely the Raziq would be. The only surprising thing was the fact they’d taken so long to get around to doing anything about it.
Another wisp of silver stirred to my left. There was more than one Ania here. But there had been the other times, too.
I rose, drew Amaya, then reached out for Azriel. Houston, we have a problem.
What? His reply was instant, concerned.
Ania.
I cannot transport from inside the Brindle. It will take me a few seconds —
No, I cut in, as a third flicker appeared. This one was closer than the others. I swung Amaya lightly from side to side, a warning of what would happen if they got close, and one I knew they would ignore.
What do you mean, no? Has insanity caught hold of you in the brief time I’ve been away?
More than likely. Despite the situation, amusement bubbled through me. But that’s beside the point. You said it yourself – the Raziq can’t hurt me.
That doesn’t mean you should let them snatch you.
But if I don’t, they’ll go after Ilianna or Tao instead. I won’t put them in any more danger than I already have, Azriel.