Wicked Deal (Shadow Guild: The Rebel 2)

I wobbled upright and took in the room around me.

A dozen figures stared down at me from their perches on the benches that surrounded the circular room with the soaring ceiling.

Black Church.

Of course.

I staggered upright, pain still throbbing in my head. The stone beneath me was the bronze star—that’s why it had been so cold. The light that had knocked me out had faded, and the star-shaped hole in the ceiling above me had closed.

There was the distinct feeling of shock in the air, and the faces of those around me were slack.

“What happened?” I demanded. “How long was I out?”

Which guild had chosen me? And holy crap, was that their idea of a test?

It had been brutal and stupid. What good was knocking me out?

The sorcerer flicked his hand at the two guards who had brought me here, Garreth and Penelope. They jerked to attention and strode toward me. Garreth reached for his pocket again, and I tensed. When he pulled out cuffs, I nearly hissed.

“You’re not putting those on me.” I stepped back.

“Ubhan insists.” His voice wasn’t even apologetic.

My heartbeat raced in my head. “What are you doing?”

“You are not suited for any guild.” The sorcerer’s voice boomed out over the empty room. “Your magic has been rejected by Guild City.”

Rejected?

“No. That can’t be possible.” I had no idea what was even possible here, but I wasn’t going to leave Guild City. This was my new home, the only place where I fit in.

“This is the way.” The sorcerer glowered. “You’ll be put in a holding cell until we decide what to do with you.”

“No, that’s—” I began, but my lips glued themselves together, as if by magic. I tried to force them open, to protest, but they wouldn’t budge.

Damn. It was magic.

Wildly, I glared around the room at whoever had done it. Shifty eyes moved so as not to meet mine.

Hang on….

Were they afraid of me?

No way. They were all insanely powerful supernaturals, the leaders of their guilds. There was no way they were afraid of me.

Not possible.

Garreth stepped toward me, and I tried to dodge. My feet slowed like I’d plunged them into syrup. I strained against the magic, my muscles burning as I tried to break away. Garreth grabbed me easily and snapped the cuffs on. Penelope came to my other side and gripped my arm.

They began to drag me from the room, and though I tried in vain to struggle, I was barely able to move. My shout was muffled behind a magical gag, building up in my throat as frustration and fear welled within me.

Cordelia hid in the corner, trembling as her eyes glinted with rage and cunning.

As we passed one of the benches on our way to the door, I caught a snippet of conversation from two supernaturals whose species I didn’t recognize. A man and a woman, both slight and mean-looking.

“Never seen anything like it,” the woman said.

The man nodded. “She’ll have to stay locked up, there’s no question.”