Devilish Game (Shadow Guild: The Rebel 4)

“Who are you?” Christoph demanded.

“None of your concern.” I made sure to put as much power as I could behind my voice. “You will immediately forget that I am here.”

His eyes turned foggy, and I smiled with grim satisfaction.

> “Step back from the door,” I said.

He did as I commanded, and I walked into the dim little flat. The ceiling was low and the floor sloped, in the way of many of the ancient Tudor buildings in Guild City.

I inspected the small space, looking for the best place to deploy my spying device. There was a dark corner opposite the door that would provide an excellent view of whoever came to the flat in the future.

I turned to Christoph, who watched me with blank eyes. “When Anton makes his requests of you, how does he do it? By note? In person?”

“He sends an intermediary to the door.” He nodded at his front door.

“Excellent.” It was just as I thought. Anton had always preferred to use minions instead of technology or putting things in writing. It was easier to say someone was lying and kill them than it was to disprove hard evidence.

I withdrew a small charm from my pocket and stuck it to the wall in the corner. It was so small and unobtrusive that it was nearly invisible, but it was the magical equivalent of a video camera.

Satisfied that it was in the right location, I pulled the corresponding mirror from my pocket and inspected it. The little charm provided the perfect view of the front door and Christoph, standing right in front of it.

Finished, I strode toward the door, stopping to meet Christoph’s gaze. “You will immediately forget that I was here, and you will not disturb the charm in the corner.”

He nodded, eyes blank, but the gesture full of conviction.

“Good.” I turned and left, tucking the mirror back into my pocket.

Christoph shut the door behind me, and I turned back to it, affixing another charm to the upper corner of the door. It clung to the wood using magic, and whenever the door was opened, a corresponding charm in my pocket would vibrate.

Now, all I had to do was wait for Anton’s goon to show up. Whoever they chose to kidnap next, we’d know about it and have the drop on them.

12

Carrow

An hour later, Mac, Eve, Seraphia, and I arrived on the sunny shore of Cyprus. Eve’s raven wheeled above, stark against the blue sky. Something about that bird…

I shook my head, then looked at the sea. Blue waves crashed against a rocky beach, and the sound of birds cut through the wind. Warm sun shone on my face, and I breathed in deeply. “I need a holiday.”

“I could definitely come back here.” Mac spun around, taking in the scenery. “It’d be perfect. A little swimming, a little sunbathing . . . ”

I joined her, enjoying the dramatic coastline of pale rocks and glittering blue water. Fluffy white clouds filled the sky, and the waves on the ocean glittered under the sun.

I adjusted the bag of potion bombs on my shoulder and looked at Eve. Her eyes were closed as she tilted her head toward the sky, a blissful smile on her face. Seraphia looked tense, however, her jaw clenched and her eyes shadowed.

I frowned at her. “Do you not come home often?”

“Never.” She searched our surroundings, her lips tight. “I haven’t been back since I was a baby.”

I wanted to ask why, but a shout sounded in the distance.

I turned to see an older man and woman approaching. They wore the simple, ancient clothing of fishermen that I’d seen in a Nat Geo documentary and, though they had white hair, their faces glowed with health and strength. The woman carried a basket in one hand and clutched the man’s arm with the other as they walked.

“My aunt and uncle,” Seraphia said, striding forward to greet them. She still looked tense, but the man and woman appeared to be delighted.

They spoke Greek—or at least, what I assumed was Greek. I’d never actually heard it spoken, despite my fondness for the Greek restaurant that had been located near my old London flat.

Eventually, they turned to us. Seraphia quickly made the introductions, and I learned that her aunt and uncle were named Aurelia and Stavros.