“Your magic,” he began as I folded my hands behind my back again. “It’s in flux.”
So much for him not noticing. I should have known better than to think it would slip past him.
“Not in flux.” I felt the truth in that. “Evolving.”
“Careful the book doesn’t evolve you beyond recognition,” he said slyly. “What a pity that would be.”
This was the hard part, the road I didn’t want to go down, but I had to sell myself.
“I’ve mastered my addiction.” I pasted on a cocky smile. “The grimoire won’t best me.”
Nestled in the valley between my breasts, the pendant pulsed. Just once. Before the choker quelled it.
“You’re an addict, and you always will be.” He seemed pleased by that. “If you’re already using the book, then you’ll be back to your old self in no time.” He laced his fingers across his lap. “I’m glad you stopped by, Deputy Director. It’s been a pleasure.”
The lies had done their job, convincing him I was following in my father’s footsteps and well on my way to eating my next heart. He must have assumed that Asa would fall by the wayside too. He was right about that. If my hungers controlled me, I wouldn’t have room in my life for anything but sating them.
Almost out the door, the director called, “I expect a handwritten copy of that spell on my desk Monday.”
Molars grinding, I crossed the threshold and strode out the front door of the compound with purpose.
This was not the life I wanted. This was not a job I ought to have. This was…our best chance at survival.
Asa waited for me in the SUV at the gate, and I’m not sure I had ever been so happy to see him.
“I would ask how it went,” he said, “but I’ve already gotten the group text.”
“Group text?” I strapped in. “What did it say?”
“I’m pleased to announce our new deputy director,” he read, “my granddaughter, Elspeth Bathory.”
“His…granddaughter?” I snatched his phone. “He outed me? To the entire bureau?”
“You’re falling in line, as far as he knows.” Asa plucked his phone from my fingers when it looked like I might cock my arm and throw it out the window. “He’s letting everyone know to be on their guard around you.”
“No.” I slumped in my seat. “He’s painting a target on my back and passing out free arrows.”
* * *
As much as I wanted to stay curled up in a ball in my own bed, in my own house, we had preparations to make. I had secured the stolen artifacts in my safe last night, after we got home from Mississippi, but we had a meeting scheduled for the butt crack of dawn, and we couldn’t afford to be late.
I’m not proud of the cereal bar I crammed in my mouth on the way out the door, but it had to be done. I offered to share, but Clay informed me he would rather die than eat breakfast out of a box claiming its contents were inspired by real fruitlike flavors.
On an overgrown tract of land outside Samford, the three of us walked into a barn full of daemons.
They were…terrifying.
It gave me hope they were up to the task.
“My lord,” they boomed through the space as they hit their knees and slammed fists over their hearts.
A slight female with red skin and black leather dragonfly wings flitted over to us.
“Primipilus Moran,” Asa greeted her. “It’s good to see you.”
“It’s our pleasure to serve.” She bobbed her head at me. “You must be Princess Rue.”
A strangled noise caught in my throat, but I managed not to choke on my own spit. “That’s me.”