isn’t trying to kill Trent. It’s trying to kill Al,” I said, and then my knees became wobbly as the events of the last few days replayed. Oh. God. All this time the baku had been coming for me, not Al.
“It was trying to get you to kill Trent,” Bis said, pressing close to my neck, and I felt sick. Two birds with one stone. Trent would be dead and I’d be discredited and in prison for killing him. Everything would turn to Landon. Landon would win.
“Just so,” Hodin whispered. I was the baku’s target. Me, not Al. Landon was trying to get me to kill Trent. Son of a bastard.
“Don’t trust him, Rachel,” Hodin muttered. “He’s from the dewar. Young and easily moved to foolish endeavors that will get him killed.”
“Why do you care what happens to me?” I said even as his warning rang true. “He knows about the baku and is willing to talk.” I turned to Zack, not comfortable with his sudden confidence. “Okay. I’m the target,” I said, doubly glad that my aura was again my own. “If Landon is the host, how does he control it?”
Zack looked up from trying to scrape his dinner off his pants. “He doesn’t. Not really. His aura is all wonky, and sometimes I think it’s the baku, not him. Landon doesn’t want to believe it, but the baku is dragging its feet. Using him.”
My hand touched Bis’s feet. He was scared, too. I swallowed hard, my gaze going to my candle, still on the slate table. I’d be safe until the baku figured out I’d switched my aura, but Al might be in more danger in the meantime. I’m never going to sleep again.
“You’re right. Trent needs to talk to you,” I said, and Zack made an ecstatic fist-pumping gesture with a muffled “Yes!”
“Rachel,” Hodin growled, but I had to move on this, and fast.
“You’re not my teacher,” I said, and Hodin put a hand to his head as if he had a headache.
“You’ll take me to him?” Zack pushed forward. “I have to ask him if what Landon says is true. I know I’ll be able to tell if he’s the Sa’han.”
“And how will you know that?” Hodin pressed, his voice oily with promise.
Zack brushed his shirt. “Landon says that Kalamack has murdered people to further his interests. That he puts himself before those he doesn’t care about. That he’s responsible for the rebirth of the demons, and that he has spurned a fertile elven woman of high standing for a barren demon with no worth, thereby thumbing his nose at the high elders. I need to know if it’s true.”
Barren demon? But I was too worried to take offense. Besides, all of it was true. Even the ugly parts. Maybe this isn’t such a good idea. “Ah, Trent is all of that,” I admitted. “But as long as I’m with him, the circle he protects encloses more than himself, including elves and demons both.” I was spouting wise-old-man crap, but the robe seemed to bring it out of me.
“He really cares about the demons? Not just you?” Zack said in disbelief.
“Amazing, isn’t it?” I said. Hodin bared his teeth in a thinly disguised smile, and Zack flushed. “I need to make a call,” I added, patting my robe to find my phone in my jeans pocket.
“You need to make a call,” Hodin echoed, and then he pinched my elbow, dragging me away. Bis flew from my shoulder, and then I jerked from Hodin’s grip.
“I’m sorry about your dinner,” Bis said, startling Zack when he landed beside him on the table saw. “I wouldn’t have really hit you. Unless you tried to hurt Rachel.”
“I’ve never talked to a gargoyle before.” Zack’s voice held awe, and Bis puffed in pride. “How can you stay awake? It’s day.”
“Rachel gave me an amulet,” Bis said, showing it off, and then Hodin shifted to get between us.
“I’m all for letting people make their own mistakes,” Hodin said, so close that I could smell the hint of burnt amber. “But that child has grown up in the dewar listening to old-elf lies. Get past the pretty hair and eyes, and all his thoughts are warped.”
“Probably, but he can’t be cooked all the way through yet. Excuse me,” I said, finally finding my phone through the draping fabric. “I need to make a call.”
Hodin’s expression darkened. “This is a mistake,” he muttered, arms going over his chest.