face was hard and grave, an expression belied by the excitement in his eyes. He was clearly delighted to be getting an audience with royalty.
“Hallen led the seeking party and recovered this young woman who bears a striking resemblance to our family line,” Charity’s father said, his tone expressionless.
“That remains to be seen,” the First said, not turning her attention to Hallen.
“What are your grave warnings?” Charity’s dad asked Hallen.
Hallen explained what he’d seen Charity do in the battle with the demons. Specifically, he spoke of her explosive magic. He seemed impressed, although Devon knew she was capable of much, much more. She’d been worn out, working on the dregs of dregs.
“That wasn’t all done by Charity,” Devon corrected when Hallen was through, adopting the same tone. “One of the mages mimicked Charity’s magic to attack the demons. The mage is unique in that way. But Charity can do everything he said, and additionally, she can create magical sunlight strong enough to burn an elder vampire’s skin, she can form a ball of…electricity, I think it is, and propel it a few yards, and she can explode air from a spark, as Hallen saw, but with much more ferocity. She has very little control over her magic yet, but she’s learning quickly.”
The First and Second—actually, everyone in the room—stared at him with expressions barely masking their incredulity. Well, except for Hallen, who clearly wanted to kill Devon where he stood. Devon suspected they wouldn’t become friends.
“And…how do you know all of this?” the First asked.
“I’ve witnessed it on multiple occasions, usually when we were fighting for our lives. She’s only known she’s magical for half a year or so—this is all new to her. Her magic is pretty incredible.”
The First took Devon’s measure, and even though Devon had tried to keep his tone neutral, he got the distinct impression she’d picked up on his affection for Charity. Given her suddenly frosty demeanor, two things were suddenly clear: she did intend to welcome Charity into their family fold, but she didn’t want any attachment to undesirable outsiders getting in the way.
Something hot and uncomfortable lodged in Devon’s middle. He pushed it away. Now wasn’t the time.
“Yes, I see.” The First looked down at Charity, and the room fell silent.
Andy’s voice rose over the din. “What are they doing in there, surgery? Why the hell is this taking so long?”
The First looked around the room. “Alvine, do you surmise we have enough power gathered to gently guide her magic on the right path and counteract any…powerful manifestations of the magic she might have inherited?”
Alvine, the healer at Charity’s feet, looked at the ceiling. “We have enough power, but if we don’t move her outside, we won’t have much of a shed left. If she has as much magic as the Alpha Shifter says she does, we’ll need to direct any powerful discharge somewhere, and that will be straight up.”
The First looked at the walls, and Devon got the impression she was calculating whether they’d hold up without a roof. “You’ve always wanted to expand. Alvine, proceed.”
Charity’s dad stared at the First for a long beat, and though his thoughts didn’t bleed out onto his face, it was entirely too clear he was silently cursing. Instead of raising an objection, however, he bent to Charity, his gaze flicking up as he did so.
Devon moved in immediately, lifting Charity’s head so her dad could deliver the sweet-smelling elixir to her mouth. It dribbled past her lips, and she coughed, spraying the liquid over them. The Second dribbled more, and this time half of it was swallowed and half coughed out around her chin.
“That should suffice,” Alvine said.
Devon laid Charity back down, his eyes rooted to her face, his heart in his throat. Now was the point they’d been waiting for these long months. He’d gotten her to the finish line, and he had to trust her people could get her across.
“It is evident you care a great deal.”
Devon almost didn’t realize the words had been spoken to him. He looked up into the brown eyes of Charity’s father.
“I recognize the look,” the Second said. An old pain surfaced in his eyes. “Utter bliss. A devastating obsession such that you couldn’t imagine living without it.” A sad smile ghosted his lips. “She holds your whole heart in her hands, and you wouldn’t want it back for all the world.”
“Is it me, or did things just get really freaking personal?” Andy’s voice drifted in. Clearly those