happening.
Not with her.
Bells began ringing from afar, but it was as though they were clanging in his ears. They softened when her eyes fluttered—movement. And Daron swore his heart ruptured from relief. His grip on her tightened, unsure whether to pull her closer or to run.
Kallia gave him no choice, grasping at him. “See … that’s why you’re here. Why you’re my mentor,” she slurred, a loose smile on her face.
“I’m sorry.” There were no other words. “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.”
“I’m not. I baited the beast. Didn’t know such power was hiding inside.” She deliriously clawed at his arms and shoulders, pressing at the muscle. Each touch set off a whole other mess of alarms in his head he couldn’t stop. Why wasn’t she afraid?
Hell, he was afraid.
“I have to get you to a doctor,” Daron muttered, straightening her.
“No!” Her voice went hoarse, her body jolting upright. “We’re not going out there. Not like this.”
He frowned at the frantic turn of her breaths. “Kallia, we have to … you’re not well.”
“I’ll be fine in a bit, it’s nothing. Please,” she hissed. “Don’t bring me outside. Don’t give them another reason to laugh at me.” Her mouth screwed in an angry grimace as if to wrench back what she’d said.
Without thinking, he brushed the hair back from her face, behind her ear before laying her back down. His hands still buzzed with energy, but no longer held any light.
Safe. For now.
Releasing a heavy sigh, he shifted her closer to the fire, grabbing the coat he’d tossed over a table and balling it up as a pillow for her head. The tension fell from her face when she turned to it with a deep inhale. “Smells like you.”
His voice grew thick, insides knotted. “Are you sure you’re well?”
“Of course. A surge of power is sometimes followed by a bout of delirium. Haven’t you seen me after my performances? Even I’m not immune,” she said, studying him. “Are you saying you feel nothing at all?”
“With the exception of panic, no.”
The smile continued to curve lazily over her face as her fingers brushed his on the floor, trailing to his wrist. “Figures. You go weeks, months, without using magic, and come out of this with barely a sway in your step. And look at me. I wonder what you must think.” She laughed bitterly, the haze drifting from her eyes as she clasped her hands together and stared at the ceiling. “What am I without magic?”
More. He didn’t know where it had come from, but deep inside, a voice yelled. It had learned that even without magic, you still had worth. You weren’t only a performer on stage or a walking hat full of tricks. Only in times without did you truly learn what you were made of, and he wished she could see that, too. He wished he could take her hand again.
You are so much more.
“Is that a fact?”
He didn’t even care that he’d said it aloud or how tired she looked as she smirked. She had to know she was more. With or without her power. It had taken him losing everything to figure out as much about himself.
Perhaps she could understand him.
“There’s something I must tell you.” The way she looked at him like he was a marvel, a Great like Zarose, turned his insides. How fast would it take for those brown eyes to turn cold, distrustful. “I—”
With a slam, the main door flew wide open.
“Kallia! Judge!”
Aaros burst in, running, panting. His footsteps frantic, nearing. “Kallia, are you … oh…”
The assistant stumbled through the archway, breathless. He took in the scene—the two of them on the ground—and his mouth only dropped farther.
“No jokes,” Daron barked. “I mean it, this isn’t—”
“I know, I know.” Aaros knelt to the ground, placing a hand on Kallia’s shoulder. “Is she okay?”
“Yes, she is.” Equally agitated, Kallia pushed herself up. Still fatigued, but clear of delirium. “I’m a magician, not a one-winged butterfly.”
“Happy to hear it, boss,” he said. “I’m not even going to pry into how you got on the floor with Demarco. My imagination can run wild with that one.”
Daron took as much interest in the floor as Kallia did peering into the fireplace.
“But I had to make sure.” The assistant broke off, his jaw working. “Something’s happened. Two magicians, and a circus performer…”
Kallia’s gaze shot to him, as she asked, “Who?” right as Daron said, “What? Have more gone missing?”
“No.” Aaros shook his head grimly. “Not exactly.”
34
Three bodies lay in