Trial by Fae (Dragon's Gift The Dark Fae #1) - Linsey Hall Page 0,9

things. I had only a bit of the power, though, and it didn’t always work. No matter how hard I tried, it didn’t work this time.

There was a block on the bracelet, a magic spell meant to prevent tracking like this.

Damn it.

I pressed my fingertip to the comms charm on my bracelet. “Aeri?”

My voice was hoarse with worry.

“Mari? What’s wrong?”

“A man. He knows what I am.” I had to tell her everything. This put her at risk, too, even though he had no idea that she was like me. But if I came under suspicion with the government, she would as well. We’d been joined at the hip our whole lives. Of course they’d suspect her.

“What do you mean, he knows? How?”

I spilled out the whole horrible story, even the kiss.

“Oh, Mari. That’s bad.” Her voice turned brisk. “But don’t worry. We’ll track the bracelet back to him. Then we’ll deal with it.”

“Good. That was my plan. My seeker sense didn’t work, so it can’t be tracked that way.”

“Declan has some equipment that may help if the FireSouls can’t.”

The FireSouls were our friends who could track anything of value, though I had a feeling that the protection charm on the bracelet would prevent even their impressive powers from working. I’d try anyway.

“Declan had to go to angel headquarters—something about a stolen bomb that’s super deadly—so I’ll come over now. When he’s back, he can help.”

“Thank you. I’m headed to the FireSouls’ place to see if they can help.”

“Good luck. I’ll be home soon, and we can go together.”

I cut the connection on the comms charm and hurried to the bookshelf in our workshop. It took several books, but I finally found the meaning of Mograh.

I stared at it, dumbfounded.

It meant my love in the Seelie Fae language, which was similar to Scots Gaelic. But the true meaning was fated mate.

Somehow, I was the one woman made for him.

That’s why he’d looked so shocked. And maybe even why I’d had that insight into who he was when I’d been performing the spell.

But he’d ignored it. He didn’t want it.

Which was fine by me. Perfect even. Because no way I was signing up to be some mysterious man’s fated mate. I had other things to be doing.

I snapped the book closed and went to my apartment, my mind racing. Despite the glamour, I was still wearing a bathrobe and would need to change before heading to the other side of town.

Quickly, I painted the black mask over my eyes and did my hair up in a high bouffant ponytail. I found a fresh set of black fighting leathers and put them on, then grabbed my boots. I shoved the enchanted bracelet into my pocket.

Within minutes, I was heading back into the foyer of the main house. Aeri and I never departed out of our secret apartments, which were hidden in buildings on either side of the main house. No one knew we actually owned them, and since their front doors were never used, the neighborhood thought they were abandoned.

As soon as I’d stepped into the main foyer, a shrieking alarm went off. Red magic rolled over the ceiling, sparking and bright.

My heart jumped into my throat.

Shit shit shit.

Red alert. A freaking red alert.

4

The alarm blared, shrill and horrible.

The Council of Demon Slayers was calling.

Under no circumstances could I ignore it. We owed the Council. They’d helped smuggle us out of Grimrealm years ago when we’d escaped. And whatever they needed us for was serious. Only the worst demons got a red alert.

The front door slammed open, and Aeri ran in, her eyes wide. “Red alert.”

“Let’s go.” I turned on my heel and headed back toward our workshop.

Together, we approached the huge rectangular table in the middle of the room. The fire had died down, but I could see by the light of the hallway. I stopped at the corner of the big table and pressed my hand to the wood. Aeri did the same, and magic sparked on the air. The table levitated and drifted to the side of the room.

Together, we approached the hidden trapdoor in the middle of the floor, which was normally hidden under the table and completely invisible. I sliced my fingertip with my thumbnail and let a drop of blood fall to the ground. Aeri did the same. When my black blood joined her white blood on the stone, magic filled the air.

The door disappeared. Narrow stone stairs led deep into the earth, and I raced down