By Fairy Means or Foul: A Starfig Investigations Novel(78)

“No.” I shook my head. It couldn’t be. I wouldn’t let Brandsome take him back. I’d kill him and free Quinn. We could flee to the Hominus Realm. Humans had their own issues, but with Quinn’s new-found status it would possibly be manageable. It wouldn’t be ideal, though. We’d be wanted. But if we moved around enough, over time they might forget about us. Even as I thought it, I knew it wasn’t true. Well, we could go rogue. Take over Nyx’s castle. Maybe Bill would join us. We’d be formidable with a wizard, dragon, and demon combo. I wasn’t giving up Quinn. Not for anything. Not even my freedom. I knew that now. My dragon rumbled its agreement.

“I don’t know what you’re thinking,” Quinn said, “but I can tell you I’m not going to agree to it. I’m not running, if that’s where you’re going. It wouldn’t work and I don’t want to be hunted. Couldn’t handle it if something happened to you because of me.”

He had a point. What if he was killed? Could I live with myself? But I couldn’t live with myself if I let him go back to Brandsome either. I shuddered to think how he’d be punished for freeing me. I entertained one other possibility for saving him—a slim chance—but it would mean tying myself down in another way that would chafe. I sighed.

It would be worth it.





27





Turning from Quinn, I moved behind my desk and rummaged around until I found an invocation stone. Placing it on the desk, I activated it.

“Twig, what are you doing—”

A moment later my father appeared. He didn’t look happy. “You realize I’m a busy fairy, Twig.” He brushed at the folds of his toga before looking up at me. His head tilted at that angle that said he was taking in everything around him. “You’re bonded.” His eyes shot to Quinn then back. “To that . . . wizard.”

“I am.”

His image paced across my desk. “You’ve not only found your dragon, but you’re a familiar. I’ve never seen the like. I can’t believe I missed it before. And a real, live wizard. I haven’t heard of one of those in over a millennia. Though with all the enhancements he wore when I met him it’s no wonder I didn’t see his potential.”

He shook his head like he couldn’t fathom that the great Auric Starfig had overlooked something. I’d be smug, except I was on the verge of losing the man I loved to a demented unicorn. And it was love. I saw that now.

But if we couldn’t figure out something fast, I’d also be responsible for stripping his magic from him. Like that wasn’t a kick in the teeth. Now that he’d wielded it, could he even survive without it? I couldn’t imagine.

“You wouldn’t call if it wasn’t urgent. You need something from me.”

Quinn sidled up behind me. “What are you doing, Twig?” he whispered. “No reason to involve the High Council.”

“There’s every reason to. You’re a wizard, Quinn. You’re not supposed to be an indentured servant. My understanding is that witches and wizards can’t be indentured servants. Am I mistaken, Dad?”

“Ah, I see. You wish him to be free.” He sighed as if I disappointed him once again. What else was new? “I suppose he could petition the council. It would take some time, but . . .”

“I can’t be away from him. It would effectively put me under his master’s power. He’s not a nice person. A unicorn.”

My father’s eyes goggled. “A unicorn, you say? That does present a certain set of issues. Yes, controlling a dragon and a wizard would give him a lot of power. And the Red Fury’s resident’s permit is dependent on him working for you.”

He paced some more. I could see the wheels turning furiously as he began muttering under his breath, citing then disregarding possible legislative choices.

“I don’t think this is going to work.” Quinn leaned into me as he said it and I couldn’t help but breathe in his scent. He smelled like mine. I needed to pull him close, only now wasn’t the time. My father wasn’t one for displays of emotion. At least not of the affectionate kind.

A pounding on the office door startled us all.

“You’ve had ample time to talk to my servant. I demand you let me in or the Elder Bureau of Investigations will hear about this.”

I frowned. My gums itched with the desire to let my fangs slide through. My father shot me a quelling look.

“Well, let him back in,” my father said. “Time to grab the unicorn by the horn.”

I grunted, but did as he asked.

Brandsome stormed into the office, obviously having worked himself into a lather. “I should report you to the EBI . . .” He trailed off as he noticed my father. His eyes rounded, but then narrowed as he considered this new development. “Oh, good, so I won’t have to go through the trouble of seeking you out, Councilmember Starfig. I’m Brandsome Nightwind.” A wave of his magic rolled out and filled the room, much like the dispersal of incense. Only evil.

My father wrinkled his nose and waved a hand like he was swatting a fly. Brandsome’s magic evaporated. We all gawped at my dad.

“You don’t think a council member is subject to such trifles?” He sniffed, and I swear Brandsome’s face turned as red as Bill. “Now, let’s get this settled.”