Magic Forged (Hall of Blood and Mercy #1)(24)

I glanced up, surprised to see Killian hadn’t left while I consumed the potion. That he was still sitting in his chair made the hair on the back of my neck prickle.

Yep. It was final. He had to be here for a reason, and whatever it was, I was certain I wasn’t going to like it.

I cleared my throat. “It was a fae creature, right? What was it doing here?”

Fae are a little different from the rest of us supernaturals because they have access to…I suppose you could call it a realm. It’s much smaller than Earth, and about four times as dangerous, as it’s infected with magical creatures—from unicorns to the more frightening trolls. Supposedly elves used to rule this smaller realm, but they died out centuries ago, and the place turned toxic. Not many fae live in that realm anymore, with the exceptions of fae Courts. Nobles can stake their claims given they are the only type rich enough to afford the necessary magical wards that make it possible to stay there.

Occasionally monsters slipped from the fae realm to Earth, but it was pretty rare, and exceptionally weird that it would spawn so close to Drake Hall.

Killian shrugged. “It is called a mantasp—an insectoid monster from the fae realm, yes. Which, obviously, implies a fae let it loose here.”

I gaped at him. “No way.”

He raised a black eyebrow at me. “I suppose you know better?”

“It’s against the non-aggression treaty!”

He rolled his eyes. “It’s only against the non-aggression treaty if it can be proved the fae actually did it. Given that I do not have a fae on staff capable of discerning such a thing—and no fae would willingly take a job that would rat out their kinsmen—it’s impossible to prove.”

I felt the cool sensation of the healing draught trigger, and the skin on my ribcage tingled and itched. I awkwardly scratched it as I frowned in thought. “Could it have been the murderer?”

Killian shook his head. “Too flashy. Though it is suspected the murderer is of fae origin as well.” He leaned his head back, and the light from an elaborate light fixture above us caught his eyes, revealing more shades of crimson red.

I frowned when I looked around and realized I was not in my bedroom in the servants’ quarters. This place was way too fancy. There was a chandelier, expensive sheets, and the mattress had an elaborate foot and headboard and was big enough for me to roll across multiple times. Where was I? I was still wearing my black dress pants that were part of my uniform, but my slashed white dress shirt had been replaced with a soft cotton t-shirt, and I wasn’t certain I wanted to know who had changed me while I was out of it.

The corners of Killian’s lips turned up in a slight smirk that boded poorly for me. “Hazel Medeis.”

I slightly hunched my shoulders and reluctantly met his gaze. “Yes?”

Killian’s smirk bloomed, flashing his fangs which gave a bit of savagery to his otherwise stylish image. “I’ve taken an interest in you.”

I felt the blood drain from my face, and my hands shook under the despicably soft sheets that had swindled me into complacency. “Please don’t,” I blurted out, then realized how that sounded. “I mean, I’m, uh, not worthy of your…attention.”

Killian stood, his height adding to the imposing figure he already made, and ignored my protests. “You successfully fought off a mantasp using only a flicker of magic. If you hadn’t been bleeding out like a wounded seal—”

I really was starting to wish he’d stop comparing me to animals—it was hardly reassuring given the current company’s diet.

“—you might have finished it off. I didn’t know such a feat was possible for wizards—you all are so hilariously useless at anything besides magic.” He slid his hands into the pockets of his pants and glanced down at me. “I always thought it might be fun to have a pet wizard capable of harassing the fae.”

Relief almost made me flop back on my pillows. He wanted a pet wizard, did he? Then I was the worst candidate for the job. “I am sorry to say, sir, but I am very bad at magic,” I told him, doing my best to fake embarrassment and cover up my joy. “I don’t have much at all—that’s why I had to outmaneuver the monster.”

I peeked up at him to see if the act was working.

Killian was still, unfortunately, smirking. “I don’t believe it.” His British accent was a little stronger than usual—I had thought it was so faint because it had been worn away with the passing of time, but maybe he did it on purpose?

“But I’m not lying!” I tried to discreetly edge across the bed, putting myself on the side farther away from him. “I can show you my registration in the Curia Cloisters—I have barely any powers at all. That’s not something I can fake!”

Killian gave me a withering look. “Of course you aren’t faking it,” he scoffed. “Wizards are too stupid to pull off such a conniving and convincing act. No, I suspect your parents had your powers sealed at birth.”

I barely kept from laughing. He thought my parents would seal my magic? They’d never do that—our family existed to serve the House! As it was, my lack of magic was the greatest threat to House Medeis!

“I’m sure you think and were told you have limited powers,” Killian said. “But I don’t believe it. Your parents were some of the most powerful in their generation, despite the low ranking of House Medeis.”