Magic Forged (Hall of Blood and Mercy #1)(25)

I wanted to snarl at him, but it was true. Even though my parents had been quite powerful—Dad had been considered a genius in his younger days, and Mom had been even stronger than him—House Medeis had a really low ranking among wizard Houses in the Midwest. We just didn’t have that much power.

“The statistics that they would birth a dud are astoundingly low,” Killian continued. “But there’s one condemning piece of evidence that you do have more magic, and they knew it.”

I pressed my lips together and wasn’t able to keep the sourness out of my voice. “What?”

“You.” Killian flicked a finger at me. “If you really are a dud, why didn’t they try for another child? Or adopt? Even if they adopted outside the family, a second or third child with a sibling bond and strong magic would better cement your position as Adept. Except they knew it wasn’t necessary.”

I smiled and tried to keep my voice pleasant. “I didn’t need siblings because I have plenty of family to back me already.”

Because wizards don’t stab each other in the back like vampires! A moment passed before I realized that was exactly what wizards apparently did and was the reason why I was even in Drake Hall.

Killian shrugged. “It doesn’t matter what you think. I’ll take you to the Paragon for inspection. He’ll be able to determine if I’m right.”

“The Paragon?” I squeaked. The Paragon was the top fae representative in America. He didn’t rule over the fae—they had splintered when the last of the elves died and had created their own fiefdoms in the different regions. But the Paragon was supposed to be the strongest fae alive, and all the fae Courts spoke through him. “You can’t involve the Paragon in something like this!”

“I can. He owes me,” Killian said. “And given the delicate nature of politics, there aren’t many fae I would believe to tell the truth. Luckily, the Paragon is an idiot.” He sauntered toward the door, oozing arrogance thick enough to make me choke.

I stared—shell-shocked—at his back. For a moment, I was tempted to laugh. All my life everyone had taken my lack of magic for granted. And now Killian Drake—master vampire and tyrant of the Midwest—was raising a fuss about it.

This gave me a shred of hope. When he found out I was indeed a dud, he’d drop me, and I could safely disappear into the mass of servants. That was…if he didn’t kill me for delaying him.

Killian snapped his fingers. “Medeis, come.”

Knowing I’d only have to bear it until my abilities were affirmed, I swallowed my irritation and slowly crossed the room. My muscles still shook from the exertion of “playing” with the monster, and the creamy taste of the healing draught was turning sour—though that might have been my situation instead of the potion.

Killian swept away without another word, disappearing down the hallway faster than I could walk.

I tried to jog, but my ribs must not have been fully healed yet, because pain stabbed through my side. I clutched my ribs as I tried to figure out which way he’d gone.

“This way, Hazel.”

I nearly jumped out of my skin when I realized another vampire stood right behind me. It was the beautiful female who had attended the meeting with him at the Curia Cloisters. She was still in her pantsuit, and her pitch-black hair was pulled back in a no-nonsense ponytail, but her smile was surprisingly warm. “The car is waiting for you.” She walked at a much slower pace so I could keep up—which was a good thing because she led me through a portion of the mansion I hadn’t ever seen, even in my tour of the place on the day of my arrival.

We came to what looked like the front entrance—everything was cast in white and black marble with enough windows to make a greenhouse, and an elaborate double stairway that wound up to the second floor with an elevator crouched just behind it. (A very necessary thing given the size of the place.)

A maid standing at the entrance gawked at me as she automatically pulled a door open for my vampire guide.

I gave the maid a helpless look, but hurried after the female vampire, almost skidding down the stone staircase just outside the door.

A black SUV was parked at the bottom of the teardrop shaped bit of driveway that pulled up next to Drake Hall.

A vampire standing at the front of the SUV opened the back car door for me.

Killian was on the far side of the bench, talking on a silver smartphone as he jabbed his finger at a screen on a similarly colored tablet. “I don’t care if the fae are wistful for a winter festival. It’s a power grab, and they just want to put their magic on display to lull the humans over to their side.”

The vampire wanted me to sit back there? With HIM?! I gaped at the chauffeur vampire and shook my head. “Can’t I sit up front?” I whispered.

The chauffeur blinked. “Why?”

“Denied!” Killian snarled into his phone.

I flinched, but Killian didn’t seem to notice our conversation, he was so focused on chewing out whatever poor soul was on the other end of the phone.

“If you suggest such a stupid bargain again, I’ll have a finger broken every time you mention it. Understood?” Killian continued.

“I don’t wish to disturb the Eminence—he’s working.” I chewed on my lip and did my best to look bashful and concerned.

The vampire chauffeur shrugged. “Sure.” He closed the door and opened the front passenger door.