Magic Forged (Hall of Blood and Mercy #1)(47)



“No,” I flatly said. “He has no reason to lie to me, and there’s no possible way he’s under Killian’s thumb. He’s the national fae representative. Killian’s power base is here in the Midwest.”

Momoko shook her head. “I can’t believe your parents would do that to you. They loved you, and they just let you suffer when you were bullied?”

“You two were there for me,” I reminded her.

“Yeah, but I know you still ran into problems as an adult, and you wouldn’t tell Felix or me,” Momoko said. “Your parents had to know that, too. So why would they lie to you?”

I stared at the ground and shrugged. “I don’t know. All I can think of is that I didn’t know my parents as well as I thought.”

I would have cried, but I’d run out of tears weeks ago. I had turned the issue over in my mind thousands of times, trying to find some way to put a positive spin on it, but there wasn’t. My parents had majorly messed with me, and now they were gone, and I couldn’t even ask them why.

“We’re sorry, Hazel.” Felix leaned into me.

“It’s fine.” I cleared my throat and sat straighter. “But now I want to hear about you guys. How is everyone—and how’s the House?”

Felix grimaced, and Momoko collapsed back into the couch.

“It’s bad,” she said. “But now that we know you’re safe, it’s better.”

“For real, guys.” I bit my lip. “Has Mason…killed anyone?”

“No.” Felix shook his head. “He’s busy trying to keep us under his thumb and the House in some semblance of working.”

“Ever since you left it’s been throwing a fit,” Momoko said. “It hasn’t weakened any more—I think out of sheer spite. Even though it’s been cut off from its Adept for weeks, just yesterday it locked a visiting House Tellier wizard in the basement.”

A rush of warmth and affection for my home hit me. “I’m glad it’s fighting.”

“Oh yeah,” Felix snorted. “It will keep making Mason miserable. It’s why he didn’t send anyone after you sooner—though we’re grateful he did, it’s how we found out where you were.”

“Everyone heard how Killian Drake almost killed Langhan—that’s the House Tellier wizard who spied on you—and the werewolf mercenary Mason had hired. It really freaked Mason out that Killian personally kicked them out. Did you really stop him from killing them?” Momoko asked.

“Yeah,” I said, somewhat hesitant to own up to it.

“That’s really weird,” Felix bluntly said. “Killian Drake is incredibly powerful—there’s no reason why he should listen to you.”

I shrugged. “I don’t know what to make of it either.”

“We’re glad you found a safe place,” Momoko said. “House Tellier told Mason they wouldn’t send anyone to try and reclaim you as long as you were inside Drake Family lands, and Mason knows he can’t send any of us after you, so I don’t think he can hurt you.”

“Does he know you two are here?” I asked.

“Nope.” Felix shook his head. “He thinks we had work shifts today at the library.”

Both Felix and Momoko were set to graduate from the local college in fall, so in the meantime they worked part-time at the local library, along with Felix’s sister-in-law, Leslie.

“Our parents sent us out to find out how you’re doing,” Momoko said. “Everyone is going to be relieved.”

Felix studied my suit with a disturbed look. “Maybe?”

“You guys still haven’t given me a straight answer, though. What is Mason doing to the House? Not the building, but our family?” I stood up so I could face both of them and stare them down.

“We’re…managing,” Felix said.

“He’s used magic on a few of us,” Momoko admitted. “But since you left, the threatening stopped—though he has us wearing magic-blocking bracelets.” She held up her wrists, showing off the unassuming silver bands that hung from her wrists.

My mouth dropped open. “How can he do that? It has to be illegal!”

“It would be,” Momoko sighed and dropped her hands in her lap. “Except he says we’re wearing them for training purposes—which is allowed.”

I made a sound of outrage.

Magic-blocking bracelets were mostly used on wizards and fae who broke the law. But wizard Houses occasionally used them for punishments and training—we had a pair or two lying around House Medeis in my parents’ day. But purchasing enough bracelets to cuff all the wizards sworn to House Medeis should have done more than raise a few eyes, it should have set off some alarm bells.

“The Wizard Council can’t possibly believe he’s got cuffs on everyone in House Medeis all the time for training purposes!” I scoffed, naming the wizard subcommittee that over-saw regional wizard issues.

“They’re turning a blind eye.” Felix balled his hands into fists. “We’ve sent emails and text messages out to the other Houses—they still won’t help.”

“At least since we’re wearing the bracelets he doesn’t have to physically subdue us—though he won’t let anyone leave the house unless it’s to go to work,” Momoko said.

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