Magic Forged (Hall of Blood and Mercy #1)(77)

“She was no such thing.” Killian let his head loll on his neck in exasperation. “She nearly got herself killed with nothing to show for it. Idiotic, that’s what she was.” He reached around Celestina so he could flick me on the forehead. “Once she is healed there is going to be a discussion about the stupidity of flinging herself into danger.”

I was pretty surprised Killian would have anything to say about that—particularly since he only gained from me attacking Solene. But I ignored his comment—and the flick to the forehead—and leaned into Celestina’s hug. She was nice and cool, and I felt a little warm.

Celestina, however, didn’t ignore her boss. “She nearly bested a vampire without magic, and she destroyed her seal all by herself,” she said. “I think we should celebrate.”

“You’re going soft,” Killian grumbled. “Throwing the wizard a treat just because she survived—ridiculous.”

Celestina pulled back and gave me one of the smoldering fae potions. “Drink these—your shoulder is still in rough shape.”

“Is Rupert complaining that I’m stinking the house up again?” I took the glass bottle from her and chugged the potion. This one had a thick, chalky texture, but it looked more appealing than the liquid-y bright pink one she passed off to me next. Right before I tipped it to my lips, my brain caught up with my mouth. “Oh—gosh. Did someone get his car back to him? He’s going to hate my guts if the city towed it!”

“We brought it back,” Celestina assured me. “And he wasn’t at all put out about it.”

I sniffed the potion—which oddly smelled of coconut. “Yeah, and if that isn’t the biggest lie I’ve heard this year, I don’t know what is.” I threw my head back and tossed the potion down. It fizzed almost painfully in my mouth and throat, but my shoulder ached enough I didn’t care.

Celestina watched with the care of a nurse. “You should eat. Think you can make it down to the kitchens, or should I call for someone to bring something up?”

“I can make it.” I rolled my shoulders, making my body creak. “I think it’d be good for me.”

Celestina backed up so I could slide out of bed. I stared down at my pajamas (Drake issued and silken, of course) then shrugged. Pretty much everyone in Drake Hall had either witnessed me screaming or dripping with sweat. I didn’t think pajamas could hurt my reputation.

I limped for the door, my joints getting looser with each step I took, but paused in the doorway.

Killian remained seated while Celestina circled my bed, collecting the empty potion bottles and a few used blood pouches.

“Thanks for taking care of me,” I said.

“Of course,” Celestina said. “Go eat. I got some fae bath bombs online. When you finish eating we’ll throw one in the tub for you.”

I nodded and glanced at Killian, waiting to see if he’d look at me. (He wouldn’t.)

I shrugged and padded from the room.

“Remember, Wizard. We will discuss your actions later,” Killian called through the open door.

I grinned as I started down the hallway, feeling better than I had in ages. Killian probably just wanted to lecture me before forcing more training on me. But after my fight with Solene, I was more than happy to accept more free training.

Yeah, life still sucked. My parents were dead and Mason had taken over House Medeis…but I was starting to appreciate the Drake Family—even if I didn’t approve of Killian’s ways. And somehow…I felt better.

Maybe it was that my senses were now blasted open to the magic that soaked the air, but a part of me suspected it was more than that.

Over the past few months I’d come to realize how off some of House Medeis’s rules were—like the no killing, even in self-defense one. But I’d made up my mind that I wasn’t going to follow that law, and it weirdly made me feel freer.

I wasn’t sure what I was going to do about Mason or House Medeis, but I was also pretty sure I first needed to get used to my new powers. Given the other Houses’ attitude, I was probably safest testing them out and training here in Drake Hall.

I stalled briefly in the hallway as I thought of Killian. I was pretty sure he was the one who had picked me up as I passed out—and what was with the hand thing? Did he have some sneaky plans he was going to use me in?

My stomach growled loudly. I took a deep breath then lurched into a walk.

Staying was going to be a gamble I’d have to take. But while I didn’t trust Killian, I felt pretty certain that he wouldn’t actively try to ruin my life. He found me amusing—maybe diverting and potentially useful. After what I’d gone through, that was enough for me.





Chapter Twenty-One





Killian





I stood and let my arms drop to my sides as Hazel Medeis walked down the hallway, leaving me with a very troubling question.

I rubbed my head and glanced at my First Knight. “Celestina.”

She straightened and swung around so she could face me. “Yes, Your Eminence?”

I paused, carefully choosing my words. I couldn’t reveal too much. Not even to my second-in-command. “How bad does Hazel smell to you?”

“You mean her wizard blood?” Celestina adjusted her grip on the empty potion bottles. “She’s smelled quite neutral to me for a few weeks.”