“Oh, please spare me. You two are pathetic, making eyes at each other. Neither one of you is willing to make the first move.”
Zohav grabbed his shirt, fisting the fabric in her hands. She yanked him close. “When you lose the love of your life,thenyou can givemerelationship advice.” Pushing him back, she strode out the door.
Ah hell. Zethan smoothed his tunic. It’d been over four years since Nell had been killed, and he’d hoped the edge of Zohav’s grief had dulled. To claim someone was the love of your life when you were only sixteen was tragic. Zo had so much life left to live.
Granted, Nell was top-notch. He would forever be in her debt. She had taken two terrified teenagers under her wing, teaching them how to control their magic, how to hide from the authorities, and how to sail a boat. Too bad, Nell couldn’t outrun the pirates who had killed her. He would never forget the heart wrenching pain he’d experienced on that terrible day.
Nell had been five years older than the twins, but Zohav was an old soul. Still, Nell had waited until Zo turned sixteen before expressing her interest.
Perhaps it was a good thing that Zohav was tagging along.
The summons from Third Magician arrived the next morning. Zethan hoped to spend the day stocking up on travel rations and conning extra baked goods from the pastry chef. Guess it would have to wait.
He headed into the Keep’s Administration building and found Irys Jewelrose in her office. She’d been his and Zo’s mentor since they’d began classes at the Magician’s Keep. Zohav already sat in one of the two chairs facing the master magician’s desk.
A beautiful red-tailed hawk squawked from its perch on top of a tall wooden cabinet. Irys tossed a piece of carrion. The bird snatched it out of midair as it flew to the mantle over the hearth. Impressive.
Silently hoping this wouldn’t take long, Zethan plopped into the empty chair. The Third Magician studied them for a moment with her sharp, green-eyed gaze. She had pulled her almost completely gray hair into a tight bun. Irys was the oldest of the master magicians of Sitia, but not the strongest. That was First Magician, Teegan Cowan.
“Zethan, I know you’ve been to the NIP, the Northern Ice Pack before, but this time Heli will be in charge,” Irys said. “She’s only a year older than you, but she has plenty of experience harvesting energy from storms. Heli used to accompany Kade before we learned about your powers. She will pick you up at the Keep, and then you’ll travel to Robin’s Nest where you will meet Agent Annika of Ixia who will have an Ixian uniform for Zohav. She will also accompany you to the NIP.”
Zethan straightened. “We never needed an escort before. Why now?”
“The Commander doesn’t like change or magicians. He trusted Kade but doesn’t know Heli. Don’t worry, Annika won’t get in your way and she’ll smooth things with the local patrols when you cross into the other Military Districts.”
And to spy on us.Zethan was smart enough not to voice his comment.
Irys handed him three sheets of paper. “These are your travel forms signed by the Commander.” Then she gave him a pouch that jangled. “Ixian coins to cover your expenses.” She pushed a stack of books at him and another one at Zohav. “And your course assignments.”
Zethan groaned. “But…”
Irys raised an eyebrow, waiting.
“I haven’t had to do assignments before.”
“Kade told me you have downtime between storms, and Zohav asked for them so she wouldn’t fall behind in her studies. I figured you’d be similarly worried aboutyoureducation.”
Not in the least. Instead of complaining, he collected the books and managed to keep his expression neutral. Irys gave them a few more bits of advice before dismissing them with, “Safe travels.”
As soon as they exited the Administration building, he glared at Zohav. “You just had to go and ruin everything, didn’t you?”
“You keep forgetting this isn’t a vacation, Zee. And you’re already way behind. If you continue to miss classes, I’ll graduate a year before you.” She stopped and faced him. “Remember our promise?”
He did. When their magical powers appeared unexpected and unwelcome at the age of fourteen, they had promised to always be there for each other. And they had. Except when Zethan went to the NIP with Kade. Was that why he enjoyed it somuch, because Zo wasn’t there? A terrible thought. It wasn’t like they were joined at the hip. He had time alone. Mostly.
That evening, after securing all the supplies he would need for the trip to Ixia, Zethan stopped in Irys’s tower. Each master magician occupied one of the four towers that anchored the square-shaped Magician’s Keep. The Third Magician had given four floors of her tower to Yelena, Valek and their growing family. They had originally occupied two, but with the addition of Vincent, Irys granted them two more. The family only lived there when the Keep’s classes were in session, and they traveled during the hot season. And once Valek completed his magical training and graduated, they would probably be infrequent visitors. Or so Zethan guessed.
“Uncle Zeeeee,” Liana cried when she spotted him in the doorway. Hopping to her feet, she raced over to hug his legs.
At three and a half, she was beyond adorable. Her curly black hair fell past her shoulders and she stared up at him with big, beautiful greenish blue eyes. Her two-year-old brother, Vincent, joined his sister in the leg hug.
Zethan crouched down to give them a proper squeeze. Liana pressed her lips to his cheek to give him a sticky kiss. As soon as she touched his skin, his connection to the blanket of power disappeared. All his magical awareness of the storms in the sky ceased as if someone had thrown a black bag over his head. It was disconcerting, but not unexpected.
As far as magical powers went, Liana had been dealt the unique and formidable ability to block a person’s magic with a touch. She’d been able to wield it since conception. While Vincent showed no signs of magic other than being able toescape from his crib and playpen with uncanny ease. His powers would probably manifest around age fourteen, like most magicians.
Valek stood from the desk where he’d been studying. Both kids immediately abandoned Zethan. Their father set down his book and picked them both up.
“Are you heading out tomorrow?” he asked Zethan.
