“Hence the last-minute improvisation.”
“Hence the shooting me.”
“Fear is our most primal, most powerful emotion. It leaves an imprint—almost like a ghost in the room. When I pulled the trigger, it didn’t matter that the gun wasn’t loaded. Your fear of death by gunshot was completely sincere, and left an intense imprint that my spell was able to amplify. That imprint, combined with the power of suggestion planted in the rich soil of a soft mind, was enough to make the guard truly believe that I killed us.”
“Us?”
“Murder-suicide. No loose ends.”
“Won’t they get suspicious when they don’t find our bodies?”
“They’ve already found them. Along with my associate, posing as the medical examiner.”
“Hmm. Sounds like more power of suggestion mojo to me.”
“And a couple of forged death certificates for the archives, should anyone come sniffing around later.”
“Who’s the associate?”
No response. Okay, then.
“You went to a lot of trouble for one witch,” I say, which is about as close to a thanks as my exhausted brain can muster right now.
He turns and offers a quick smile, there and gone again. “You’re innocent, and a member of the magickal community. Trouble or not, the Academy has a duty to protect you.”
Now that’s a stretch. Yes, the fact that the Academy went to such extremes to get me out speaks volumes, but not probably the volumes Devane is pedaling.
Theyneedme. A lot more than he’s letting on. Which explains why they waited to make their so-called “offer” until I was in such a compromised position I’d have no choice but to take it.
I twist around and peek out the back window. “You’re sure this is going to work?”
“It already has, or we wouldn’t be here. Understand, Miss Milan—the human authorities have jobs to do, but in the cases of magickal crimes, they’d rather not. Sure, the guard will receive a slap on the wrist for violating protocol in not logging my visit or confirming my identity, and we’ll likely see some protests in the magickal community about your unfair treatment once news of the murder hits the papers. But in the end, it will all be forgotten.” Devane sighs, adjusting his hands on the wheel. “It always is.”
I take a deep breath, trying to make sense of this insane story. The fact that it was so easy for him to mess with the guards’ minds, to make me believe I’d been shot, to cast that crazy spell with the Moon card…
“Mental magicks, huh?” I rub the chill from my arms, but the goosebumps remain in place. “You teach this stuff at the Academy?”
“Yes,” he says, turning down the A/C. “As well as how to defend against it, which is the more important piece where you’re concerned.”
“I guess we’re lucky the guards never took your class, or we’d both be capital-F screwed.”
This gets another smile, then silence descends once again, tires humming along the road, the soft whoosh of the air conditioner lulling me into a comfortable daze. Ahead, the highway stenches on like a thin gray ribbon, surrounded on all sides by the tall spires of red sandstone monuments rising from the earth like craggy fingers.
My own fingers itch to climb them, to feel their rough, warm grit against my skin. To feel part of the earth. Home.
I take another sip of water, washing away the tightness in my throat. “Where are we, anyway?”
“Just south of New Cortez, Arizona. About thirty-five miles from our destination.”
Our destination. The Academy. I never knew the exact location—only that it was somewhere in my home state, which I always found strange. Fancy, all-important place like that? I figured it should be in Switzerland or New York City.
“How far from Tres Búhos?” I ask. “I’d like to see my friend Jessa and pack up some personal things, if it’s not too much trouble. I need to figure out what to do about my tea shop while I’m away, too. She can’t manage it on her own.”
There’s a long pause, and then, “I can’t allow you to do that. It’s much too risky.”
Disappointment sinks in my stomach. “Can I use your phone? I need to call Jessa, let her know what’s going on. She’s my business partner. Best friend, too. She was there when the police came, and—”
“Again, we can’t risk it. Not while you’re still out in the open, outside the protective boundaries of the Academy.”
