Page 242 of Volik

“A mirror.”

I glance back at him as I pull open a drawer. “Did you destroy it?”

“Da. I melted it.” More angry heat fills the room.

I twirl my left hand as I dig through the drawer with my right.

Another gust of wind blows through the basement.

Volik lets out a low growl.

“Control your fire,” I snap, as I pull out a heavy sphere of metal.

“I am trying,” Volik bites back.

The metal thuds against the worktop as I set it down and pull open the next drawer.

“Would you have been able to track them through the mirror?” Volik grits out the question, and I hear the self-loathing in his voice.

“Doubtful.” I tell him the truth. “Better to destroy it than leave it unattended.”

I tug a leather bag out of the next drawer and dig through it until I find what I need.

“Your eyes are not glowing.”

Keeping hold of the rough green stone, I drop the leather bag back into the drawer and slam it shut. “I’m too busy for subterfuge.”

Leave it to the vampire to notice that at a time like this.

When druids use magic, their eyes glow gold.

I’ve been using magic.

But… I have a lot of magic. That doesn’t follow all the rules.

And I can feel the validity of Volik’s urgency. So I’m not fucking around with the pretense of my eyes.

“I need to find her.” Volik’s voice cracks. “I have to save her.”

He’s still telling the truth.

He has to save her.

And in his soul, Volik views it as saving her. Not himself.

Even though, if she dies, he dies.

He is worthy.

I cup the stone and ball of metal between both of my palms.

My vision sharpens as I let my magic flow. And the golden glow finally fills my eyes.

The haze of magic covers everything in my sight, tinting the world.

Sparks of gold crackle over the backs of my hands.

And I charge it with intention.