Page 143 of Demon Touched

A man with white hair and bushy eyebrows steps forward. “I’m a physician, sir. What’s wrong?”

I cast my gaze at Strickland, who immediately vouches for the man.

“Mr. Folkestone is one of Pax’s most eminent healers, Lord Syrus.”

I nod. “Then come this way.”

I lead him into the parlor along with the chief assemblyman and his usual entourage of wardens. I release Roseingrave from my shadows as Folkestone kneels beside Leah, smelling the contents of the glass as I did and examining her pupils.

“Thadeus,” Lady Roseingrave gasps, sinking to the ground as she pulls in desperate lungfuls of air. “The demon attacked me⁠—”

“I caught her trying to cast a blood spell on Leah after she poisoned her,” I say, kicking the broken metal cylinder away from Roseingrave. The pieces roll across the carpet, leaving a noticeable red smear.

“Not poisoned,” Folkestone says. “Drugged with a paralytic—a temporary one. Depending on when she drank it, it should wear off in the next half hour.”

My shoulders sag with relief, and I drop back down beside Leah, stroking the hair back from her face. Behind me, I’m vaguely aware of the wardens surrounding Roseingrave.

“Mr. Folkestone, would you mind examining Lady Roseingrave too?” Strickland says, eyeing her where she’s still kneeling.

I whip my head around and release a low growl. “Let her suffer,” I snap. “Or did you not hear me say she’s a dangerous sorceress?”

“That may be, Lord Syrus,” Strickland replies stiffly. “But if she’s going to be arrested, we should make sure you didn’t do any permanent damage which could impede the course of justice.”

“Thadeus,” Roseingrave croaks, her throat raw. “You can’t do this to me. You’d really pick a demon over your friend?”

“My friends don’t attack my allies and indulge in the black arts, Orealia,” Strickland says, his voice so cold it sends a shiver down even my spine.

Leah stirs, and I immediately lean over her again, massaging her limbs as some movement returns to them. She murmurs something, and Strickland and I both lean in close to catch it.

“The Order of Sycorax,” she mutters.

I look to Strickland. “Does that mean anything to you?”

“It rings a bell,” says Strickland. “There have always been rumors of dark magic users in Pax. I may have heard the name from one of those.”

Leah coughs and tries again. “She said her order…the ones who made the bond…were the Order of Sycorax.”

It wasn’t as if I hadn’t considered it the moment I saw Roseingrave with the cylinder, but hearing it confirmed that she was part of that group changes things. Somehow, my rage takes on an even sharper edge, and I feel Strickland tense beside me, watching me carefully.

“Roseingrave and her sorcerer friends have tried to kill Leah before. This order of hers was involved in an attempt at human sacrifice at Hathwell Reed’s house six months ago.”

Leah nods weakly, and Strickland straightens, crossing the room to address his wardens.

“Take Lady Roseingrave into custody, please, under suspicion of practicing prohibited sorcery. And launch an investigation into this Order of Sycorax.”

Folkestone has completed his examination of Lady Roseingrave’s bruised neck and confirms she’ll live. It seems she’s done protesting, her head hanging low as the wardens haul her up, still in all her finery.

“Take her out the back,” Strickland orders. “I don’t want news of this traveling through all of Pax before we have more answers.”

He adjusts his jacket and turns to the door, where we can still hear the hubbub of curious guests outside. I feel a pang of sympathy for him—a leader’s work is truly never done.

“Now,” Strickland says with a tired sigh, “I have to tell everyone the party is officially over.”

Chapter 39

Leah

Iwake feeling like I’ve been run over by a carriage, then maybe tossed around a bit by a pack of wolves. My body aches all over, and a sharp point pulses in my arm, digging its claws in deeper when I accidentally brush it across the sheets. But my head is the real traitor, sending a stab of pain right between my ears as I drag my eyelids open.