Page 59 of Serpent and Shadow

Once it was back to the same size and shape it had been it before I gave the initial command, it stopped moving, and gradually began to solidify.

I stared down at the intricately detailed creature as it tucked its head over one loop of its body, then went utterly still. The eyes changed last, from a fiery, luminous scarlet with an unmistakably living glow, back to a comparatively dull emerald cast.

Within less than a minute, everything about the snake had gone back to being completely inert. I continued to stare at the jewelry for a few seconds longer.

Bones had done that.

How the hell had Bones done that?

I’d never heard of any enchantment that could do that to a piece of jewelry. No wonder he’d warned me not to activate it inside his mother’s house.

I didn’t realize I was still staring at it until something else pulled my attention.

I looked up when I heard heavy footfalls on the mat, sinking the material down a few inches as Quicksilver walked over to where I was. When I glanced up at him, he came to a stop, hands on his hips. His face was still redder than usual, but as he stared at the jewelry around my wrist and arm, he seemed to hesitate.

I couldn’t help noticing he didn’t appear in a hurry to get any closer to me.

“Do you have any idea how illegal that is?” he asked, in a cold, quiet voice.

I blinked, met his gaze, and frowned.

“Illegal?” I instantly distrusted his words. “Why?”

“There’s no way that’s light magic.” Quicksilver pointed accusingly at the gold snake wrapped innocuously around my wrist. “Did he give it to you?”

I considered lying, then didn’t. Exactly.

“It was a present,” I said stiffly.

Quicksilver let out a loud scoff. “A present.”

“Yes.”

“That’s some present, princess,” the older mage growled. “I don’t suppose he explained why he was giving you such a deadly gift?” When I didn’t say anything, he pointed at it again. “That’s a weapon. At the very least, it should be registered as such.”

He began walking towards me, and I reflexively covered it with my palm.

“Give it to me,” he said, his hand outstretched. He didn’t make it a question, or even a request. “Hand it over right now, Shadow––”

“No.”

The word was past my lips before I’d thought.

I didn’t back down from it, though.

There was no way in hell I was giving him the bracelet Bones had magicked for me. I’d fight him for it, if I had to.

He seemed to see some part of that in my eyes.

When he stopped short, glaring at me openly, his hand still outstretched and demanding, my answer didn’t feel any less like the right answer.

It felt like the only answer.

“Absolutely not,” I said, my voice cooler, but also more certain. “It was a gift. And he did tell me why he gave it to me. He meant it as protection. Are you going to tell me I don’t need it? Or that I’m the first wife to receive a defensive present from their spouse?”

“That’s hardly a shield charm,” he began angrily. “I just told you––”

“It’s illegal, yes,” I cut in, equally annoyed. “But what you haven’t told me is why it’s illegal. What laws am I breaking by owning it? I’m afraid I’m going to need to see the exact statutes, Professor. And then I’m going to need an official order that states I’m required by Magical law to hand it over.”