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“I’ve heard that sob story before.” Verve aimed between his eyes. “You’ll have to be more convincing.” She pressed her finger to the trigger.
“Verve, stop!”
Ivet’s voice made Verve freeze. She glanced over to see the village leader—and Alem, of course—hurrying up the path that led to Lotis. “Get back to the village,” Verve said as they came running up. “I’ve got this.”
“I heard them claim asylum,” Ivet said, pushing past Verve and going to the mage couple. Alem, too, stood between Verve and the mages. Like she was the villain here. An unexpected twinge of hurt bloomed in her heart, but she refused to lower her weapon.
“Please,” the woman was saying to Ivet. “We came here in good faith. We didn’t mean to lead the others to you.”
“You know those other mages?” Ivet asked.
“They’re of my clan,” the man said. “We were all on the same side. Or we were, until Ellory—the sickle-drake—showed up.”
Verve scowled. The fellow was obviously lying. Folks said anything to avoid death. But Ivet didn’t seem to feel the same. She glanced over the two mages, then at Alem. “They’re injured.”
“Not for long,” Alem replied. “Thanks, Verve, but we can handle this. Your work here is done.”
Verve hated how relieved she felt at his words. She kept the emotion out of her voice as she adjusted her grip on her crossbow and addressed the male shiftling. “Ellory is the ummaroc?”
He tensed at the movement of the weapon, but nodded. “Aye, she’s an Echina, but she’s from the north. One of the strongest shape-changers I’ve ever seen. Our clan welcomed her as kindred. At first.”
“What changed?” Ivet asked softly.
The two new mages exchanged glances before the man ducked his head. “It’s shameful. We started…” He shuddered. “We started working for Legion. Capturing other mages from enemy clans and selling them to the mage-hunters.”
The mention of Legion was like a bucket of ice water tipped over Verve’s head. Her vision went blurry and her breath came short, and she had to brace her legs so she wouldn’t collapse. When she could look up, she caught Alem watching her. He lifted a brow, but she shook her head. I’m all right.
“Ellory set the others on that path,” the woman was saying, placing a hand on her lover’s arm. “She convinced them to work with Legion. You know those Echinas… They’re wild. Uncivilized.”
The man’s mouth quirked in a smile as he looked at his companion. “Aren’t we all?”
She gave him a warm look. “Sometimes.”
“Just how many Echinas are there?” Alem asked, frowning. “And are you all related?”
The fellow winced. “Echina isn’t exactly a family name. It’s more like an… identity that most shape-changers choose.”
“The shiftlings don’t pay as much attention to bloodlines as particle mages do,” Verve added. “It’s in the name: shiftlings shift their loyalties, depending on whatever will serve their best interest.”
The shape-changer glared up at her. “Not all Echinas even like each other. You’re not being fair.”
“But I am speaking truly,” Verve replied.
“Oh, yes, a mage-hunter’s an expert on loyalty,” he shot back. “As long as there’s good coin involved in killing people, you’re as loyal as they come.”
“I defend innocents from your kind.” Verve jerked her crossbow toward him, just to make him flinch.
Ivet placed a hand on Verve’s crossbow, pushing it down. “Your names? I’m Ivet. This is Verve, and that’s Alem.”
“I’m Nori,” said the woman. “I’m a particle mage of the Amago family. And this is Kyon.”
Ivet smiled. “The two of you are star-crossed lovers, then?”
Nori raised her chin. “Does it matter? We’ve heard a Damaris owns this territory.”
Verve’s interest piqued. “Your family’s allied with the Damarises?”
“Particle mages stick together.” But Nori didn’t look convinced when she glanced at Ivet. “Will Marea Damaris kill Kyon for being a shiftling? Or will you give us both asylum? This stupid fighting started before I was born. I never wanted any part of it. I don’t care who controls what territory.”
