AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“How?” I asked. I could see why he wanted to get to work, we had little time, but a twinge of disappointment made itself felt in me nevertheless. My face felt cool as he took his hands away.
“The timing. And the Wolves had another deposit in their account from an anonymous source two days ago, leading me to believe that they were combining business with pleasure separate from the canceled Greene contract.”
Walker put his hand in the small of my back, and the pain eased in my ribs. I didn’t comment that he hadn’t asked first, since I’d had enough of waiting for it to heal on its own.
As I dressed after the shower, the mirror showed me the ghosts of extensive bruising. It would be another day before it was gone, but at least it didn’t hurt anymore. Walker leaned on the wall in the hallway. With a gesture to follow, he headed toward his workroom.
“It’s safe here?” Odd, to seek reassurance, but the shadow unnerved me.
His side look was full of dark amusement. His only reply was, “Yes.”
He called lights into his hand as we entered the antechamber to his lab. When we were in the room, the shadow contorted and pressed against the edge of the ward, coiling itself against the furthest edge of the circle. It looked and moved like a thick black worm, maybe six inches long, its world bounded by the ward around it.
It was my first good look at it. “Have you been able to get any information on it, Walker?”
“It’s the remains of a projection. Whoever is bound to the Wendigo has magical talent, and either they—or the Wendigo, I don’t know—created a simulacra of shadow that it could use to hunt, rather than that person’s body. That keeps the body from being damaged and makes it more difficult to identify who’s possessed. An elegant solution. Even more interesting, your magic stabilized the shard you cut off long enough for me to capture it. Do you think you’d be able to do it again? Or explain how you did it?”
I shook my head. “I don’t know exactly.”
“Pity.” Walker settled in a clear spot inches from the ward, cross-legged. I stood, sore from being used as a battering ram even after the healing I’d gotten from Chance, Joan and Walker. The low light in the room added shadows to Walker’s sharp face, which had settled into a neutral expression. When he spoke, it wasn’t directed at me, but rather the piece of shadow, his voice was cold enough to raise goosebumps on my arms.
“In the best case, the punishment for attacking an Indentured is flogging. Willing possession by a spirit is punished by binding power for a minimum of a year.” He gestured, and the shadow writhed.
Walker had just fought other mages, chased one down, and still retained enough power to communicate with whoever made the shadow creature. While he wore no ring to show his mastery, no tattoo, his ability equaled any of the master mages I’d met.
I didn’t want to think too deeply about it. I liked him.
“I know you can hear me. This projection is fueled with the life force of more than one victim. Murder is an additional charge. Extenuating circumstances are considered on a case-by-case basis. If you throw yourself on the mercy of the Court, you might be able to escape execution and avoid bringing scandal and fines to your family.” Threads of magic crept through his voice, compelling and dark. My breath came quick and shallow; the raw power in the air weakened my knees, and not because I was cowed.
I found his power attractive. Jumping him once this was done might be fun.
Walker was talking to whoever carried the Wendigo, using the shadow as a link to them. I didn’t know you could do something like that, but I could feel the magic he was pouring into the communication. Why was a talent like that not being used in his day job? He obviously had a lot of training.
The shadow threw itself against the side of the ward.
“The Guild takes taxation seriously if they’re using you as an accountant,” I said into the charged air.
Walker turned his head and regarded me. The checkered lighting kept his expression remote. “Hush,” he murmured, the gentle suggestion underlain by power.
My breath caught at the order. Anger and desire fought a short, sharp battle within me that left anger weeping in a corner as desire confiscated all its possessions. I stared at him, but he returned his attention to the shadow.
He’d pay for that, of course, once we were out of the room.
The shadow remained unresponsive, and finally Walker sighed and stood. “I’m sorry; I wanted to catch what I could of its owner, but that takes concentration. I find that you’re quite the distraction.”
I smiled up at him, and the sides of his eyes crinkled with humor. We both knew I didn’t believe him.
“I’m going to the Unification Ball on Saturday, escorting you,” he said as I turned for the door. My jaw dropped.
“Silver gave me an invitation.” His eyes slid to the shadow and back to me. A quiet warning.
Eavesdropping went both ways, I realized.
I sighed. “Walker, I’m wearing the only clothing I have. I can draw a uniform, but it would be a bit out of place.”
“I can have something made up.” He put his arm around me and patted my butt as we walked toward the door.
I paused mid-step. “And another set of clothing will ensure I’m polite at the Ball, too.”
