Page 40 of Immortal Burden

“It is warded,” she told me. “Against magic-wielders.”

“Why not other species?”

She ignored my query and snapped instead, “What are you doing here trespassing on my property, Lucian?”

“Trespassing is such an ugly word, especially between familiars.”

“We’re colleagues, that’s the extent of it.”

“That’s not the whole truth now, is it?”

“What are you talking about?” she snapped, very obviously defensively.

“I can see we’re not going to get anywhere until this significant animosity you appear to have toward me is addressed.” Had she discovered the development between Ryker and I?

She ran her hand through her silky hair. “It’s not personal. I’m just… I have a lot on my mind. And somebody showing up unceremoniously on my property is a pet peeve of mine and the last thing I can tolerate at present.”

“To entertain the unexpected?”

She simply stared at me.

“Or is it the lack of control?”

“I am one of the most powerful beings across all the realms.”

“As am I. Yet, like you, I am still subjugated by another. By the very same being who exerts control over you, in fact.”

Realization shone in her eyes. “So that’s why you’ve come here, to discuss Cornelius.”

“As the one closest to him, within his extremely small inner circle—”

“Whatever you think I can help you with, I can’t.”

Undeterred, I went on, “He’s keeping a secret that concerns me, you, and Ryker. I believe it is connected to Draco’s awakening from the slumber Cornelius spelled him into decades prior.”

“He has his reasons.”

“And I have my reasons to pursue answers.”

She shook her head. “Don’t go down that path, it won’t end well.”

“What path may that be?”

“You can’t challenge him.”

“If you are trying to protect him, if you are perhaps even aware of this intel he is keeping to himself, you may want to reconsider—and quickly at that.”

Her eyes narrowed, interpreting my words as audacity. “If that’s a threat, you may want to reconsider.”

“Mia,” I snapped, enough to jar her out of her defensiveness—at least a little—and focus on exactly what I was trying to convey to her. “Cornelius has his eye on Ryker.”

She jolted. “What?”

“Specifically, with a determination to control him.”

Staring at me for several moments as the understanding of how serious this was actually hit home, she then twirled her hand and urged, “Go on.”

“Apparently, he was concerned that Ryker had become disillusioned with the Guardian Movement, largely due to the emotional toll of the state of things between the two of you. He commanded me to alter his perspective and bring him back into the fold.”

---