Page 84 of The Spell Caster

The security coordinator was in her black guardian uniform, her hair bound in a tight braid around her head. “All right, Blackthorn, your spell caster insisted we get here as fast as possible and is hurling some frankly wild accusations,” Daire said, cutting her gaze to Cedar Grey and then back to Costi. “You wanna tell us what’s going on?”

“Layla had nothing to do with this,” Costi said, standing at attention and looking into Daire’s eyes fearlessly.

“Care to elaborate?” Councilor Grey raised an open palm with exaggerated patience.

“I will explain,” said Calamus, shouldering past his father. “I traced a circle spell to retrieve Layla’s missing familiar, and I caught him instead. Blackthorn is a demon.”

Daire scoffed. “He’s a pain in the ass, but I wouldn’t go that far.”

“I witnessed Layla invoke him like a familiar. I saw him change shape,” Calamus seethed.

“My son wouldn’t make up fanciful stories.” Councilor Grey gazed at Costi warily. “Did you find a way through, demon? Are you here as a spy?”

I knew what he was talking about—the mirror Calamus had opened to communicate with Hell. I glanced at Daire, who looked confused. He’d kept her in the dark.

Costi was uncharacteristically quiet. Whether it was the shock of the situation or a strategy to avoid the normal kind of escalation he liked to cause, I didn’t know.

“He’s not a spy.” I was suddenly the new center of attention in the room. My face heated. “I think… I think it was a natural summoning.”

Grey glowered at me. “And you didn’t think anything of it? Your Circle didn’t notice a grown man appearing next to you suddenly?”

No, but they had noticed a young boy who couldn’t speak our language and who they couldn’t keep away from me. “We were children. I was three,” I said.

“That’s ridiculous,” said Daire. “No one summons that young.”

Grey put a hand to his chin. “The more likely scenario is that at some point your childhood friend was… replaced.”

I shook my head, wrapping my arms around myself. “No. I know him. He’s the same.”

“What are you gonna do with me?” Costi interrupted.

Our guests looked at each other.

“I suppose we should call an emergency meeting of the Arcaenum and get this straightened out,” said Daire, scratching her chin uncomfortably.

“Let’s not be hasty,” said Grey. “Some of our councilors are… easily influenced. They don’t think strategically,” he hinted, looking at Daire intently.

I took in an uneven breath. “You have to call the Arcaenum. You can’t keep secrets like—”

Grey interrupted me, glaring down his nose. “We needn’t bother them for every little thing.”

Daire looked to Grey. “Perhaps we should discuss it privately.” She turned to Costi. “In the meantime, I think you should come with me to headquarters and hang out there tonight.”

“You’re arresting him?” I blurted.

“It’s all right, Layla,” Costi said, his head bowed. “I expected it.”

“Her too.” Calamus looked at me sadly. “She can invoke him. She’ll let him out.”

Daire raised an eyebrow at me. “If that’s true, I would consider that a breach of security.”

Calamus’s casual betrayal felt like a slap. “I’ll come.”

“Keep them separated,” Councilor Grey told Daire. She gave him a tight nod.

Grey motioned the guardians in, and they each took one of Costi’s arms. Ewan snatched Costi’s phone.

Even though the guardians were both tall and physically fit, I was certain Costi could take them out easily if he wanted to. But he allowed them to restrain him. He was cooperating.

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