Page 177 of Magic of the Damned

“You are the most deserving of ruling,” she said, leaning forward. Their warring intense gazes couldn’t be held comfortably by anyone else. “Make it so.”

“That might not be possible,” he admitted.

A wave of incredulous shock rippled through her expression before settling into a deep-seated scowl of disappointment. Then she turned from him, sending an icy gaze in my direction, looking for answers that I couldn’t provide.

“The Book of Umbra,” Areleus breathed out in excitement as he swept past Anand at the front door and at lightning speed made his way toward the book. As quick as the strike of a snake, he grabbed for it. Rebounded by a thrust of force, his hand made several rote movements while he whispered a spell. It failed. After his second unsuccessful attempt, his blazing eyes snapped to Dominic.

“He’s quite clever. Is the ward keyed to emotions?” Ileana asked. “Even the cloaking of it is different than anything I’ve seen before.” She directed the question to Dominic.

“Yes, to emotions and specifically to him,” he said, shooting Areleus a contentious look. “And now Helena,” he tacked on. Ileana didn’t react, accepting that Helena, like her father, couldn’t be trusted.

It took a great deal of effort for Areleus to marshal all expressions from his face, although he still couldn’t hide the disdain that shone in his eyes.

Ileana’s cool chuckle broke the contemptuous silence, and I was grateful for it. Hostility thick and arrant in the air, I was concerned that they’d act on it and nothing would be accomplished.

The acquisition of power must be stronger than any drug, leaving those who yearned for it willing to do anything for it. It was clearer than ever in the nonverbal exchange between Ileana and Areleus. Had they ever even liked each other? From the appearance of things, it was the union of two people with a clear purpose. One that they achieved. They had two extremely powerful children who possessed the ability to be pitiless and violent when needed.

“What is your plan for dealing with the Dark Caster?” Areleus asked.

Keeping a careful eye on his father, Dominic removed the wards on the book and picked it up. Sabin stood taller, shifting his posture to a defensive stance while also keeping a keen eye on Areleus. He received a less conspicuous attentive gaze from Ileana. And from my vantage point, from Anand. Uniforms blurred past the open door. Guards. Areleus’s guards had been sent away. Although they were the estate’s guards, their loyalty was to Areleus.

“Is it safe to assume I will not be involved in this plan?” Areleus asked.

“It isn’t necessary, but your participation would be appreciated. I will be in a vulnerable state, which I hope you won’t take advantage of.”

Areleus was on high alert. The wards were down, and as Dominic flipped through the book, moving from behind the desk to gather objects in the room, including an obsidian knife with writing engraved on the blade, Areleus attempted to look disinterested. It was a struggle. Several times he had to rip his gaze from the Book of Umbra. He directed his attention to the office, moving throughout it as if it was his first visit. A lot of attention was devoted to the books on the shelves.

His indecipherable expression made it difficult to determine if it was an exploratory perusal or if he knew exactly what he was looking for. Were there other things hidden from him and he was taking the opportunity to take them, or get a better layout of the bookshelves to take something later?

I pressed my lips together to keep the frown from etching its way onto my face as I continued to grapple with the realization that each of these men intended to murder the other to claim the throne. I wished Emoni was with me. At least I’d have the comfort of knowing that I wasn’t the odd one in this house of weirdness because I seemed to be the only one disturbed by it. But although I’d love to have her with me, I was happy she was sheltered from this.

Minutes ticked by, the silence only heightening the interest in the room. Ileana, Areleus, Sabin, and Anand all kept a keen eye on Dominic.

Anand split his attention between a hyperaware Areleus and Dominic. Dominic placed a spherical object, a crystal filled with a bluish substance, and the obsidian blade on his desk. He kept hold of the Book of Umbra.

His gaze shifted from the items on his desk to Areleus.

“The animosity between us ends today,” he said.

A rose streak lined the bridge of Ileana’s nose and the hollows of her cheek. Her fingers dug deep into the arm of the chair, threatening to puncture the material. Dominic gave his mother a tight, apologetic smile.

“If things are successful, I still won’t be in a position to have the power or influence to demand compliance of the supernaturals, or to enforce it in the same manner I had before.” He nudged the spherical object toward his mother.

“This realm needs to be protected, and it’s only a matter of time before Helena’s magic is used to find a pathway here. They want Luna, and I won’t let that happen.”

Dominic’s concession took Areleus’s focus away from the book and placed it firmly on Dominic, assessing him for deceit or alternative plans.

Ileana’s clenched jaw indicated she was waiting for an explanation.

“I will be using this to rid them of their magic, but it can’t be done without the sacrifice of mine. Some of mine,” he added to stop the objection Ileana was about to make. “I’m going to use the clyrin spell, which will bind my magic along with theirs to this.” He pointed to the spherical object. “Then it will be destroyed.”

“How?” Ileana asked.

“A different spell. I’m counting on you to do it. I don’t think I will be in a position to do so,” he admitted.

“Then there is no way I’d ever do it.”

“You want Helena back. I will achieve that. The Dark Casters will be without magic and no longer a threat.” He looked at me. “No longer a threat because they will no longer have the magical ability to be a threat. The spell demands a sacrifice of magic. Once the sphere is destroyed, so is the magic.”

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