Page 18 of Shield of Fire

My words died on the air almost immediately, captured and then whisked away by the faintest sliver of magic. He’d created some sort of magical sound bubble, and I couldn’t help but wonder why when there was only him and me up here.

But perhaps he simply didn’t want anyone in the rooms below catching our conversation and coming up to investigate.

“You don’t remember me?” came the mocking reply. “I’m mortally wounded.”

“Yeah, I can hear the pain etched into your voice.” I paused when I reached the guttering and peered over to study the roof. As instinct had said earlier, it was empty, and yet my sense of danger leapt exponentially.

His soft chuckle scratched at distant memories, but gave me no answers.

“In truth, we were a good time, not a long time, thanks to your charming hulk of a brother. But you have obviously moved on to far greener pastures.”

“You’ve been keeping an eye on me?”

I scrambled over the last rung in the ladder, then stood up and scanned the roof again. There was no immediate sign of a concealment shield, but maybe that was due more to the day’s icy stillness. Air movement generally made magic easier to spot.

“I’m afraid last night was the first time I’ve seen you in over forty years.”

Which meant I’d been in my late teens or early twenties when we’d been friends... and perhaps far more if his statement was to be believed.

“Which does not,” he continued easily, “mean I was unaware of your presence—at least of late. It always pays to keep an eye on key players, especially the more dangerous ones.”

I drew a knife and moved forward. “I hardly think I could be considered dangerous.”

“Says the woman currently holding a knife as she stalks toward me.”

Meaning he could see me through his shield even if I couldn’t see him. “Why did you destroy the building last night?”

If I could keep him talking, I might not only be able to pinpoint his exact location, but perhaps even distract him enough to prevent destruction.

It was a long shot, but one worth taking.

“It was the easiest means to achieve my goal, but do not mourn for the dead, dear Bethany. While most of those within were not my direct targets, they were far from solid citizens, even by elven standards.” He paused, and the sense of danger abruptly increased. “Do not move any closer, or you will pay the price.”

His voice was coming from the area close to the chimney, though I was well aware his magic might be giving me the wrong impression.

“If you use that ruby to attack Kaitlyn’s building, you will pay the price.”

His soft laugh swam around me again. Memories tickled, blurry and indistinct. “You are not your mother. I have nothing to fear.”

“Ah, but a lot can happen in forty years.” I gripped the knife’s hilt tighter. Light trickled down her fuller, a flutter that spoke of darker magic rising. It wasn’t aimed at me. Not yet, anyway.

“Stop moving, Bethany, or else.”

“Stop raising your magic, or else.”

He sighed. It was a disappointed sound. “Then we do this the?—”

I didn’t wait for him to finish. I leapt forward, running full pace toward the ridge and the chimney.

I’d barely reached the latter when I was clubbed sideways by an invisible force and sent tumbling across the roof and over the edge.

Chapter

Five

I flung out my free hand and somehow caught hold of the guttering, bringing my fall to an abrupt halt and just about tearing my arm from its socket.

Pain ripped up my throat, but I clamped down hard on the scream and swung the air into action, sweeping it under my feet and thrusting myself back onto the roof. I stumbled forward several steps, fighting to catch my balance, and heard rather than saw the thunder of steps.

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