Page 65 of A Kiss of Flame

“You should have come to us from the start, regardless,” Mage Tatiana clipped.

The council members all shifted like great birds fluffing their feathers. It grated on Levian’s last nerve. She took a breath, ready to retort, but before she could speak, she was cut off.

“The matter of Lucian Vane and anything involving these thieves is no longer your concern,” Mage William told her. “This Council forbids you from continuing your investigation in any capacity.”

“Furthermore, you are suspended from your duty as Ambassador of the Zephyr Court until a tribunal can inquire into your actions,” Mage Fujioka added.

Levian’s skin burned with indignation, her jaw aching from grinding her teeth. She should have never come.

When Peregrine began to laugh, everyone turned to look at him as though he’d lost his mind, including Levian.

“Peregrine?” Mage William asked, irritation evident. “You’ve something to add?”

The old mage nodded. “I find it amusing,” Mage Peregrine said, looking at the other council members. “For decades, we have scolded Mage Levian for countless infractions. Granted, she has not borne our prejudice well, but she has endured it—long enough to become an Ambassador, in fact. And not just any Ambassador, but one of the best we’ve had in decades.”

The mages murmured disapprovingly. Levian was tempted to clean out her ears; she could hardly believe it. Of all the people to defend her, Peregrine was the last she’d expected.

“She’s been difficult since the day she arrived at The Towers,” Peregrine continued, “but we’ve also treated her as though she were a criminal before she could even string together a simple transmutation, myself included.” The elder mage turned his head and looked down at her. He cocked a bushy white brow and smirked. “Her methods have been far from perfect, but none of us can say we came to sit on this Council by following therules to the letter, not even you, William.” The mage in question grumbled sheepishly.

“I worried she would follow Merlin’s footsteps like the rest of you. That she would be driven by revenge over her father’s imprisonment,” Peregrine went on. The old mage sighed and looked touched with guilt. “If she has any reason to seek vengeance, it’s because of our determination to make an enemy of her.”

The other mages all shifted and fluffed themselves up again at his admonishment.

“You forget Mage Levian’s many infractions against this Council and the fact that her poor actions also reflect poorly on all of us,” Mage William pointed out bitterly. “We are not the only ones who remember Merlin.”

Peregrine nodded, stroking his beard again. “True. Yet the Zephyrs asked for her specifically to be their Ambassador, and she is a close confidant with the High Daemon Lord of Obsidian. She is also well connected amongst other Folk, and though I don’t doubt she faces prejudice beyond our walls for her parentage, I applaud her for all she’s accomplished despite it.”

Mage William snorted, and Peregrine glared at him, the other mage ducking down under the elder’s sharp look. The other two mages looked at her with a more temperate reaction, considering Peregrine’s defense.

Levian wished there was a chair because her knees began to wobble. She honestly couldn’t believe it. She could vividly remember when Peregrine had sat precisely where he did now and told her that working with a vampire would be her downfall and that if she couldn’t see why, she was a fool.

“Her recklessness is not something we can simply ignore, Peregrine,” Tatiana pressed.

“I think if we were not so quick to dismiss her, Mage Levian might have come to us from the start,” Peregrine pointed out.“We are never too old to learn lessons. Myself included,” he added with a hint of regret. “We have tested her long enough, do you not agree?”

Levian’s mouth hung open, utterly dumbfounded.

Mage Tatiana gave a relenting sigh. “What do you suggest, Mage Peregrine?” she asked, a mix of reverence and frustration in her voice.

Peregrine smiled down at Levian, a mischievous glimmer in his eye. “I suggest we stop treating Mage Levian like a child and treat her like the capable mage she has proven herself to be over this last year. I also think you should let her lead the investigation into these thieves and give her whatever resources she needs,” he added. “She can report to you, Mage Tatiana, and Mage Fujioka, given your ties to the witches and Fujioka as head of the Mage Guard.”

Mage William’s portly face turned redder than a pomegranate as he opened his mouth to object. Still, Peregrine continued, “And when the investigation concludes, I’d like to take her on as my apprentice.” Levian’s stomach dropped to her toes. “Only if you’re interested, of course?” Peregrine added.

She stared at Peregrine, not trying to hide her shock, while he smirked back at her. “I—I’m—” she stammered, unsure how to respond.

The elder mage shrugged and leaned back as if ready to fall back asleep. “You don’t have to answer now,” he told her. “But don’t take too long. I’m not getting any younger, as you can see.”

“You cannot be serious?” Mage William snarled.

“Why wouldn’t I be?” Peregrine grumbled, closing his again. “I have the right to choose my apprentices, and since your nephew proved rather useless, I have a vacancy.”

Mage William glared daggers at Peregrine while the others tried and failed to hide their sniggers.

The furious Mage William turned his death glare to Levian. “Peregrine is not the head of this Council,” he declared. “He cannot simply absolve?—”

“And neither areyou, William,” Mage Tatiana interjected. Mage William clamped his mouth shut like a snapping turtle. Tatiana sighed heavily, looking at Levian before saying, “We will need to confer with the other members, but I propose we allow Mage Levian to remain in her post as Ambassador until an inquiry can be conducted. I also propose she assist Mage Fujioka and myself in investigating these thieves under our direct oversight.”

Mage Fujioka nodded. “I find that acceptable.”

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