Page 59 of Blood on the Ice

“That’s our first order of business then,” Jackson muses. “K, this is one of yours. I know you’ll be skulking around campus on your own, but… contacts.”

The man nods, not taking his eyes off his new nemesis. “Understood.”

I arch a brow, looking at the newcomers critically. “You really think you can solve an unremovable spell created so long ago no one remembers who first uttered its words?”

Channing blinks. “My sister and her cadre have been working for the Fates.”

Jackson’s head turns slowly until he’s looking at my old friend. “Your sister… is a Guardian?”

“Yep. She’s somewhere secret in Europe, doing some task for the crones with her Guardian mates. I don’t know what, because she can’t tell me.” She flushes pink, pushing up her glasses nervously. “Why?”

“Because your sister is working with the best friend of my other favorite client.” He laughs and shakes his head, looking at the guy on his lap. “I’ll be beer battered cod at the fish fry. Jojo’s BFF is shacked up with this adorable woman’s sister. How incestuous—I love it.”

Slade coughs. “Uh, that’s not exactly what incestuous means…”

Eli rolls his eyes. “Of course not. He’s being… Jackson. Ignore his odd phrasing. He simply means it’s a very, very small world in the South. In fact, it’s sort of like all roads lead to Whistler’s Hollow at this point.”

“And the roads are justfilledwith delightfully rebellious women,” Jackson says with a grin. “I’m just happy to be in the middle of it all.”

Good thing someone is.

working for the weekend

The shame I felt when I had to admit that I not only have spells preventing me from discussing the ‘extra’ tasks I’ve been given and the tracker is enormous. I’m little more than an animal on some human TV show, watched for the amusement and benefit it provides my captors. No one’s ever questioned me aboutwhythe Council decided, only whatI was required to do as punishment. I don’t know if that’s because the magic in my lock prevented interviewers and nosey Nellies from wondering, or if people are genuinely afraid to appear to question their authority. Either way, I didn’t break the enchantments since the others guessed, so I’m not suffering any ill-effects… yet.

Who knows if that will change?

“I don’t understand what the Society thinks Magnus was up to that would warrant this kind of barbaric measures,” Channing says. “Even if someoneisframing Lucas, what do they gain from it?”

“I don’t know. Frankly, I also don’t know how many other people they may have ‘special’ spells attached to. The picture could be much wider than we’ve considered.” Jackson shrugs as he leans into Eli.

The hacker pushes his glasses up, tilting his head as he looks at Jackson curiously. “You think there’s something global they’re watching? Perhaps a threat that runs deeper than two murders?”

I frown, trying to remember the things the tribunal said in the trial. I know they had obscuring enchantments in place and my memory of the event has been carefully curated. They told me so when they cast my current shackles. But people don’t always consider erasing things they don’t realize someone else heard or saw. I might recover something important. “If so, my memories may hold a clue. The head magistrate had their weavers do shit to it, but it’s possible I have details lurking they didn’t know I picked up.”

The blond hottie grins broadly. “That sounds like a job for Foley, if I’ve ever heard one. You could probably let the baby mobster help, though. Maybe the Prince.”

“Excuse me?” Iggy grumbles. “I’m well versed in?—”

Kendrick snorts, and Ranier fist bumps him before shaking his head. “Not in this kind of magic. They wouldn’t have used someone from the Earthbound magical vein. Only fairytale, Fae, or mythicals, so it would be harder to find the right skills to undo it. Mages and witches are a dime a dozen, Professor.”

He looks offended, but it’s Slade who nods. “That seems sensible. My parents never use the human magic sects for their real dirty work. Magical mojo from you guys is pretty common—sorry, Iggy.”

The mage damn near pouts, making Kaspar and Lucas laugh. My bear gives Ignatius a pointed look as he shifts a little. “Calm down, man. Note they’re not asking us shifters to do shit that isn’t kicking someone’s ass. We’re not useful unless it’s our fists and you don’t see me complaining.”

Kaspar arches a brow. “Speak for yourself, rich kid. Dragons are mythicals and have magic of their own; it’s simply counterproductive in this instance.”

Oh, fuck. We’re back to dick measuring, and now there're ten guys.

“Gentleman, I don’t think picking at one another will help us short or long term,” Channing interrupts. I smile at her, proud to see her blossoming since she’s gotten to spread her wings. “If Jackson has an assignment for Kendrick, perhaps we should divvy up the rest of the work? Morgana and Lucas will have to return to their duties tomorrow, as will everyone else.”

“Stupid classes,” Lucas mutters in annoyance. I blink at him and he shrugs. “They’re a means to an end, M. I have to take and pass them to continue being eligible. My goal has always been pro sports after college.”

Liam clears his throat. “I’m in a similar boat, unfortunately. Taking things here keeps me away from my father and court. I’m earning this master’s to hopefully outlast the bloody tyrant.”

“I want to pursue my major, but doing it at school keeps me from my family business as well,” Slade says with a shrug.

Iggy sighs and rakes his hand through his hair. “Teaching prevents my father from demanding I lead the regional covens and shit.”

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