Page 30 of The Misfit Mage and His Dashing Devil

My heart pounded. “Al?”

“Who?” Bez asked.

“I’m sorry for everything that happened,” Al said. “I can’t believe Mom.”

“Who is it?” Bez asked, pressing his ear against the phone.

“Stop,” I said.

“Are you okay?” Al’s deep voice held the same protective urgency it always had. I was certain me taking off with a devil after a tribunal accused me of treason and conspiracy sent his whole head spinning round and round.

“I’m fine. Is this…” I bit my lip. “Are you calling because you’re concerned, or is this a trick?”

“I wouldn’t trick you, Wally. Not ever.” He sighed into the phone, the sigh he usually let out when he wanted to lighten a mood, tell a joke, say something uncouth during one of our mother’s banquets. He couldn’t exactly lighten these events, though. “I’d like to meet you.”

“I can’t. It’s not safe for either of us.”

“I have information that might help clear your name. Guessing the fact you answered means you must have command over that devil, which will also help.”

“Not command,” I said, ignoring Bez’s piercing stare and him mouthing profanities while eavesdropping. “We sort of talked it out.”

Al laughed. “You always could talk anyone into anything, Wally.”

“If that were true, I wouldn’t be in this situation.”

“You’re still the only apprentice I know who talked his way into working in the archives repository and the only Alden to convince Mom the sentinel regiment wasn’t in the plan.”

I sank into the cushions. Neither of those had anything to do with my persuasive skills.

“What does he want?” Bez hissed.

“Tell your devil I’d like to meet. I’d like to share my findings, get both of your help.”

“Where?” I asked, though still uncertain if meeting was wise.

I needed more information about the virus used on the Magus Estate, the one which supposedly came from my card key. If anyone had intel on that, it’d be Al since he held the second highest rank in the sentinel regiment.

“I was thinking—”

“Wait.” Bez grabbed the phone, covering the speaker. “We pick the location. Safer that way.”

“I wouldn’t even know where it’d be safe.” I shrugged. “We’ll need someplace crowded, magic friendly but not Collective friendly.”

“I’ve got the perfect place in mind,” Bez said, mischievous grin growing on his face.

“How would someone who hasn’t been in the city for fifty years have the perfect place?”

“Let’s just say Riley frequented one of my favorite hotspots, and from what I can tell, it hasn’t changed much.”

I gestured for him to return my phone. “Okay. We’re doing this then.”

10

10

Beelzebub

What a disastrous idea. Between my recent release, buzzing adrenaline in a new body, and Walter’s absurd plan to meet with his brother, I’d spent the entire night wide awake. When he’d finally dozed off—willing himself to stay awake, paranoid I’d renege on our deal—I should’ve gone back on this ridiculous bargain, snatched him away, and left this gods-forsaken city. Instead, I upheld my deal, watching the little mage catch some z’s, while contemplating what drove me to follow his plan. None of this benefitted me. It’d be simpler to lock him away until our bond faded, kill him, then do literally whatever I wanted anywhere but here.

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