Page 9 of The Misfit Mage and His Darling Demon

He extended a hand, offering to assist. I forced a smile and accepted, nervous I’d offend otherwise.

The Fae stepped back, straightening his blazer. “Apologies. I was so lost in awe, I didn’t properly introduce myself. I am Baron Novus—” His tongue clicked, and a sharp ringing hit my ears, making me cringe before he cleared his throat. “Hmm, I’m unable to find the mortal sound which translates. Simply Novus will do.”

“Nice to meet you, Baron Novus.” I lowered my tense shoulders. “I’m simply Wally.”

“To think a devil and one so feared came to my Fae Divinity. It’ll be the talk at Court.”

“Bez isn’t as frightening as people think,” I said, wondering how many Fae he’d slaughtered searching for me and if he’d kill Baron Novus for this misunderstanding. “They just don’t know him. Speaking of not knowing Bez, it’d probably be a good idea if we—”

“Not him,” Baron Novus interjected, flicking one of his long fingers back and forth. “You, Walter Alden, the misfit mage who brought a city to the precipice of defeat and then abandoned them to their own devices, leaving them frightened of recourse. Of your might. Your control. Your Diabolic pet.”

“I’m sorry, what?” I raised my eyebrows.

“The entire Court has watched with curiosity. Mages scrambling with uncertainties on how to handle you. Calculating unknown quantities of the carnage or kindness you will unleash based solely upon your whims. Will disturbing you lead to their downfall? Will leaving you untended allow you to amass an army to lay siege upon the Collective? Will the Mythics hear the rallying cry after you emptied Collective coffers? All questions many chancellors and magi have behind closed doors.”

So much of what happened—from Ian’s intentions and my mother’s plot to Bez’s assault on the Collective, all the way to my attempt at undoing it all—had spiraled into a messy web of half-truths, rumors, misconceptions, and apparently flat-out fallacies.

I figured the Collective was wary of us. Not us. Bez. Worried what his ire would bring down on them if they searched too fervently. But I never suspected they avoided us outright. Here I spent the last six months frightened, terrified one misstep would expose us, lecturing Bez on reeling in his antics and dodging anything and everything that might lead the Collective our way.

“Your incantations are truly marvelous, by the way,” Baron Novus said. “Elegant and layered with such sophistication.”

“Uh, thank you.” I shrugged. “I studied a lot.”

“The craftsmanship, prodigy level.”

“No, not even.” My ears burned.

“I must ask, how did you know the precise incantation to encase Fae magic without crumpling the raw Mythic residue in the process?” He stepped in close again, his huge eyes staring down at me.

“I-I-I, well, you see, I’m flustered.” I bit my lip. I didn’t mean to say that.

“Why? Have I done something?”

“No. Not at all. Absolutely not. It’s a lot to take in. You grabbing me, Bez is probably worried—in fact, I’m worried about the other Fae alone with Bez—and then there’s all these nice compliments…but I just need a minute to collect my thoughts. And check on Bez. And again, your Fae.” I swallowed the lump in my throat. I hoped they weren’t all dead.

“Oh, everyone’s fine. Mitah informs me Beelzebub’s tantrum has been contained within the empty halls of The Chicago Theatre. I suppose we’ll have to reimburse them, but he has slain no Fae, all safely tucked behind a veil, and it seems all our mortal guests left frightened but unharmed. I’m certain the Collective will clean up any traces that leak out into the world.”

“Okay. That doesn’t change my concern for Bez. We’re…” I didn’t want to say connected, which he probably knew already—who didn’t? Still, our bond had a wonky faded sensation here in this weird Fae-adjacent plane, and I couldn’t fathom how Bez felt.

“I completely understand. You worry for your paramour.” Baron Novus snapped his fingers, and the room swirled round and round until black fire filled my vision.

He’d definitely understated Bez’s reaction. The entire auditorium was engulfed in flames. Seats were either burning or torn to shreds. The floorboards of the stage had been ripped apart.

Dread struck me. My concern for Bez mixed with his anxiety about my absence. Even so, I pressed a hand to my heart, comforted by the fully bloomed connection of our bond no longer disrupted by Fae temporal magics.

“Now, if you please, I do so wish to continue our conversation,” Baron Novus said, unfazed by the destruction surrounding us.

“I need to find—”

Bez. He appeared in front of me in an instant, his blurry form taking shape as his speed came to a halt.

“Wally! You’re safe.” He grabbed my arms, his sharp claws gently squeezing me.

“Yeah, this is one huge misunderstanding. A colossal level of social confusion… I’m fumbling for words, but I’m safe.”

“At a loss for words?” Bez furrowed his brow. “Hardly sounds safe to me.”

“Just in shock.” I eyed the devastation. “Big reaction.”

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