Page 5 of Ruled By Magic

The female guard caught my eye as she closed the door, lips curved with amused contempt. “May holy Zantus forgive you, girl, because no one else will.”

I collapsed on the closest bed. Hex threw herself next to me, features etched into despair. An oppressive silence grew. When Hex broke it, her voice was tight and clipped.

“Fuck, Liv. I tried to tell you, but he—” Her hand flew to her mouth. “I’m sorry. I should have found a way.”

Confusion worked through my shock. “Tried to tell me what?”

“He tricked you.”

An icy shiver ran down my spine. “What?”

Hex fell silent for a long time until I nudged her. “What!”

She sighed. “I got friendly with a guard. He hates mages too, has one as a boss who’s a fucking asshole. He told me things. There’s been a huge campaign for our release. Massive. Some mages were even on board. Everyone knows the Assembly is corrupt, they didn’t think we should be punished for exposing it.”

With growing horror, I understood. “So, what? We might have gone free?”

“Yes. If you’d have picked prison—” Hex shook her head. “It’s not your fault. You couldn’t know.”

Despair, black and thick as tar, settled around my heart. Hex didn’t have to say it. If I’d chosen prison, people would have respected me for it. It would only have fueled the campaign. Now? They’d be sorry they ever said a word in my defense.

I frowned. “But it doesn’t make sense. He looks bad too. What will the priesthood and the Assembly think? Even if he’s not a believer, he’d have to act like one.” I paused and sat up straighter. “And who is he, anyway? How’s he in charge?” Too many questions threw themselves forward. I pressed my lips together. “What’s his name?”

Hex’s face darkened further. She took a breath. “Leopold Rahl. I don’t know much about him except he forced his way into the job. The old guy had a heart attack, and he made the Assembly vote him in.”

“What?” My voice rang shrill, but I couldn’t bring it down. “How? How did he make them?”

“I’m not sure. He’s supposed to be strong in magic. Like, ridiculously powerful. He’s been studied.” She looked down at her hands. “That’s all I know.”

I put my face in my hands. I’d expected tears, but none came. Just cold, numb horror. Hex squeezed my knee. “Still, though. Six months and you’re free.”

“Yeah.” The impact of the words sunk in. “Shit. I’m so sorry. You got ten years.” Guilt settled in, a toxic counterpoint to my fear.

“It’s okay.” Hex smiled, but her face remained tight. “Just think, you’ll be able to get Roland back off Sarina when you’re out. He’ll be happy.”

I forced an answering smile and shook my head. My cranky ten-year-old cat wasn’t known for his social skills. “He’s never happy.”

Hex snorted. “I suppose not.” We sat in silence. I tried to picture life after whatever the next six months would bring, but couldn’t. The tiny flat Hex and I shared would be rented out to someone else. No job. Would anyone be willing to employ me?

I ran a hand through my hair and gasped when my thumb brushed my cheekbone. A spark jumped like a static shock. The mark. I shot to my feet. “My face! Is there a mirror?”

We scanned the cell. A polished square of metal sat above the sink, screwed to the wall. I approached but kept my hand over the spot, too afraid to look.

“It’s not too bad. Small, and with your hair down you won’t notice it.” Hex rushed the words out. “But—” she sighed. “Just see for yourself.”

I took a deep breath and lowered my hand. A blue circle sat on my cheekbone, close to my ear. Inside, in stylized calligraphy, lay the letters ‘L’ and ‘R’.

A sound escaped my lips, a strangled whimper. “His initials? He put his fucking initials on me?” What had I been expecting? Nothing in particular, but seeing those letters made my legs weak. Anger and a low thrum of terror churned. He’d marked me with his name, scribbled it across my skin to make his ownership clear. And I’d see it every time I looked in the mirror.

I rubbed at it and felt that zing again. What the hell was it? I walked back to the bed on lead feet and sank down. Exhaustion stole the will to move, to think. My cheek rasped against the cheap, scratchy pillowcase. Where would I sleep tomorrow night? In the Lord Commander’s bed? Chained to the wall in a dungeon? I closed my eyes and drew the sheet up under my chin.

Hex’s weight settled next to me. “You okay?”

I tucked myself in tighter. “I don’t know. I just want to lie here for a while. It must be lights out soon.”

“Okay.” Hex patted my shoulder and stood.

I was still awake when the lights switched off and plunged us into darkness.

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