Page 25 of Ruled By Magic

“Zantus, Livet.” The Lord Commander’s clipped tone snapped my eyelids open. He looked up at the ceiling. “You’re not what I expected. I thought you’d be a firebrand revolutionary, angry and unrepentant. Instead—” He shook his head.

Instead, what?

He held out a hand. “Let’s just go.”

“Lord Commander! A moment of your time?”

He turned and greeted the man. Handshake, smile. Smooth politician mode in place again. The man’s approach encouraged more guests, leading to conversation after dull conversation. Talk of other events, charity benefits, projects that needed attention. Not one person acknowledged my existence beyond sidelong, disapproving glances.

I excused myself to the bathroom and located it tucked down a side corridor. A woman entered as I washed my hands, glanced at me, and froze. I tried to leave, but she blocked the doorway. Tall and slender, with a long, angular face, she wore a black dress with a red accent at the waist.

“You’re her, then?” she hissed. “The one who ran that news site?”

Fear uncoiled in my stomach. “Excuse me, I need to head out.”

The woman’s mouth twisted into an ugly smirk. “Want to get back to your master so he can protect you? How are you enjoying your new life as his whore? Not so high-and-mighty now, are you?” She looked me over. “I see he’s dressed you for the part.”

I took a step away and glanced over the woman’s shoulder. Danger rolled off her—a wild, unhinged aura. My breath quickened.

“I came to watch your sentencing, you know. Saw you on your knees, begging him to take you to his bed instead of facing prison. Pathetic.”

“Who are you?”

“Aleita Mason.”

Mason? The name rang a bell, but I couldn’t place it. The woman’s face darkened further.

“Anton Mason’s daughter.”

Oh fuck.

Anton Mason: the first Assembly member Hex and I exposed as corrupt. He’d funneled money meant for city building projects into his own account.

I tried to push past Aleita. She pressed her hand to my stomach. What? Realization gripped me at the same time as her fingers flashed yellow. Magic smashed into me like a battering ram, knocking the wind from me and launching me backwards into something hard.

Pain exploded through my spine, racking my body. I sunk to the ground, retching. My stomach burned where the magic hit.

A blue flash. I curled over, each breath agony. Aleita screamed, and I followed the sound. She yelled and twisted, stuck to the wall, encased in blue magic. My head swam.

A hand gripped my shoulder. I turned to the Lord Commander. He swallowed. “Are you okay?”

I tried to reply, but Aleita drowned me out with a scream. The Lord Commander shot a tight blast of power into the wall. It exploded just above Aleita’s head, showering her with plaster dust.

“Shut the fuck up.” An angry snarl. “The Guardians will deal with you.”

Aleita fell silent.

I shook. I opened my mouth, but all that came out was a strangled sob. My stomach hurt with every breath. The Lord Commander took my hand, rubbed my back. “You’re ok. You’re safe now. I’m going to teleport us home, and then I’ll get a doctor.”

Everything went black.

We appeared on the floor of the Lord Commander’s apartment. He slid his hands under my knees and back, lifted me, and placed me on the sofa with care. I hissed as a fresh wave of agony scorched me. He returned with a blanket, draped it over me, then spoke into his link-up. The words tumbled over my pain-addled mind without sinking in.

His weight settled next to me. “The doctor won’t be long. He’s teleporting here and the staff will bring him straight up.”

I grunted. Minutes later, a knock sounded. The Lord Commander jumped up to admit the doctor, a wiry man in his late fifties. I blinked to clear my vision, but the strange sight remained. Vivid purple eyes, a shade I’d never seen before. Was he wearing colored lenses?

“You got here fast, thanks.” The Lord Commander waved his hand at me. “Here’s the patient.”

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