Page 66 of Ruled By Magic

“It’ll take us the best part of a day, given stopping times. Atalie and I can share the driving,” said Damien, gaze glued to the road.

“Okay, so we’ve got plenty of time,” said Leo. “Please explain what’s happened. Especially Atar’s involvement.”

Atalie twisted to face us again. Her eyes narrowed. “We’re pardoned for all our crimes, right? So nothing I say now can get us in more trouble?”

“That’s right.”

She nodded. “Okay. Peter runs a specialized business. We deal in magical weaponry—advanced tech that’s illegal here. Atar is light-years ahead of everyone else with magical tech. He deals in information too; it pays well.”

Leo leaned forward, intent. “I’ve read his file.”

“He’s wanted in Atar. The crown is very possessive over their technology, but Peter has some contacts high up in the palace who’ve made a lot of money off him over the years. One of them passed on some info. It’s the Ataran crown that wants you dead.”

Leo frowned and took a minute to process the news. He stared out of the window before returning his attention to Atalie. “So, this contact told him about the attack on the palace?”

“Yes. He knew it was coming, but not when. Once we learned how valuable Liv was to the NPU, Peter used a palace contact to smuggle her the link-up. You know the rest.”

I squeezed Leo’s leg, and he turned to me. “Have you done something to upset Atar since you took power?”

“Not that I can think of. It’s a dangerous enemy to have. Do you know much about Atar?”

“Nope. It’s small, and far away. That’s about it.”

“They’re an absolute monarchy. Mages are tested when their powers manifest, and marriages are arranged to breed strong bloodlines together. It’s brutal, but effective. The strongest Dexian mage is weaker than the average Ataran.”

“Are they all as strong as you?” I asked.

“No. I’d still be unusual over there, but a lot less so. They reserve the strongest women for the royals. The crown passes down the male line, and the women produce heirs. My mother tested off the chart and they earmarked her for the royal family. My dad met her on a diplomatic mission to Atar.”

“Really?” Atalie said. “I didn’t know there’d been a mission there.”

“It failed. The king made them stay outside the palace as a snub. My mother’s parents owned the hotel. She was only twenty, and Atarans can’t marry till twenty-one. They fell for each other, faked her suicide, and she escaped in the boot of my dad’s karros.”

Damien laughed. “That’s a story!”

Leo smiled. “I realize it sounds ridiculous. But by the time the rest of the delegation found out, they’d left Atar. They decided it was simpler to let the deception stand than risk offending the Ataran crown.” He sank back in his seat, smile fading. “And after all that, cancer took her when I was six.”

I leaned my head on his shoulder. “Your dad must’ve loved her a lot.”

“He did. He still mourns her. But I don’t understand why they’re trying to kill me. Even if they discovered her escape, she died twenty-five years ago. And my dad would be the more obvious target.”

“What did your dad say after we were attacked on the mountain?” As far as I knew, Leo hadn’t seen much of him since I arrived. He rarely mentioned him.

Leo looked out of his window. “He’s not speaking to me.”

“What? Why not?”

He met my gaze. “Because I took you as my consort. He called me the day after your sentencing, screamed at me, and hasn’t taken my calls since. When I try to visit, he refuses to see me. He took it very personally.”

What was I supposed to say to that? It made sense, given the story I’d just heard.

“I’m sure he’ll be worried about you. He’ll be glad you’re safe.”

Leo gave a noncommittal grunt. “He has very strong opinions.”

We drove through the night, sleeping in shifts. The link-up found signal as we approached the city. Atalie sent Hex the meet-up location, and Leo passed the time quizzing Atalie and Damien about magical weapons.

“Most just amplify magical energy,” said Atalie. “They let mages do more damage than they usually can. Those are the ones we did the most trade in. You’ve seen the teleportation blockers. There are power dampeners, which let a mage suppress another mage’s magic, and then there’s the other sort.” She frowned. “Peter didn’t trade in them, but others do. They’re used for torture.”

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