Page 67 of Ruled By Magic

I shuddered, picturing pain that went on for eternity. Maybe the ban on magical technology had some merit.

“Are you going to contact the palace, tell everyone you’re safe?” I asked Leo.

“I’ll send a few messages, but I mustn’t give away our location. I can’t go back until I’m recovered. And even then, my presence is a danger. It risks bringing the Atarans down on everyone again.” His forehead creased. “Ellory will be in charge. I hope we get this sorted out fast.”

We pulled into a clearing, sheltered by the same tall trees that filled the forest. When I imagined Leo growing up, I’d pictured a fancy apartment in the city. This estate was on the edge of the woodland, still an hour from the city center. The district contained old manor houses, crumbling relics. No longer a fashionable area. Some served as museums—I brought my classes out here two years running.

Hex awaited us, red-eyed. She rarely cried. She captured me in a fierce hug, pulled back, and looked me over. As usual, the worst of her anger had evaporated fast, but she cast a dark look at Leo before speaking to me.

“Atalie said in her message about the wolf. You okay?”

I nodded.

“So fucking typical. I’m in the forest for weeks and the nastiest thing I see is giant cockroaches. You’re there two nights and get a monster.”

I grimaced. “Giant cockroaches sound worse.”

Hex snorted. “Oh yeah, you’d hate them. They’re so big they’re hard to squash with a shoe. They don’t hurt you, but when you wake up with one in your tent—”

“Guys.” Damien glared around the clearing, body tense. “Shut up. It’s not safe.”

Hex nodded, then thrust a bag into my hands. “Clothes,” she whispered. “Your thoughtful owner persuaded Peter to get you some. It’s the reason I didn’t get picked up as well. He was waiting for me on a bench when they grabbed him, I was on my way back.”

I ignored the jab. “Thanks.”

We followed Leo. He led us down an overgrown path through the trees. We approached the sound of rushing water and emerged onto the bank of a narrow river where the land inclined upwards. Leo lengthened his stride, pushed some branches out of the way, and revealed a stone archway set into the hill, covered by a door.

He waved us over with a grin. The enthusiastic gesture touched my heart. He was so animated. Had his childhood been happy? He seemed pleased to be home. We filed into the passage, Leo’s hand in mine. Once the door closed, Damien and Atalie turned on flashlights. Bare stone walls covered with cobwebs surrounded us. Yuck. I pressed in closer to Leo as we walked.

“You weren’t bullshitting, then. It’s an actual secret passage.” Damien’s voice reverberated oddly.

“Yep. Handy for sneaking out before I learned to teleport. A family of non-mages built the original house, something like four-hundred years ago, and used this to transport goods from the river. It’s been mage-owned for generations now though, and no one uses the river for transport, anyway. I think my dad and I are the only people who know it exists.”

We reached the end of the passage and passed into a chilly stone-floored cellar, the walls lined with bottles of wine. Leo turned on the light and secured the door. “Just Liv and I will go up; it’ll spook my dad if we all appear at once. Don’t touch anything, some of these bottles are worth quite a lot.”

“Quite a lot” was an understatement. I once worked a summer job in a high-end restaurant and I recognized a few bottles that cost as much as my salary for a month. Nerves zinged in my stomach. Leo’s dad came from a different world. Would he be old-fashioned and stern? Would he hate me, think me unworthy of his son? I glanced at my filthy, ripped outfit. Not ideal meet-the-parents attire. I tried to run a hand through my hair and it snagged in a tangle. Perfect. Stupid things to fret about, but still.

Leo looked down at me and squeezed my hand. “Don’t worry. I’m the one he’s angry with, not you. Come on.” I waved at the group and let him lead me up the stairs, into a long hallway. Ornate lamps balanced on spindly tables provided illumination. Everything was richly decorated but worn. Faded red carpet, gilt-edged mirrors, and a weird mix of paintings that didn’t match. It couldn’t have been more different from Leo’s crisp, modern apartment.

The burble of a vid came through a closed door at the end of the hall. We paused just outside. Leo shut his eyes, took a breath, and kissed me on the forehead. He pushed the door open.

The man on the sofa gasped and jumped up. Tall, with a kind face and a mop of unruly gray hair, he appeared to be in his early sixties. Wearing jeans, jumper, and a tweed jacket, he looked like he belonged in a teachers’ lounge. Not what I’d expected.

He rushed over and grabbed Leo in a bear hug. Leo froze, hands hovering, before he relaxed and hugged his dad back. His dad held Leo for a long moment, then pulled back to examine him. His eyes widened as he took in Leo’s clothes—ripped and filthy from the fight with the wolf.

“Leo! I’ve been so worried. What’s happened to you? Are you okay?”

Leo gripped his dad’s arm. “Yes, I’m fine. I realize I don’t look it. Long story.”

His dad frowned. “I’ve been speaking to the Guardians and that useless mob at the Assembly. None of them had the slightest clue where you were. I feared you were dead, or—”

He broke off, noticing me for the first time.

Leo put his arm around my waist, tense. “Dad, this is Liv.”

His dad stared at me, fixated on my brand.

I smiled. “Hello.”

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