Page 41 of Of Flames and Crows

A strained silence ensued.

“The boy you just heard is Roman, my grandson,” Budimir said in a voice underscored with steel. “He and his friends were attacked by a pair of magic users in this city, two nights ago. Five of them died. Roman managed to save his best friend before he was captured.” Rage flickered briefly in the older man’s eyes before he regained his iron composure once more. “We found his cell phone among the trees in the park where they were ambushed. The bodies of the bodyguards I had assigned to his protection were discovered not far from where he disappeared.”

A singular truth resonated through Mae as she met Budimir’s gaze. “Roman has Fire Magic.”

Budimir went deathly still at her quiet statement.

“How do you know that?” he asked in a dangerous tone.

“What?” Vlad had gone pale. His expression turned accusing as he looked from Mae to Budimir. “Is Mae right?!”

Surprise widened Mae’s eyes. She’d rarely seen the incubus so upset.

She recalled his strange reluctance when he’d heard about the dead witch she’d examined, back when they’d had dinner at her apartment.

Budimir’s face grew shuttered. “She is. It seems the Vissarions’ Fire Magic skipped a single generation this time.”

Mae stared at Vlad, her heart thumping wildly. “Your family are Fire Magic users?!”

Bitterness tightened Vlad’s face. “My mother was the most powerful Fire Magic witch who ever lived.”

Nikolai sucked in air.

Violet glanced at an equally stunned Miles. “How—how come we didn’t know this?!”

“The Vissarions aren’t famed for their openness.” Vlad clenched his jaw. “That family is a nest of rats!”

“On that at least we concur,” Budimir said darkly. He narrowed his eyes at Mae. “You still haven’t answered my question, young lady.”

Mae blinked at his polite address. Hellreaver snickered.

She shot a frown at the weapon before addressing the mobster. “It seems the Dark Council is actively hunting Fire Magic users.”

She told them about the incidents in the U.S. and her findings when she’d examined the bodies of the three dead Fire Magic users she’d come across.

Cortes arched an eyebrow. “Their blood boiled in their veins?”

Mae nodded. “That’s what it looked like. It must have happened when their cores imploded. Which makes sense considering their magic.”

Budimir’s knuckles whitened. “Why are they killing Fire Magic users?”

“I don’t believe their primary intention was to kill them. I think they were intending to use them for something. That’s why they went after your grandson.” Mae paused, unease gnawing at her insides. “If Roman is as powerful as I think he is, then Oscar and Vedran just hit the jackpot.”

A stilted silence befell them.

Budimir finally stirred. He leaned his elbows on his knees, his expression deadly. “Tell me more about these men.”

Cortes listened just as attentively while Mae, Nikolai, Vlad, and the Nolan cousins recounted what they knew about the Sorcerer King and what had happened in New York and Philadelphia following Mae’s awakening.

“You’re the daughter of a fallen archangel turned demon?” Budimir asked guardedly, appraising Mae with fresh eyes.

She wrinkled her nose. “Well, technically, I’m Na Ri’s reincarnation. Brimstone and Hellreaver were originally intended to be hers.”

Budimir gave her a blank look. “Brimstone and Hellreaver?”

“Oh.” Mae blinked. “I guess you can’t see them.”

The familiars in the room manifested their presence. Budimir drew a sharp breath as he observed the creatures who’d been hidden from his sight. His gaze landed on Tarang.

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