Page 22 of The Demon's Discovery
After several long minutes, my brother’s face swam into view.
“Saints, Vago, did you intend to make it sound like someone was shrieking?”
“Of course I did. How else would you hear it?”
“We just spent what felt like an hour looking for an injured woman in the house, only to find it was your mirror under a pile of cloth in my medicine case.” He scowled, staring at me as though trying to decide whether I was serious or not.
I was. It was the most effective way to alert that a two-way mirror was active.
“Perhaps you should havehung itsomewhere then, like I told you to not only before you left, but last I saw you. What do you have it standing on? Is it secure?”
“Secure enough.”
I crossed my arms, seeing my brother’s lie. “It’s propped up on books, isn’t it.”
His mouth tightened, and he sighed. “Perhaps, but it’s not in danger of breaking if that’s what you’re worried about. It will either fall into my lap or onto the carpet.”
I pinned him with a stare, but he remained unbothered and just settled further into his seat. He was in his tower office by the looks of the sofa. I knew from experience it was one of the most comfortable pieces of furniture to ever exist, no matter how worn it was.
“How is the countryside?”
“Everything is fine. It’s quiet here, which honestly took a bit of getting used to. I could ask you the same. Is everything running smoothly? Did you meet with the chemistyou mentioned? Perhaps I should have stayed after the battle to catch up.”
I smiled. There was nothing to do with this place that Rylan wouldn’t find a way to worry about, even when he was supposed to be honeymooning. “I did. She’s very talented. I’ve had her back to visit several times. Have you spoken to Magnus recently?”
“No, why?”
I hesitated, unsure if I should be sharing the news. “It appears as though they’re related.”
“Truly? She’s stone kin?”
“Yes, his niece.”
Calla’s face drifted past the glass behind Rylan. “Who has a stone kin niece? Hello, Vassago. This is an incredible device, I’m glad you sent it! Though you did give me a bit of a heart attack when it went off just now. We could hear it all the way down in the library office.” She waved her fingertips then disappeared from view.
“Hello, Calla. Apologies, I didn’t mean to scare you.”
“Our new chemist,” Rylan answered her, “is Magnus’s niece it seems.”
“Truly? How wonderful! I can’t wait to meet her.”
“I haven’t said I’m bringing her on yet,” I argued.
“You didn’t need to. I knew you would from the start, and anyway, I can see it all over your face. You like her,” my brother smirked. I narrowed my eyes at him. “And you’re not denying it.” His head tilted to the side, and his smile faded as he stared at my clenched jaw. “Are you taking the tincture?”
“Of course I am.”
“Is it helping? You seemed to be rather in a flare last I saw you, though you did have good cause.”
I appreciated his careful wording. I trusted Calla, but the bloodlust curse was my secret to keep or reveal. “Theeffectiveness seems to be decreasing and I think it’s giving me indigestion. Did you change the formula?”
“No. Not since we started making it for you, what, a century ago? And there’s nothing in it that would cause reflux,” he frowned, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. “In fact, several of the ingredients are used to resolve such a thing. Must be something you’re eating.” His eyes widened. “Don’t tell Grace I said that.”
I laughed at the horror in his face but understood the fear. Insulting Grace’s cooking might mean never having the pleasure of eating it again. “My lips are sealed. But something is definitely off the last little while. I’m… unbalanced.” It was an incredible understatement.
“Mm. Have there been any other problems?”
“No, but in case there are, hang the blasted mirror. I don’t want to rely on simplythinkingthings at you, should I need to get in touch.”
