Page 135 of Death of the Glass Angel
Talon fell upon Des, first grasping her face. “Are you alright?” He asked, tenderly grabbing her injured arm.
For once, words escaped Des. She stared at her dagger, lying alone on the floor.
Gemellus ran into the room, black cloak fluttering wildly about him, fingers lit by twilight. “What happened?”
“I don’t know,” Felsin admitted.
Talon ripped off his coat and wrapped it around Des’ arm, staunching the bleeding. “Des. Are you alright?” He asked softly.
“Fine.” She assured him, accepting his offer of support. Eyes flashing with anger, she glared at Gemellus. “I thought you said there were none to the south.”
“There weren’t.” Gemellus gritted his teeth, yanking his hand as though pulling a rope.
A man bound by inky black chains was dragged into the room, sliding on his back to the center of the floor. Copper skin, black hair. The evoker from the ruins.
“There was only one assassin. He played a clever little trick with evoked shadows.” Gemellus explained, standing over his captive. “Keep an eye on him, Felsin.”
“Gladly.” Felsin drew a knife from his belt and knelt by the captive, yanking off his hood to reveal his face.
Gemellus hurried to Des’s side but froze suddenly. Shadows danced around his hand as he summoned the shadowy spear again and pointed it toward the western hall.
Alfaris had taken but one step into the chamber before finding a spear at his throat. He calmly raised his hands. “It’s only me, Gem.”
“Oh, I know,” Gemellus growled. “This chamber was empty until the moment Des arrived. Care to explain why?”
“I don’t know what you’re implying. Evokers cannot conjure the living.”
“No.Evokerscannot.”
Des blinked. Was Gemellus implying magic like that existed?
A countenance of sorrow flashed across Alfaris’ face. He displayed his empty palms. “We have never been enemies, Gem.”
Gemellus lowered his arm, spear melting into the shadows hugging the corners of the tomb. “Mark my words, Alfaris. If you so much astouchher. . .” He growled.
“Who’s getting attached, now?” Alfaris whispered, so quiet Des almost didn’t hear.
Oblivious to all in the tomb but Des, Talon finished wrapping her arm. “We need to get you out of here.” He put an arm around her.
“No.” She stood with some difficulty. “I want to hear what he has to say.”
Glancing at Alfaris, Des limped toward the captured evoker, clutching her arm. Even with a blade pressed to his throat, his look of stoicism displayed his unwillingness to break.
“Who would dare defile this place?” Felsin demanded. “Who sent you?”
“Let me.” Gemellus stalked over, grabbed the man by the collar, and pressed a hand to his face.
The man contorted in pain and horror, desperately trying to escape.
“Stop.” The man on the floor writhed, begging. “Stop!”
“Funny, coming from a man who uses this magic himself,” Gemellus growled, pulling his hand away. “Talk. Start with your name.”
The evoker sat up, breathing heavily. “Castelmar.”
Talon looked at Gemellus. “Do you know that name?”
“Yes.” Gemellus folded his arms, pacing around the captive. “Expelled from Valeria his final year. One of the rare humans of the Gaevral clan.”
