Page 49 of Death of the Glass Angel
“I take it you’ve seen the same,” Talon said. “Where?”
Felsin hesitated before answering. “I was out for a drink. A few thugs jumped me. During the scuffle, I saw something similar to what you described.”
“Thugs?” Talon pressed.
“Or assassins.” Felsin finished Talon’s thought. “Back then, I wasn’t sure. Now. . .” Felsin shook his head. “I’d never seen anything like this mirage, nor the spells it produced. It’s a miracle I escaped at all.”
Janus stared into her tea. Had the mirage been trying to kill her? Or had it arrived to rescue her?
“But the strangest thing,” Felsin continued, “Was that I checked my maevruthan, hoping to show my brother the memory. And it simply wasn’t there.”
Talon pulled a leg up and bit down on his thumbnail, eyes flying around wildly as though reading a book.
“Maybe we’re all going collectively crazy,” Janus suggested.
“No.” Talon snapped, staring at Felsin accusingly. “You pointedly said my name at the ball, though I hadn’t mentioned it. You know something.”
“About what, exactly?” Felsin’s mouth turned up on one side.
Janus glanced between them. She could barely remember the ball.
“Really? Do you think now is the time to antagonize me?”
“You’re the one who wasn’t watching your charge. She almost died.”
“I was watching her.”
“Not closely enough.”
Talon’s jaw set. “Your brother appeared with the assassins. Have an explanation for that?”
“He thought they were Kahn’s men-”
“And how did you know I was there?”
Janus swallowed too much of her tea. Talon had been following them on the hike?
“We’re getting off topic.” Felsin waved a hand, dismissing him. “There’s more going on than political games. But I don’t know if they’re related. Our only clue is whatever the link between you and me is.”
“Maybe we can find out.” Janus set down her drink. “Tell me about yourself.”
“I’m a fortune teller,” Felsin answered with a wry smile.
“Right, and I study architecture,” Janus said, rubbing her palms on her trousers. “Well, sort of. I mostly just kinda-”
“Fascinating.” Talon interrupted. “One of you’s a full-blooded cefra, the other an evoker. You’ve never met before, and neither willinherit the crown. What similarities are we supposed to be finding, exactly?”
Janus’ gaze drifted back to Talon, who glowered at Felsin so intensely she could swear a charge electrified the air.
“Maybe the stars can answer.” Felsin tapped the cards. “You wanted me to tell your fortune, didn’t you?’
“Yes.” Janus sat forward.
Talon rubbed his eyes and made a sound of disapproval.
Shuffling the deck one last time, Felsin spread them across the table. He moved to take a card.
“That’s it?” Janus interrupted.
