Page 53 of Untraceable
“Oh, my god.”
Amori touched her hand. “Are you well?”
“Just got a shock. I thought Levella was dead. I was sure she was dead.”
“You are a necromancer. Are you sure you didn’t revive her like you revived me?”
“Oh, no. That wouldn’t have been possible. She shattered into hundreds of pieces.”
“Shattered?”
“Yes. Her nickname was the glass mage, and someone tested it with a projectile. She shattered and was declared dead. Nex went a little crazy and collected all the pieces.”
“I see. What happened then?”
“I don’t know. I left the school.”
“Ah. Well, Levella is very pleasant and good at leading tours around while I am having meetings.”
“You take tours?”
“Of course. Schools come and show their students around so that we have our pick of interns for the following autumn. Not everyone wants to work in a palace where all activity is scrutinized.”
“Right.”
She smiled and looked at Bailey and Mira. They looked warily happy. Bailey also looked pissed to be purple. Her newly found ex-lover appeared delighted with the ready-made family. His protective hovering around Mira was hilarious. Mira was just getting to the point of enjoying adult attention, and a tentacle was throttling the orc in question. Dating was going to be challenging for her.
Heyval looked around at the party, and Amori took her hand and kissed the back of it. She was charged with the power of the university mages and ready for anything, but anything kept finding her. Now, she had friends and Amori nearby to help her through it.
Azila was keeping everyone under control, and the flow of presents for Amori’s birthday was steady. Rage was with her father, talking to Alora and her partners. When Heyval finally saw Nex again, Levella was there, cracks marring her features, but she met Heyval’s gaze and inclined her head.
Heyval had seen her shattered. Broken. In lifeless pieces. Here she was, standing and smiling along with her friend. It was the most terrifying thing Hey had ever seen. There was no sign of death, but there was no sign of life. It didn’t make sense, but Levella was there, laughing and smiling.
She met the other woman’s crystal grey gaze and inclined her head in return. Levella smiled, and it was a kind smile.
Amori turned to her. “Heyval, are you all right?”
“Yes, I just think I saw a ghost.”
“Levella? She’s alive. I mean, she acts alive.”
“Yeah. I am going to have to look into that.”
“Don’t do anything to piss Nex off. She is very protective of Levella.”
“I know. It isn’t that kind of looking.”
She sent her senses out to Levella and met a cool, grey mist of energy. The woman in question walked toward her and grinned. When she approached Hey, she said softly, “You called?”
“What is going on with you?”
“Ancient magic and starlight. You are looking well.”
“How ancient?”
“Dawn of time stuff. I am now drought and famine-resistant.” Levella chuckled and crouched near Heyval’s chair.
“You... I am happy to see you, but I mourned you.”
