Page 12 of A Blade of Lies and Spirits

Walker’s chant paused, then continued, the power directed to the ghost. Her sister joined her, and their hooked talons shredded it. Both tore at the remains with their beaks.

I panted, released from the struggle and too tired to move. The spots of blood, vivid red, glowed with silver light on my clothing and skin.

Her brother took a step toward me, hands extended. The owls abandoned the scrap of shadow and swooped at him, buffeting with their wings.

The room spun. The small owls rose from the body, joining the large owls as they flew out the window. The silver light lingered on me, like a farewell caress.

Walker picked me up. I turned my head toward Yanaha’s brother. Breathing took so much effort.

“Your father bargained with demons. You’ll be watched to make sure you don’t do the same, since you inherit. You won’t like what happens when they catch you—and they will.” His low voice carried a weight of finality.

“I do not traffic with demons, necromancer.” The other man’s voice hissed in the quiet.

“Seriously? How could you have missed it?” I tried for stern, but my voice came out in gasps of effort.

He stepped forward, close enough to touch; grief was wild in his eyes, though his face remained stoic. It beat against me, scraping over sensitized nerves. “I don’t know. It’s so clear now, but I never thought…” he choked, gasping, as his throat closed on the words.

I believed the brother. He was a fool, but he also wasn’t involved in any of this.

Still a presence, pressing down. My chest labored under the weight of it as Walker froze, his head tilted as if he listened for something I couldn’t hear. I dragged strength from the comfort of arms surrounding me, reached and touched Yanaha’s brother with my bloody hand. The silver light blazed from my hand, striking upwards, outlining a humanoid shadow to everyone in the room, that arced over the brother, hands across the man’s eyes and mouth.

Fucking demon. Harder to kill than I ever imagined.

“Thank you, Alys,” said Walker. He deposited me on the floor with more haste than gentleness, his hands kindling with the black fire I’d seen before. A gentle swipe against the shadow as it lunged for Walker’s face, and the thing burned, writhing, thick smoke evolving out of nothingness to coat the ceiling and window.

To destroy a soul, even an evil one—fear didn’t wake in me. I trusted him.

Walker picked me up. “Now, it’s done.”

I panted, the world spinning, as the world jolted around us. My eyes wouldn’t open. An antiseptic scent hit my nose, as coolness stroked my back.

“We need a specialist in mageburn. Now.” Walker’s voice, cool as the sheets beneath my back, followed me as I sank into darkness.

My last thought was to wonder who needed treatment for using too much magic. Who needed a specialist in mageburn? But even as the thought ran through my mind, the darkness fully pulled me under.

FOUR

Alys

My eyes didn’t wantto open. The soft surface below me cushioned my back and legs, soft and warm. The herbal scent in the cool air tried to cover the tang of disinfectant, but the combination was not unpleasant.

Soft cloth weighed my bare legs down as I shifted and opened my eyes. It took a massive effort to lift my eyelids… my eyes found a white spot, bright in the dim light.

Focusing took several blinks, and Silver’s frown greeted me above his white shirt.

I closed my eyes again.

“That won’t help,” he said, voice soft and unamused. “What were you thinking? Do you think?”

The sigh fought its way up out of my chest, illustrating weakness I wanted no part of. “I wasthinkingthat I needed to get rid of a demon. One that everyone else apparently missed.”

“It’s under investigation.” The contained rage in his smooth voice opened my eyes. Silver didn’t get angry—annoyed, exasperated, snippy, but not angry.

Self-preservation fueled the effort of pushing myself up with an elbow. One should be wary around scary things, and Silver angry was unexpectedly frightening, like a fuzzy puppy going for your throat.

I met his eyes. I could never get a color for them because I never remembered it, just that I fell into them. I shut my eyes again. My arm trembled from supporting my weight, something that had never happened before. I frowned at it.

I didn’t see Silver move, but someone who smelled of sandalwood like him eased me back on the pillows when the arm gave out. The touch transmitted his worry, and I squirmed. I didn’t want his concern.

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