holes in Galen’s orders. It worked to warn Kade.
Of course it could all go wrong, and he would use me to
take over Sitia. No. I wouldn’t let him. I had too many pre-
cious gems to care for. Reema and Teegan, protecting them
and warning them against the dangers of magic. I hardly
knew them, but I missed them more than I ever did my glass
magic.
I realized dashing off to help others wasn’t a distraction from my purpose. It was my purpose. Between Valek’s training, my
fortune in diamonds and with assistance from my friends, I
could do it. I could be Opal without the descriptor. I could
be an adoptive mother one day and go undercover to help
Fisk with that rival gang the next. And I planned to follow
up with Fisk; he shouldn’t have to deal with such problems
on his own.
But Galen first. I didn’t know how I would stop him. I just
would.
“What are you doing?” Galen demanded.
“Thinking.”
“About
what?”
“Siphoning your magic.”
He cocked his head to the side as if curious. “You know
that won’t work.”
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367
“Wishful thinking. Is that better?”
Galen strode over and grabbed the orb. “In order to avoid a
future hassle, do not siphon my magic and do not attack me.”
Finding the pile of diamonds, he poured them back into the
glass. “Come with me.”
We walked to Walsh’s office building. His assistant quickly
announced us. Her resemblance to Quinn was obvious now.
The desire to tell her to run away bubbled up my throat, but
I bit my lip. Now was not the time nor the place.
Walsh’s pleasure at my enslavement soured on hearing about
Heli’s escape. He rounded on Galen. “Opal was dating the
Stormdancer leader. They could attack us with storms.”
A hollow thud echoed in my chest over Walsh’s use of the
past tense.
“They won’t risk Opal’s life or the children who live here,”
Galen said.
“I’m not worried about them, you idiot. My oyster beds
could be destroyed.” Walsh’s icy voice cut through the sudden
tension.
Their relationship could be falling apart. I wondered how
I could drive the wedge in further.
“Who cares about your oysters? One black diamond equals
two dozen pearls.”
“And if the storms disrupt the currents that bring those
precious stones to our shore? What then?”
Galen brandished the orb and poured the clear diamonds
onto Walsh’s desk. “We’ll recapture Heli. She isn’t far. Besides, if they try to attack us, they’ll have to be close to us. Opal is strong enough to drain their powers from a distance.”
His smug smile didn’t go over well with Walsh. “She didn’t
siphon that young Stormdancer.”
Galen’s humor died. He rounded on me. “Whose magic
did you siphon?”
Damn.
“Devlen’s.”
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Maria V. Snyder
He laughed. “That’s an easy fix. Don’t worry, Walsh. It was
her last act of defiance.”
I rubbed the back of my hand, reminding myself of his kiss.
“How do you know Devlen?” I asked.
“We met when I funded the Daviian Clan’s attempt to take
control of the Council. Revolts are costly and Vasko thought
their cause worthy. I befriended a few Warpers. After that di-
saster, I kept in contact with a couple who escaped. I’ve hired him for a number of jobs over the years. But when I learned
he was another one of your victims and he was in jail, I had to pay him a visit. Did you fall for his model prisoner act?”
“Yes.”
Galen tapped his chest. “My idea. When you saw him today,
did it hurt? Did it feel like a slap in the face?”
“Yes.” At first glance, but I couldn’t mistake the pain in his
eyes. But why hadn’t he mentioned Galen to me before?
He gloated. “Good.”
Walsh interrupted us. “What if the Stormdancer informs
the Master Magicians? I didn’t want to attract attention.”
Galen downplayed his concerns. “She won’t. You keep for-
getting, Walsh. Opal’s under my control. I could order her to
go to the Citadel and drain both Masters dry right now.”
Walsh’s concern hadn’t softened with Galen’s reassurances.
“Opal, come here.” He pushed back from his desk, but re-
mained sitting.
“Go,” Galen said.
No choice. Walsh grabbed my wrist and tugged me closer.
“Since you are part of my family now, we will have a celebra-
tion on the night of the full moon, five days hence. We do
it for all our new members and for the children when they
reach maturity. It’s a special night. We have a big bonfire and clambake, we tell stories and sing songs. Every clan member
attends and everyone has a wonderful time.”
It was an odd speech and I braced for the bad news. He
didn’t disappoint me.
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369
“There is a little ceremony where you are inducted into the
clan. First your old clan name is written on a piece of wood
and we’ll burn it in the fire. It’s all very dramatic.” He smiled.
“Then you marry me.”
“What?” I jerked back, but his grip was strong.
“Keep still and listen,” he ordered. “All the men of the clan
pledge an oath of loyalty to me, and all the women vow to
be my wife and we consummate the marriage following the
ceremony.”
Horror welled. “You’ve slept with all the women?”
“At least once,” he said with pride. “Although, I must admit
some I favor more than others.”
“But…before…when I visited there were families.”
“Of course. The woman can marry another as long as I ap-
prove. And it’s a source of pride for her husband when I choose his wife for a night of pleasure. He is pledged to me.”
Finally, the reality of my situation sank in and I cast about
for a way out. “I’m experienced. And you don’t need my vow;
I already have to obey.”
“Relax. Many of our members have come to us experi-
enced. For those, there is a cleansing ritual before they are
inducted to the clan.”
Galen’s sadistic smirk didn’t bode well for the ritual.
“Besides, you are in luck, my dear,” Walsh said. “You will
stay with me every night until you are with child.”
Lucky would be the last descriptor I would apply.
After our meeting with Walsh, Galen proceeded to issue
orders. “Never tell Walsh anything I say or do. Comply with
all requests for the ritual, the ceremony and with the com-
mands Walsh makes to you in his bedroom. For any other
tasks he assigns you, you must clear them with me first.”
Fury simmered, but I concentrated on the wording of Ga-
len’s orders, searching for loopholes.
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* * *
When I woke on the morning of my wedding, a thick
fog had settled over the compound. It
gave me an idea and
I searched the area for a good hiding spot. If Galen couldn’t
find me, he couldn’t order me, cleanse me or marry me. A
desperate plan, but I had no other options left. I had considered every angle, but couldn’t find a loophole.
I had tried running away two days ago. But since I had com-
pleted the binding with Galen, the tolerable distance between
us had shortened considerably. When I reached the outer limit,
the physical weakness and pain had been so intense, I couldn’t
move. The guards had no trouble dragging me back.
Between the north and south beaches, the tip of the pen-
insula extended out like a finger. The surf had dug nooks
and crannies into that outcropping. I found one above the
waterline big enough to fit into and not be seen. It was a little damp as a few of the stronger waves sent sea spray into my
spot.
I squirmed into a comfortable position. With the low ceil-
ing, I lay down. Crossing my arms under my head as a pillow,
I reviewed everything since Galen injected me with his blood.
One bright spot, I hadn’t had withdrawal symptoms since the
binding. But each time I was with Galen, he added to his list
of things I was forbidden to do. The most frustrating part was
I felt strongest when Galen stood next to me and I couldn’t
do a damn thing!
Except make super messengers. Before I didn’t use them to
avoid being bound to him, and now I wasn’t allowed to use
them to call for help.
Focusing on what I could do, I created a mental list of pos-
sible ways to cause trouble.
No one came near my hiding spot until the afternoon sun
burned away the fog. A few shadows crossed the small open-
ing, but so far no one spotted it. I could use my magic to
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371
ensure my spot remained hidden, but then the power would
tip off Walsh and Galen.
Finally one shadow paused. I knew it was inevitable, but I
had hoped for a couple more hours. I debated if I would go
quietly or kick and scream the whole trip back.
When Devlen entered, relief and fear swirled together in
a confusing mixture. I had been avoiding him since Heli’s
escape, but now I wanted to throw myself into his arms.
Must be my blood inside him calling to me. Yeah, right, and
I wanted to be Galen’s slave. When would I stop lying to
myself ? About the same time a miracle happened and I was
free.
He crouched in the small space, looking downright miser-
able. “I didn’t want to be the one to find you,” he said. “But
you need to be caught. It’s important for you to be at the bonfire party tonight.”
“So I can marry Walsh?”
He shook his head, but wouldn’t explain. Smart.
“Is this the blood magic talking?” More tattoos stained his
skin.
“No. The addiction is there, but it won’t force me to do
horrible things this time.”
“Why
not?”
“I will not hurt you or anyone else.”
“Then come here.” I rolled to my side and he lay next to
me, curling his body around my back.
Devlen stretched his arm out so I could rest my head on it.
He draped his other arm around my waist, pulling me closer.
I hadn’t realized how chilled I was until his warmth soaked
into me.
“Now you can fill in the blanks,” I said.
“At least, I don’t have to convince you that I’m on your
side. I was worried you wouldn’t let me explain.”
“It was a surprise, but there was something in your eyes….
You hadn’t come to hurt me.”
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Maria V. Snyder
“You trust me.” He said it as if he couldn’t believe it.
“Yes.”
He stayed quiet.
I nudged him with my elbow. “You still need to tell me
how and why you’re here.”
“Galen visited me in Dawnwood soon after you did. He
wanted me to get close to you, find out why you were in
Fulgor. I played along so I could learn what he was up to. He
also mentioned working out a sweet deal on the Bloodgood
coast with some cult and that if I ever escaped he could use
my help. I had no idea he was that hotshot CO Finn or that
he was experimenting with blood magic. He never came back.
But when Nic visited with the news…” His arm tightened
around my waist as his voice cracked. “Nic mentioned that
Vasko’s right-hand man had also died. No way Galen gets
caught in a cave-in. And I didn’t believe you were…dead. I
escaped and found the cult.”
“What about the tattoos?”
“Test of loyalty. Plus it gives Galen the illusion of control
over me since he provides the blood. That, and he’s technically in enemy territory. This is Walsh’s domain, and if anything
happened between them, Galen would need supporters.”
“Galen has me. I’m powerful.” I rested my arm on his,
lacing my fingers with his. “I now understand the desire for
more magic. If he didn’t hold my leash, I would—”
“No, you would not.”
“I gave in twice to the addiction.”
He laughed. “Look at my arms, Opal. Four tattoos on each.
I gave in eight times and he started me with a tiny amount of
magic. You were given all your own power back, plus Galen’s.
He was so frustrated with how you held off the withdrawal,
and how you wouldn’t use the magic. And he’s surprised you
have not gone into withdrawal since the binding.”
“Not for lack of trying. I went from avoiding magic to
using it all the time.”
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373
“At his command. Have you tried anything on your
own?”
I considered. “When I communicated with you and Heli,
but that is what put me over the edge.”
He squeezed my hand. “You shouldn’t have risked your
freedom for me.”
“What freedom? I was stuck here regardless. Plus I’ve felt
the unbearable need for blood magic. I couldn’t see you suffer, and, I’ll admit it, I really didn’t want you to become a Warper again.”
“There’s no chance I would become a Warper.”
“But—”
“No chance. Before the addiction fueled my desire, I wanted to be powerful and to reach the highest level of the Kirakawa
ritual. This time, I’m able to separate the addiction from my
desire. While I give in to the physical need for the magic, my
love for you has not allowed it to change who I am. Does that
make sense?”
I turned to him. “A little.” But did I love him? With our
history, could I? A year and a half ago, he had kidnapped and
tortured me, all for blood magic. I understood the addiction,
but would I go to those lengths to obtain relief ? No. Because, like Devlen now, I had separated the addiction from my own
desires. My worry about being addicted before all this was
laughable.
My sister’s question from long ago echoed in my mind.
What do you regret?
Devlen was a different man than the
one who hurt me. I’d
known it in my head, but my heart had been slower to accept
it. And after we left this cave, I wouldn’t have another chance to show him how I feel.
“One question,” I said.
“Anything.”
“What do the battle symbols on my switchblade mean?”
“Didn’t Janco tell you?” he asked.
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Maria V. Snyder
“No. He turned red, sputtered some excuse and bolted.”
“Sounds like Janco.”
“Tell
me.”
“The symbols are a vow. They say, I offer my heart, entrust
my soul and give my life to you.”
I reached up and cupped his face. His hair hung loose and
it fell forward when I drew him closer to me. A hopeful joy
shone in his eyes as our lips met. Long-suppressed desire for
him burst through all my doubts, worries and fears. I deepened
the kiss.
He held me and I wrapped my arms around his neck. But
I needed to feel his skin against mine. I pulled at his shirt. He broke off the kiss, stopping me.
“Opal, I endeavor to earn your forgiveness. This is more
than I ever hoped for. I do not deserve—”
I placed my fingers on his lips. “Shhh. We don’t have much
time and I don’t want to waste it talking. Now, where were
we?” Yanking off his shirt, I ran my hands over his torso and
around his back.
His mouth sought mine and soon I had my wish. Skin
against skin.
Wrapped in Devlen’s arms, our connection ran
deeper than any magical bond. The past hour an amazing re-
prieve from my fear and dread over this evening’s activities.
We untangled to dress, which, in the small cavern, was
harder than getting undressed. After one last kiss, Devlen’s
smile faded into a sad determination.
“We’ll get through this,” he said, squeezing my hand.
“I’ll drain your magic and then you run away. I don’t want
to be forced to hurt you.”
“I’m not leaving.” He poked his head outside, checking for
guards. “All clear. Come on.”
We climbed out on the rocks and headed toward the build-
ings. When one of the searchers spotted us, Devlen grabbed
my arm as if he dragged me along.
“Remember you hate me,” he whispered as a bunch of
Walsh’s guards rushed over.
I struggled to break his hold, glaring at him. The men
escorted us to Galen. He had been given an off ice in Walsh’s
building. His fury over my game of hide-and-seek rolled off