“Nice try, but food first.”

Undaunted, he settled next to her on the couch. “Phelan will be a while.” Valek cupped her cheek, turning her face toward him. He ran his thumb over her lips. “Let me distract you from your hunger.”

“When you put it that way, how can I resist?” she teased.

He pulled her close and kissed her with the full depth of his love. It was a long time before he broke away. “Still hungry?”

A pink flush spread over her skin as she gasped for air. “Oh, yes. But not for food.” Yelena laced her fingers behind his head and claimed his lips.

They never made it to the bedroom.

* * *

Yelena was curled up asleep on the couch when Phelan returned with the supplies late that afternoon. However, the spicy scent of the still-warm meat pies woke her.

She wolfed down two while Valek questioned the boy. “Do you know where General Cahil’s headquarters is located?”

“No. Why?”

“I want you to assign a few people to keep an eye on it and let me know when the general is there.”

“All right.”

Valek told him the address of Cahil’s safe house. After Phelan left, Valek ate and then tucked Yelena into bed. The lack of sleep caught up to him, and he curled around his wife and slept for a few hours.

It was full dark by the time he reached the Council Hall. Onora signaled him with a faint whistle. Blending in a hidden corner, she was impossible to see. The lamplighters had finished their duties, and the air smelled of lantern oil. Heat pulsed from the buildings as the air cooled.

“What do you think of their security?” he asked, staring at the Hall’s front entrance. The large square structure had multiple tiers and resembled a wedding cake. Constructed from the same green-streaked white marble as the city walls, it also sported jade columns at the grand entrance on the first floor. No windows or doors had been installed on the ground floor, and steps led up to the well-guarded double doors.

“It’s tight.”

“Can you get in?”

“Yes, but I couldn’t get anyone out.”

“Have you seen anyone significant?”

“There’s a fair amount of traffic, but I haven’t recognized anyone.”

“All right. Go get some sleep. Tomorrow night we’ll take a peek inside.”

She grinned. “I’ll let you tell Yelena.”

“Chicken.”

Onora gave him a wave before ducking out of sight. Valek remained in place for another hour, but it appeared as if the Hall was closed for the night. Ghosting north to the Magician’s Keep, he checked for watchers and found a couple stationed near the main entrance, which was the only way in if you weren’t aware of the underground passage. A wall also surrounded the Keep, and four towers, one at each corner, rose high into the air.

Satisfied that no one else lurked nearby, he traveled to the west side of the Keep. He slipped down a narrow alley and counted doors. The third one on the left was unremarkable. Valek pulled his lock picks from their hidden pocket and opened the door. Bracing for an attack, he entered the darkness.

Nothing. All remained quiet. He drew in a breath. The dry scent of dust tickled his nose. Closing the door, Valek then groped for the torches and flint that had been set on a nearby table. With a quick strike, a spark flew, igniting the torch. The light burned his vision for a moment. When his eyes adjusted, he descended the stairs and used the tunnel to cross under the Keep’s wall. The passage ended in the basement of Second Magician Irys Jewelrose’s tower.

Once Valek ensured the tower remained empty, he left the torch in a holder near the tunnel and did a sweep of the campus. It had been abandoned only about three months ago, but a cold, lifeless feeling permeated the air. After the Cartel had managed to position their cook in the Keep’s dining room, they laced most of the food with Theobroma. When all the students, staff and magicians had ingested enough of the drug, Bruns’s loyal magicians brainwashed everyone into believing that Ixia was going to invade Sitia. Determined to stop the Commander, the Keep’s personnel traveled to the garrisons and joined the Cartel. Valek had to admit it was a brilliant plan.

Valek stopped in the library. It appeared as deserted as the rest of campus, but he searched for an ambush just in case. Happy to see it remained as desolate as the rest, Valek hurried to the exit tunnel.

Back at the quiet Council Hall, Valek considered his options. Built to withstand invaders, the building had few places to enter. The tall, narrow glass windows of the great hall stretched three stories high but didn’t open. Valek wondered if a magical alarm had been attached to the slick marble walls. Only one way to find out.

Looping around to the back, Valek stood close to the hall and lowered his mental barrier. No magic buzzed, other than from the power blanket around him. He pressed his palm to the cool stone.

Nothing. Or so he thought. A..nsciousness sought him, as if drawn by his magic. Valek quickly raised his shield, but distant shouts cut through the quiet night, and the unmistakable sound of drumming boots echoed. He cursed.

18

HELI

When they arrived at the gate, Heli halted Thunder. “Are you sure your grandparents won’t mind?” she asked Teegan, who stopped beside her. “There are four of us.”

“For the twenty-third time, no. My grandparents will be thrilled.” Teegan dismounted to unlock the gate.

“Until you tell them we’re being hunted by the Cartel,” Zohav muttered darkly.