Page of Swords (The Demon's Apprentice Book 2) (34 page)

I looked up from the cloth-covered basket that the waiter had just set on the table and nodded, because if I opened my mouth, I was going to drool from the smell of fresh baked bread. Draeden flipped the cloth back and took one of the rolls under it, and I grabbed one of my own.

“I thought as much,” he said as he took one of his knives and ran it across the scoop of butter in the little ceramic bowl beside the breadbasket.

I copied him, even though my stomach was demanding that I ignore the damn etiquette and get some food down my throat
now
.

“Of course, Andrew was rather vague about how he learned of the threat Etienne posed. Odd, too that the first call about it that I received came from Trevor. I have to wonder however, who it was who really discovered it. And how. Very few of us are well-versed in Lemurian rituals. In fact, the last copy of the Medici Codex disappeared in 1521, shortly after the death of Pope Leo the Tenth, and they were banned because they were so detailed on the G’Honn Tablets and Lemurian lore. Trevor is quite talented at undercover work, but even he doesn’t have the extensive contacts among the less savory of our ilk here in New Essex to find such information. Polter, of course, would not deign to dirty his hands with something so beneath his dignity. However, a young man who once worked for a demon, however reluctantly, might know where to go, who to talk to and who to pay for such things.”

The last bite of my roll scraped its way down a suddenly dry throat as I looked at him.

“He might,” I admitted.

“Such a young man might also be precisely what the Conclave needs in the days to come. If he were trained properly.”

He slid a thick, cream-colored envelope across the table toward me. The seal was in blue wax, and over it was a crest in blue and white. I picked it up by the corner, almost like it might bite me. The crest had a key in the upper right hand white section, and a book on the lower left hand side. At the top, a ribbon read “per virtus, libertatum”
Through virtue, freedom.
At the bottom, another ribbon read “Franklin Academy, Est.1787.”

“What’s this?” I asked.

“One of the privileges I enjoy as head of the High Council is the authority to grant an appointment for deserving young apprentices to attend the Franklin Academy under the Lincoln Fellowship. After what you suffered due to the Council’s lack of action, it seems that the least we can do to make amends to you is to see to your education.”

I dropped the envelope back on the table.

“You’re sending me to magick school? What about Dr. C? I’m his apprentice, and I like that just fine.”

“You will continue to be his apprentice. He will help assign your classes, and advise you when he is able to. I think you’ll find that a diploma from the Franklin Academy will do much to dispel the . . . stigma of your previous associations. To say nothing of opening doors which will allow you to make your family’s life much easier.”

I looked down at the envelope. Going to school to learn magick sounded really cool, but I also liked the way things were. I had friends here, and my family. Some place with a name like the Franklin Academy and a motto in Latin sounded like it would be somewhere in New England.

“Can I think about it?” I asked.

“Only if you’re trying to find a good reason to say yes. Let me give you one. By agreeing to attend the Franklin Academy, you will forestall disciplinary action against your mentor for concealing your apprenticeship. It will be considered that he is acting in good faith by allowing you to be tutored in a more . . . structured environment.” His smile turned frosty, and my gaze went hot.

“Some place easier to keep me under your thumb,” I challenged.

“Some might see it that way. I prefer a more mutually beneficial outlook. You get the benefit of the best magickal training in the U.S., and I am spared the unpleasantness of having to discipline a very talented wizard.”

“So, I’m saying yes whether I want to or not,” I said, my voice just edging to a growl. He’d played me like a chump by pressing all the buttons I couldn’t help but react to.

“Glad to hear it. You’ll begin during the fall semester, to make your transition a little smoother. The Academy will also want to assess your skill level before you start, so expect a visit. Now that we’ve taken care of that bit of business, I’ve ordered filet mignon. After the night you’ve had, I’m sure nothing less than a steak will do.”

He gestured for the waiter, as I slid my chair back and stood up.

“With all due respect, Master Draeden, I’d rather not. I haven’t seen my mom and my sister since Sunday,” I said. His smile was as sincere as my respect as he nodded.

“Of course, my boy. Perhaps another time. Don’t forget your letter,” he gestured to the envelope still lying on the table.

I put my jacket on and gathered my gear. I slung both gunbelts over my shoulder, then pulled one of the cinnamon candies out and popped it in my mouth before I scooped up the envelope and tucked it into my back pocket.

He waited until I was almost to the door before he spoke.

“It’s been a long time since anyone has rebuked the Council openly. It was long overdue. You and your friend Mr. Donovan opened some eyes tonight.” He sipped his wine as I turned back to face him.

“Careful, sir. You almost sound like you approve,” I told him.

“I do approve. Times are changing, Chance, and we have fallen behind them. I think that the Franklin Academy is going to benefit as much from your rather disruptive presence there as you will from its discipline and structure.”

“I’ll try not to disappoint,” I told him as I reached for the door.

“I’m sure you won’t. I’m curious though. When did you realize it was Donovan that the sword was meant for?”

“I wasn’t certain until last night, when I remembered that Steve had been there almost every time I’d had a vision of the Maxilla.”

“Well done. Oh, and Chance? Happy birthday.”

I found everyone in the parking lot, in a circle around Shade and Deek. The two of them were squared off, both with their jackets off. Shade’s bare arms were tensed, and I could see the rips and tears in her t-shirt, compared to Deek’s pristine band shirt. On the ground behind Shade was Tyler, shaking his head and slowly getting to his feet. The rest of the pack was tensed, but their eyes kept going from Shade to Tyler. I knew they wanted to help their pack brother up, but I figured it was a pride thing not to make him look weak. By the same token, it looked like Deek had just hit Tyler, and they all wanted a piece of him.

“It’s my right as a beta to slap down any lesser wolf!” he said to Shade as I reached the edge of the circle. “Especially if he’s disrespectful.”

I could see Shade was fighting her wolf down hard, and if I’d been in her shoes, they’d be awfully small on my feet, but I’d also want to rip Deek’s throat out. But then again, that was why she had me. I pulled the LeMat and stepped into the circle. The sound of the hammer clicking back might as well have been a cannon going off.

“The lesser wolf here,” I said as I took my place beside Shade, “is the beta who pissed his pants and hid at Inferno tonight.”

“Your word against mine, human,” Deek sneered.

Shade’s hand moved, or at least I think it did, because I heard the crack of her palm on his cheek, but all I saw was the blur that went from her shoulder to his face.

“You will treat my
gothi
with respect,” she snarled. “He’s right. Lucas has bigger balls than you. If anyone should have run for the door, it was him; he stuck with us all the way, and all he had was a
watergun
. You didn’t even come inside. You’re a coward, and you’re not welcome here. You have no status with my pack, and if you want to challenge anyone, you start with my
gothi.
”

“He’s no challenge,” Deek sneered. “Do you think I won’t call him out because he’s so far beneath me?”

“You haven’t seen my
gothi
fight,” Shade said with a cold smile. The laughter behind us made Deek’s eyes narrow. “If you’d had the balls to stand with us tonight, you’d know that. Go.”

The word was more threat than command, and Deek was on his bike in seconds. My heart felt a little lighter as the sound of his bike faded. I turned to Shade and my friends.

“It’s my birthday, guys. I want you all there to help me celebrate it.” I had a chorus of yeses, except for Steve, who looked uncertain.

“I, uh,” he started.

“We just killed a major bad guy, man. Cake is the least I can do.”

Epilogue:

Shade’s body was pressed up against mine as we stood under the big oak tree in my backyard. Over by the grill, Dr. C was keeping watch over burgers and steaks, with Junkyard keeping an alert nose and eye out for the occasional scraps that just happened to get dropped. He’d claimed that manning the barbecue was his duty as a Texan, over Mom’s halfhearted protests. He’d done it right after Collins brought Mom and Dee home, so she didn’t figure out that he’d relieved her of most of the cooking until after we’d spent two hours catching up.

She still insisted on making a cake and cookies and Goddess knew what else. Dr. C had brought a long folding table and several extra chairs from somewhere, and Steve was regaling everyone else with the story of our fight upstairs. The rest of the pack sat protectively around Lucas, Wanda and their guests, Dani and Crystal. Crystal was curled up in Dani’s arms, and every now and then I watched them kiss or share a gentle touch.

“You helped make that happen,” Shade said softly as Dani pressed her lips to Crystal’s.

“So did you,” I reminded her.

She smiled and shrugged as she reached up and touched Wanda’s pentacle where it lay on my chest, her birthday gift to me. Dr. C had given me the LeMat, though unless I needed it, it stayed at his house until I turned eighteen. Lucas had given me a thick set of leather bound books, Tolkien’s
The Hobbit
and the
Lord of the Rings
trilogy as a set, and a promise to repair my poor backpack.

“I want to give you something for your birthday,” she said softly.

I recognized the heat in her voice, and cocked my head.

“It’s . . . as much for me as it’s for you. I mean, it’s . . . it isn’t like the night . . . when I tried to,” she stammered to a stop and her cheeks turned red before she dipped her head to hide her face.

“I know what you mean,” I said softly. “It’s okay.”

She took a deep breath and looked back up at me. Her eyes weren’t full of desire so much as raw need.

“I need your touch,” she said.

I put my hand to her cheek gently, but she turned her face away and took my hand in hers. Slowly, gently, her trembling hand put mine over the first gentle rise of her breast, then brought my palm to her lips and kissed it, almost like a blessing.

“Soon. Please?”

I nodded. Her gift wasn’t her body; it was her trust. All I could do was nod, because words seemed too small for the job. I pulled her to me and kissed her gently, then wrapped her in my arms.

“Chance, your necklace is glowing,” I heard her whisper a moment later.

My eyes snapped open to see a man in the alley, looking straight at me. His face wasn’t remarkable to look at, in spite of the square jaw and high cheekbones. All of that was boring when it had to compete with the void of his eyes. I recognized those eyes, even if the face was completely different.

“I’ll be right back,” I said.

A few moments later, I was standing at the back fence with a heavy, cloth-wrapped burden in my hands that I couldn’t wait to get rid of.

The man came over to me and looked at my pentacle with open disdain.

“Remove that obnoxious bauble from my sight,” Thraxus demanded.

“My house, my rules. You don’t like it, you can go.”

“When did you gain faith?” he asked.

I shrugged.

“It was a gift. Sorry about the car by the way,” I said insincerely as I handed the fragment over to him. As soon as he took it, I felt the last burden I’d taken on seem to fall from my shoulders.

“It served its purpose. As did you.”

“Did Etienne?” I asked.

He looked at me with a smile.

“What ever do you mean?” he asked. Butter wouldn’t have melted in his mouth.

“Even if he hadn’t crossed the line with Collins, you already had that story with the fragment ready. The ritual he was doing took months to pull off, and there’s no way he could have started it unless he had it. There’s no way you went six months without missing it.”

“An interesting theory. One I have no doubt you will amuse yourself with for many nights to come as you try to understand why I would have wanted him to fail at the last possible moment, and how I could have predicted events so precisely as I did. When you comprehend that, I beg you, let me know of my great skill, because it eludes me as to how I would have accomplished it.” He turned and walked away, and my pentacle slowly faded.

“Arrogant prick,” Dr. C said from over my shoulder.

“How’d you know?” I asked.

“Wanda felt him. I think you’re right, by the way. He used Etienne as much as he used us. Not that I have any sympathy for the bastard. We’ll figure out what he was up to, don’t worry.”

“Hard not to,” I said as I turned to face the house and the impromptu party.

“Well, let me help take your mind off things,” he said as he reached into his pocket and pulled out a set of keys. “Happy birthday.”

“What’s this?” I asked.

The end of one of the keys was square, the other rounded. Both of them had the image of a running horse on one side, and the Ford logo on the other side.

“It’s a set of car keys. They’re for my old Mustang.” He smiled like he was about to tell the punch line of the funniest joke ever.

“A car? You’re kidding! Where is it?” I exclaimed.

“San Angelo. It’s yours on two conditions.”

“Name it!” I pretty much bounced.

“One, you ace Driver’s Ed. Two, get it running.”

“You got it. Your burgers are burning.” I smiled as he took off across the yard.

Shade came over and took my hand, and we leaned against the fence, basking in what passed for normal with us. A werewolf pack in my back yard, a wizard grilling steaks, and two lovers reunited because of what we’d done.

“Penny for your thoughts,” she offered.

“Just trying to figure out why saving the world doesn’t seem as cool as all this,” I said as I gestured at the impromptu party. “You know. Surviving my birthday. Saving my friend. Getting the hot girl. Looking the Goddess in the face is like . . . cool and all, but this,” I said as I kissed her lips. “Way better.”

“The little things are what make the big things worth fighting for,” Shade said softly.

She pulled me toward the table as Dr. C started serving up food, and I realized she was right. More than she knew, she was right. Being a mage wasn’t about saving the world. It was about making the world worth hanging onto. That, I could do.