Karina had little choice but to give Jalen a terse nod. There was no attempting to resist or run from power as immense as Jalen’s. All she could do was play along and hope that he got bored and set her free.

No sooner than she had finished nodding did a purple ripple pass through the air beside Jalen. A portal stretched open, leading into an office. A weary, tired looking man stood within it, beside massive, teetering piles of paper that threatened to come crashing down with the slightest wind.

Jalen put a hand on Karina’s back and guided her into the portal. Even though it didn’t seem like he was forcing her to walk, it felt like the entire world was pushing her forward. Jalen couldn’t even be described as strong – it was more like he was insurmountable.

They stepped through the portal and it closed behind them. The weary man lowered his hand.

“Is there anything else you need of me, Magus Jalen?”

“No, I don’t believe there is. Off with you.”

Bowing his head, the attendant stepped back into another portal as it opened up behind him. The portal closed and left Karina alone in the room with Jalen. The one thing keeping terror from enveloping Karina completely was the fact that Jalen had bothered bringing her anywhere.

If he’d wanted to kill her, she’d already be dead. Even if he’d been lying about his position with the Linwick family, a mage of his power could basically do whatever he pleased. He could have been a Torrin – it didn’t matter. Karina wasn’t nearly important enough to start a war over.

Jalen pushed a stack of papers off the desk. It hit the ground with a crash and Karina jumped a foot into the air in surprise. The papers fluttered down all around her as Jalen sat back in his chair and leaned into it, kicking his feet up onto the desk.

“Sorry. I think I actually ate all the cake,” Jalen said. “Either that, or it was my assistant. I can’t quite remember.”

Karina’s stomach twisted and she gave what she hoped was a polite smile. It was definitely much more of a pained grimace, but her body refused to muster up anything better. “I’m actually not that hungry, so it’s okay.”

“Splendid. You aren’t like what that attendant said you were meant to be like,” Jalen said, rubbing his chin. “Do you happen to know his name?”

“I – no. I don’t.”

“Neither do I. Too many names. They all start blurring together.” Jalen rolled his eyes and laughed. “It’s hard to remember them after people keep dying. Like little candles. You wouldn’t name a candle, would you?”

I think Jalen is at least mildly insane.

Karina swallowed. “No, probably not.”

Her eyes darted around the room in search of literally anything to look at other than the man in the chair, but there was precious little. Examining any of the papers lying around might have drawn Jalen’s ire.

If he’s really the head of the family, then the information in this room is worth fortunes. More than I could ever imagine. Is this a test? Why does he care about me?

“I know what you must be thinking,” Jalen said. “You’re wondering what has earned you the honor of meeting the head of your family.”

Honor is the last word I’d choose for this nightmare.

“Do you not believe I am who I claim?”

Shit, I took too long to respond.

“No, Magus. I believe you.”

“No, you don’t,” Jalen said. “That’s to be expected. Unlike the rest of this family, I have little care for our little political games. I’ve done my best to keep my name and face out of any major attention. It’s much more enjoyable to blend into the background. Of course, all the branch leaders know who I am. Would you like me to call one of them in? Father, perhaps?”

Karina paled and she shook her head so quickly that she nearly gave herself whiplash. “No, Magus. I believe you.”

“Splendid. Then I will get right to business. I brought you here because of an artifact. A very particular one in the shape of a book –a book that I am now very baffled about. I was hoping you could enlighten me.”

Karina’s blood ran cold. He knew about the catacombs – about the grimoire that she’d helped Vermil take. Her throat tightened.

Is he planning to make an example out of me? And why me? Vermil was the one that stole the book! I just helped! Unless… did he already kill Vermil?

“I – uh…”

“Out with it, please. I am old, but I’m not particularly patient. Where’s the book, Karina? And don’t lie to me, lass.” Jalen took his legs off the desk and leaned forward, his eyes boring deep into Karina’s soul. “I don’t like being lied to.”A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

“I – I don’t have it,” Karina stammered. “I’m sorry. I didn’t think anyone would care. It was old and nobody had mentioned it recently, so I thought it might have been forgotten, and–”

Jalen raised a finger and Karina’s mouth snapped closed. A smile flickered across his face.

“A few hundred years ago, the terror in your eyes might have been amusing. Now, it’s just a hinderance. Why fear what you can’t control? You aren’t nearly strong enough to rule your destiny, so you might as well give it up.”

Karina nodded stiffly. If Jalen was trying to be comforting, he was failing miserably.

“It’s odd.” Jalen rose from his chair and walked around the desk, passing behind Karina. It took every fiber of will in her body to keep herself from turning in a circle to stare at him. The hair on the back of her neck stood so firmly on end that it could have cut through flesh. “You don’t strike me as a particularly daring woman, Karina.”

“It was a lapse in judgement, Magus Jalen. Please forgive me.”

He must have figured out that I’m the one that showed Vermil where the book is. Why does someone this powerful care about such a useless artifact?

“A lapse? No. I don’t believe it was.” Jalen came to a stop directly behind Karina. “You stole with the intent to challenge me. I accepted that challenge – and I think I find myself stumped. I certainly didn’t expect that. You should rejoice. The goal you set out to accomplish has been achieved. You have my attention.”

What in the Damned Plains is he talking about?

“I – I’m sorry,” Karina stammered. “I didn’t think that the grimoire mattered that much. The records said it was basically worthless. I can get it back for you.”

“Get it back?”

Shit. He already has the damn book. I knew it. Vermil is dead, and I’m next. Why would I offer to get it back? Gods, I’m so stupid.

“I–”

“You don’t have it?”

Karina blinked. “No. I helped Vermil get it. I didn’t get the book for myself. Don’t you already have it back?”

“Why would I be speaking to you if I already had what I sought?” Jalen stepped around to face Karina again. “When you say book, are you referring to the crappy old grimoire that was stolen along with the other artifact?”

You’re kidding me. Vermil managed to give him the slip and I landed with the bill. And he snagged something else on the way out too.

Despite her situation, Karina nearly burst into laughter. She was startled to find that there was almost a grudging respect building up in her for Vermil. As much as she wanted to hate the man for who he’d been – something had changed in recent months. It would have been far funnier if they were actually on the same side, but Karina suspected that her chance to board that boat had long since passed.

“I don’t know about any other artifacts that were stolen, Magus Jalen. I only helped Vermil get the grimoire with the infinite Catchpaper. I left before he did anything else.”

“So you weren’t the one who took anything? Now that’s an amusing turn. Tell me about this Vermil. Who is he?”

“He’s the second son of Father, a professor at Arbitage.”

“A professor?” Derision filled Jalen’s voice. “You jest. The only people that become professors are pathetic researchers with no will or strength to claim what they desire for themselves. A professor arranged all this?”

I take it Jalen doesn’t think much of students, then.

“I don’t think he realized how important the grimoire was either, Magus Jalen.”

“You don’t think he realized?” Jalen let out a bark of laughter. “Quite impossible. It was a clear challenge. Do you know this Vermil well?”

No, I don’t think I do.

“He was my fiancée.”

“Was?”

“We were able to break it off just a few days ago.”

“I see,” Jalen mused. “I can’t say I miss the drama of youth. Vermil is your age, I take it?”

“Yes, he is.”

His questions are turning toward Vermil rather than me. I might actually be able to walk free at this rate.

“Fascinating indeed. Then I believe you may not know him nearly as well as you think. I do not care in the slightest about the grimoire. What I care about is the other artifact that he took from the catacombs. One that expressly warned people against its use. It had an Imbuement on it that should be alerting me of its location, and yet it is not. Would you know why that might be?”

“I have no idea,” Karina said, inwardly cursing Vermil. If he hadn’t gone to look for more artifacts, Jalen wouldn’t have come for her.

Not like I wouldn’t have done the same if I had the power to, though.

“I see. I had thought that your disposition seemed odd for a woman that had directly challenged her own family, and it seems I was right.” Jalen crossed his arms and studied Karina with an arched eyebrow. “You were an accessory. Very well. And what of Vermil’s location? Do you know where he is?”

“I have no idea,” Karina replied, relieved that she was being honest. She didn’t feel any strong desire to protect Vermil, but the less she had to do with him, the better.

Now that it’s clear I had nothing to do with this, Jalen should surely –

“You’ll be coming with me, then,” Jalen said with a sigh.

Karina froze in place. “Me? How could I possibly do anything for you?”

“I only knew who you were because you walked right up to your former house, Karina. I have no idea where Vermil is or what he’s doing. You know what he looks like. Surely, you can see where I’m leading with this.”

“Magus, Vermil will certainly go back to Arbitage when the break ends. You could just wait for him there.”

Before Karina had even finished speaking, Jalen was already shaking his head. “That would be as good as admitting defeat, lass. If I – the head of the Linwick family – had to resort to cheap methods like that, then I would never live it down. No, I must find Vermil and his artifact before he reveals himself to me of his own power.”

Is asking me to do it for you really that different? Aren’t you just kind of being lazy here? If this is some big challenge, shouldn’t you do it yourself? Why drag me into it?

Jalen took notice of the look on Karina’s face and chuckled, misinterpreting it entirely. “You fear for Vermil’s safety? The emotions of youth. How amusing. Fear not. I do not seek his head. On the contrary.”

Karina blinked. “You aren’t angry at him?”

“Angry? Oh, no. I’m fascinated.” Jalen’s grin widened. “It’s been far too long since we had anyone of interest pop up in this miserable family. I wish to meet the person that dares challenge me, and you are going to take me to him – aren’t you?”

Somehow, I feel like garnering your interest is absolutely no better than earning your ire. At least you’d kill an enemy quickly instead of playing with them.

There wasn’t any room for refusal in his voice. Jalen wasn’t asking Karina a question. He was giving her a command. And so, all Karina could do was swallow heavily and bow her head to the mysterious head of the Linwick family.

“Yes, Magus Jalen.”