Spells and Bones (Dragon Thief Book 2), page 1
SPELLS AND BONES
DRAGON THIEF BOOK 2
MAC FLYNN
CONTENTS
Copyright
Author’s Note
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Chapter 33
Chapter 34
Chapter 35
Chapter 36
Chapter 37
Chapter 38
Chapter 39
Chapter 40
Chapter 41
Chapter 42
Sneak Peek: Charms and Tomes
A Small Favor
When’s the Next Book?
Series by Mac Flynn
About Mac Flynn
COPYRIGHT
Spells and Bones (Dragon Thief Book 2). Copyright © 2024 by Mac Flynn.
Published by Crescent Moon Studios, Inc.
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, disseminated, or transmitted in any form or by any or for any use, including recording or any information storage and retrieval system, without the prior written consent of the author and/or artist. The only except ions shirt excerpts or the cover image in reviews.
This is a work of fiction. All the names, characters, organizations, places and events portrayed in this novel or on the cover are either products of the author’s or artist’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any similarity to real persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental and not intended by the author or artist.
AUTHOR’S NOTE
Dear Reader,
Thank you so much for joining me on a journey through my imagination. If you’re looking for romance and adventure with a guaranteed Happily Ever After, then you’ve come to the right place. My books contain paranormal plotting and fantastical action, and I hope you enjoy reading them as much as I enjoy writing them.
You can keep in touch with me by joining my newsletter or checking out my website for the latest updates.
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Thank you for giving my book a chance, and Happy Reading!
- Mac Flynn
CHAPTER ONE
“Do you think this thing can change into a hammer?”
I was the curious carpenter, and the person I questioned was the handsome man seated at the head of the dining table.
Count Benjamin Castle paused in the middle of his breakfast and lifted an eyebrow at me. “Pardon?”
I held up the Prima Staff, otherwise known as my flute. “This thing. You think it can change into a hammer, too?”
Ben set his hands on the table and smiled at me. “That’s a rather unusual request.”
“I have a rather unusual floorboard in my room that could use some pounding,” I revealed as I tilted the flute to and fro like it was a metronome. “Maybe this thing could make itself into a purse, too.”
He chuckled and resumed his eating. “You may have better luck fitting yourself to its magic.”
I stopped my ticking and lifted an eyebrow at him. “What do you mean?”
He pushed away his empty plate and dabbed the corners of his mouth before speaking. “Magic is used, but it cannot be pushed, especially powerful magic. It was created with a specific purpose, and it’s best to find that purpose rather than try to bend it to your will.”
I scooted a little closer to him. “What would happen if I tried a little bending?”
“You do recall what happened to Dunn only a week ago?”
I winced and leaned back in my chair. “Point taken.”
Ben’s eyes flickered between the flute and my face. “Do you play?”
I blinked at him. “Play what?”
He nodded at the instrument. “The flute?”
A snort escaped me as I lifted the flute. “I think this is the first time I’ve ever held one.”
“You could try playing it.”
I studied the instrument for a moment before I winced. “I’m not sure that’s such a good idea.”
“Try playing it now.”
My face drooped. “You don’t want me to do that.”
“Why not?”
“I tried playing the tuba once.”
“And?”
“I attracted all the wrong attention.”
He set his arms on the table and leaned in closer to me. “How so?” I rolled my eyes and mumbled a few words. “Pardon? I didn’t catch that.”
I scowled at him. “I said someone’s pet pig came into the building thinking I was a lovesick sow.”
Ben burst into laughter, so much so that I glared at him. After a moment he gathered himself and wiped away a tear under one eye. “My sincerest apologies. I had no idea you were so musically gifted.”
I wagged the flute at him. “You just keep laughing and I’ll subject you to a fate worse than death.”
His eyes twinkled at me. “How is that?”
I lifted the flute to my lips. “I’ll play the flute.”
Some of his good humor failed him as his attention fell on the instrument. “That may not be a good idea.”
My heart pumped a little faster as I set the flute on the table. “What do you mean?”
“Even if your intentions are in the right, powerful magic such as the Prima Staff must be used with skill and caution,” he warned me as he took the instrument from my hands and studied the markings. “Otherwise, chaos may ensue. You may be killed.”
I couldn’t help but look him over, especially the high collar of his shirt. “You know, you still haven’t told me why your body’s covered in those black designs.”
He sighed and set the flute on the table between us. “Those are a. . .rather long story.”
I put my elbows on the table and cupped my cheeks in the palms of my hands. “I’ve got time, remember? Stuck here with nothing to do.”
“They are-”
A loud rap on the front door gave us both pause. Ben lifted an eyebrow as he rose from his seat. “I’m not expecting anyone.”
I cursed the intrusion as Ben exited the room and moved out of sight into the hall. I leaned forward to see what was going on, but all I caught were some voices.
“Hi-ya, count!” I snorted as I recognized the eager voice of Tim the newspaper boy.
“Good morning, Tim. What brings you here?”
“I’ve got a special edition for you. Maybe your new girl would like to see it. All the girls are going crazy over it.”
“Really?” came Ben’s bemused response. “I’ll take two.”
“Thank ya!” Tim shouted, and a moment later I heard the front door slam shut.
My curiosity was near bursting as Ben strolled back into the dining room. He was engrossed in a small pamphlet, and another one hung from his arm. The front page of the folded paper showed some strange designs. Those were popular that morning.
“What’s going on?” I inquired as he stopped just shy of his chair with his gaze still fixed on the paper.
“Phantom is returning.”
A little color drained from my face. “You guys have those, too?”
He chuckled as he held out the paper he had been reading to reveal the headline. The word ‘Phantom’ was written in a jagged typography, and below that was a long article. I leaned forward and squinted as I read the first part aloud.
“The famous Phantom musical group with its mysterious lead singer are set to arrive back at their home city of Validen within a few days. Long-time fans of the group will be aware that they have been on a tour of the continent for the past half year, and look forward to some well-deserved time to themselves after they have their farewell performances at Fox Hall.” I paused and looked up questioningly at my local host. “Fox Hall?”
“The locale for large musical performances,” he explained.
I leaned back and crossed one leg over the other. “I’m guessing a lot of women are looking forward to their return.”
“They also have many among the male citizenry who admire their songs,” he revealed as he resumed his seat. He caught my eye with his own look of curiosity. “You might ask their leader about playing your flute.”
My lower jaw hit the floor. “A big-time singer like that? Why?”
“He’s apparently proficient in many musical instruments,” Ben revealed as he set the other folded paper on the table. “And it’s always a good idea to get the best teacher.”
“Can I afford the best teacher?” I wondered as I studied the emboldened typography.
Ben clasped his fingers together in front of him and smiled. “I may be willing to grant you a loan. At a reasonable rate, of course.”
I snorted. “Only an arm? Or do you want a leg with that, too?”
&
A blush accented my cheeks, and I swatted his arm. “I’m not buying.”
He feigned a sigh and shrugged. “Then I suppose we’ll have to lean on his benevolence, though admittedly that may be hard to do.”
I lifted an eyebrow. “Why?”
Ben tapped a finger against the name. “Their leader is a known recluse. No one even knows what he looks like, as he wears a different mask for every performance.”
“That sounds like a lot of trouble.”
“He must make them himself, as well, as no one’s been able to trace their creator.”
A smile slipped onto my lips. “And I’m sure many a female fan has tried.”
He grinned and inclined his head to me. “Many.”
I tilted my head to properly read the band’s name. “So it doesn’t sound like we’d have much luck getting him to talk about the flute.”
Ben stood and offered me his hand. “Should that stop us from trying?”
I snorted and accepted his hand, wherein he drew me to my feet. “I suppose not, and what do we have to lose?”
As it turns out that was going to be more than a morning’s time as we strolled into a hair-raising adventure of ghouls, graveyards, and groupies.
CHAPTER TWO
“So where exactly are we going?” I wondered as we trotted down the busy streets of Validen with Ferox the fierce pulling our vehicle. “That Phantom group isn’t supposed to be here yet.”
“We’re going to inquire exactly when they’ll arrive,” he told me as he gave me a mischievous smile. “One can’t fetch a good teacher if they don’t know when they’re available.”
I dropped my gaze to the cylinder attached to my arm. “Is this such a good idea? I mean, what if this thing accidentally kills him?”
He shook his head. “It’s more likely to kill you first than him.”
I dropped my arm and my face did the same. “That’s a comforting thought.”
A pensive expression slipped onto his face as he crossed one leg over the other. “We could try investigating the Prima Staff, but our inquiries would attract unwanted attention.”
His eyes flickered to a tall figure whom we passed. It was a guard, and I had to stop myself from flinching. “I see what you mean.”
Ben cocked his head slightly and studied me. “We could, however, have someone else make inquiries for us.”
Both my eyebrows shot up. “You mean him?”
My companion nodded. “He’s rather useful for such expeditions. People feel more freely speaking with him than with a high-society swell.”
I blinked at him. “Why is that?”
He flashed me a wicked grin. “Because they already know who, and what, they’re dealing with.”
I leaned back against the seat and crossed my arms over my chest. “You’re going to have to tell me how all of that happened, and you still haven’t explained-” I waved my hand at his chest, “-well, all that.”
There was that thoughtful look on his face again as he stared ahead. “We might make a brief stop elsewhere for that explanation. There is someone I know who would be better able to answer your questions.”
I lifted an eyebrow. “Really? Who?”
“My mother.”
I shouldn’t have been as surprised as I was. After all, I’d heard he had a parent. Still, there was one nagging question about that admission. “Your mom knows about what you do?”
“You mean gallivanting about with beautiful women, then yes.”
I rolled my eyes. “I meant your ‘hobby.’”
“Also yes.”
I narrowed my eyes at him. “And she approves?”
He sighed. “She doesn’t completely approve of my hobby, no.”
A snort escaped me. “Alright, I want to meet her.”
Ben leaned forward and lifted his voice just slightly. “Ferox, take us to-” The horse flung his head back and whinnied before he turned sharply rightward. So sharp, in fact, that Ben was sent tumbling against the wall of his side of the carriage. He righted himself and grinned. “I should have known his acute hearing was listening in on our conversation.”
“Does he understand everything we’re saying?”
“Certain words, at the very least,” Ben mused as he set his clasped hands in his lap. “And definitely more than he lets on.”
A crooked smile adorned my lips. “So what does he know that I don’t?”
“You mean where we’re going?” he teased as his eyes twinkled at me. “Didn’t I tell you? We’re going to see my mother.”
I gave a nod. “Yes, but where is she?”
“At the destination to which we’re traveling.”
I folded my arms over my chest and snorted. “Always the mystery man, aren’t you?”
“I try to make your life interesting.”
My eyes flickered down to his shirt. “I hope you’re not keeping any more insane nobleman’s sons in your sleeve.”
“Only on special occasions, but we’ll be there soon.”
We rolled through the cobblestone streets and into a neighborhood of stone buildings that more resembled miniature fortresses than homes and shops. The road was bumpy and winding, and the further we traveled in that medieval district the taller and more imperious the buildings became until they towered over our little carriage.
The structures occupied larger and larger plots, and many were surrounded by low stone walls. They reminded me of giant mausoleums, and the empty streets added to the effect. Ferox rolled us up to one of the tallest and most imposing buildings. A low wall surrounded its acre-sized plot, and each corner of the interior wall was adorned with a gigantic tree that resembled oaks.
The structure itself was round with a huge glass dome on top. High, narrow windows were evenly spaced with one row above the other. The entrance was a pair of large wooden doors that featured carved scenes of women with their hands raised to a moonlit sky. Smaller rectangular buildings with single-sloped roofs were attached on either side to the round building.
Not a thing stirred as Ferox stopped the carriage in front of the gap in the wall. Ben hopped out and offered me his hand. “Welcome to the Covenant.”
I lifted my eyes to the high structure and lifted an eyebrow. “This looks a little. . .bleak.”
He chuckled as he led me up the stone path to the doors. “The more welcoming living quarters are in the rear. My mother should be in the main chapel, however, with the other sisters.”
My mind caught up to what Ben had said, and I whipped my head around to face him. “Did you say convent or covenant?”
“Covenant,” he told me as we reached the door. “My mother is charged with managing a horde of hexers.”
Some of the color drained from my face. “Isn’t hexing bad?”
He rapped loudly on the door. “Very little magic is inherently bad. Only the way it’s used can be bad.”
One of the portals opened and a spinster stuck her head out. She wore a flowing black robe, and her long gray hair was tied in a braid that trailed down her back. The old woman wore spectacles perched atop her beaked nose, but she still squinted at us. “What’s wanted?”
Ben offered her a smile. “An interview with my mother, Lady Forsythe.”
She leaned in closer and her eyes widened. “Why, little Benny!” I nearly burst out laughing. “Why in the world haven’t you visited sooner?”
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