Blood Binding, page 11
Cassian frowned. “How much younger is she?”
“One year, nearly to the day. We had shared birthday parties when we were kids.” She smiled. “Wow, that seems like a lifetime ago.” She was lost in memories of giggling and playing tag with handfuls of cake.
Cassian asked slowly, “Have you seen her since you freed yourself?”
“No, but I got her number, and we chat on the phone at least once a month.” Atty continued to grin. “She got her magical education and ran with it.”
Ilthar blinked. “So, both of you have a lot of magic?” He smacked his forehead. “Duh, of course, you do.”
Atty nodded. “Yeah. More like twins than sisters, but she developed her power after I did. I got advanced witch training; she got mage training.”
Cassian finished his third bird. “Would you like to see her?”
“I would love it, but why are you asking?”
“I have been wanting to establish an outlet for mages in this city, and she is an excellent person to talk to.” Cassian smiled.
She nodded. “Do you want me to call her? We have kept apart because we didn’t want to put a big arrow on my location. She makes an impression if she is on business.”
Cassian nodded. “Would you like to invite her, or shall I?”
“I will. Hang on; I have to grab my phone.”
Ilthar handed his phone over. “Here you go.”
She smiled and pressed the call button and waited.
“Atty! This isn’t our scheduled call, is something wrong?”
“No, I am just out in the open now, so my mate wanted me to invite you over tomorrow.”
“Mate? Spill!”
“Cassian.”
There was silence and then, “You are fucking a dragon?”
Cassian grinned.
“Uh, yeah. It seemed the natural progression after I made my way through the other species in town.”
“Mating?”
“Yeah. That. So, will you come?”
“Sure. When and where?”
Cassian held out his hand for the phone, and when he got it, he chatted to Missy for a minute and asked her to arrive for brunch. The rest of the comments were short and polite, and then the call was over.
Atty was excited. She hadn’t seen her sister in the flesh since they were kids.
Ilthar smiled. “So, what does she like to eat?”
“A lot.”
He nodded. “Got it.” He collected the dishes and brought out dessert.
Atty was happily humming as she ate her dessert. She drank the coffee and smiled at the familiar taste. Tomorrow she would see her sister, and she was going to hug the stuffing out of her.
Atty was in the lobby with Cassian and watching the front doors. The clock ticked over to ten thirty, and a familiar figure walked through the door in jeans and a long-sleeved shirt.
Cassian blinked. “I didn’t see her approach.”
The woman smiled, her white braid hanging to her waist and her green and gold eyes sparkling. “Atty!”
“Missy!” Atty darted forward and hugged her sister, who was nearly her twin. Power flowed around them, and it felt wonderful. It felt like family.
They finally leaned back, and both wiped tears from their eyes. They looked at each other and laughed.
Missy spoke softly. “You are looking good, but your hair is silvering up again.”
Atty nodded. “Silver? It used to be white like yours.”
“Dabbling with dragons will mark you.” Missy grinned.
Cassian spoke softly, “She does not dabble.”
Atty watched her sister turn to Cassian and blinked as a mask of confidence and power came over her features. “Wow.”
Cassian nodded formally to Missy, and Missy inclined her head before she straightened. “You are going to settle the wolves?”
Cassian nodded. “I will.”
“Good, though if you don’t want to, I will.” She grinned. “I have been looking forward to it, but I have to wait for them to make the first move.”
Atty looked at her sister and the ferocity in her expression. “Geez, Missy, what have you been up to?”
Missy smiled. “Just a little of this and a little of that.”
Cassian nodded. “Please, come upstairs. Ilthar has been working all morning. He’s trying to make a good impression.”
“Lead the way, Lord Cassian.” Missy quirked her lips.
Atty snickered as her dragon put his arm around her and guided her to the elevator with her sister walking behind them. When they exited the elevator, Ilthar gave Missy a deep bow.
“Archmage. You honour Lord Cassian’s home.”
“It is soon to be my sister’s home, so no honour is too great.” Missy extended her hand, and the stunned elf shook it.
Atty chuckled. “I think he is debating ever washing his hand again.”
Missy smiled. “Ew. I smell breakfast?”
Ilthar blinked, bowed low again, and led them all into the dining room, where an enormous buffet of breakfast items was spread with warmed plates and a carafe of coffee standing by.
Missy asked Cassian, “May I?”
He nodded. “Please, you are our guest. Help yourself.”
Missy winked at Atty and picked up a plate. She did her first pass and sat at the table set aside for them to sit at.
Atty laughed and went next with Cassian clearing nearly everything on the table.
Missy smiled. “So, Atty, you are looking well.”
Atty blushed. The plug was back, and she was pretty sure that her sister knew. “So are you. Your eyes are glowing.”
“Oh, sorry.” Her eyes dimmed to normal, but they were still yellow and green. “I was at a council meeting this morning and left them visible.”
Atty blinked. “So, you skipped out and changed to come here?”
“Well, you wanted me to be low-key. So, this is as low as I can get without adding a sweatshirt to the mix.”
Cassian nodded. “Missy, where is your familiar?”
Atty watched as her sister choked and gasped, “Why are you asking about him?”
Cassian seemed surprised. “You wear the link, which is rather apparent and extreme.”
Missy grimaced. “It was an order of council that linked us. One too many attempts on my life, and since my response was energetic, they needed someone to take the hit. He doesn’t like it any more than I do.”
Atty blinked. “Is it an animal?”
Missy muttered, “Sometimes. But enough about me. How are you going to handle the wolves?”
Cassian shrugged. “There were a few options, but basically, it was that she has already paid the cost.”
Missy nodded. “If they don’t go for that, call me. I have an absolute answer, but it can’t be stated outside of the judgment. I have to be all formal and shit to put my foot down.”
Cassian’s expression was curious, but he nodded.
They finished breakfast, and Atty told Missy all about the café.
“I would love to see it, but I am only here for the day. I have to do fancy stuff tomorrow.”
Atty grinned. “It is literally across the street.”
Cassian sighed and checked the time. “And I have to go meet with the wolf council. If you go to the café, let me know.”
Atty smiled. “Of course, Punkin.”
Missy grinned.
Ilthar took care of the dishes and looked shocked when Missy asked to help.
“No, Archmage. My mother would beat the hell out of me if I let you do that.” He smiled and continued tidying up.
Atty walked Cassian to the door and kissed him softly. “They are tricky. Don’t fall for it.”
He grinned. “Your sister looks like she has an ace up her sleeve. I am filled with confidence.”
“Yeah, but her plans are complicated. I would not trust her if she says she’s simple.”
“She looks trustworthy.”
There was a laugh behind them.
“Missy and I grew up together for a decade. Her little plots are never simple, but she is trustworthy.”
“Have fun today. I hope she will be a frequent visitor to our home.” He kissed her again. “I will contact you as soon as we have an answer.”
“You had better.”
He grinned then sighed. “I hate leaving you.”
“Trust me. I am very aware that you are with me right now.”
His shoulders shook, and he hugged her. “I will see you shortly.”
“Don’t eat anyone today.” His expression made her grin. “Well, except me.”
He laughed. Another quick kiss, and he was on his way out.
Atty sighed and turned to Missy, who was laughing as she came around the corner.
“So, Atty, you are happy.”
“Nine years of waiting for the right guy got me to him, so yeah, I am.”
“Tired of playing Goldifucks?”
Atty laughed. “Definitely. He’s... more than enough. So, what about the guy you had a crush on?”
Missy waved that away. “He’s busy reaming extranaturals. I am not his type.”
Atty blinked. “Oh, honey.”
“Yeah, I had to just draw a line on my crush and give it to the universe. I refuse to chase someone who doesn’t want me.” Missy grinned. “And another week, and I will be free of him.”
“Free?”
Missy snorted. “I think that I would rather not make eye contact while I explain. Wanna show me your café?”
“Sounds like a plan, but I need to know what is going on with you. You already know all of my secrets.”
Missy laughed. “Only the bits I am curious about. I haven’t seen that particular condition recently, but it isn’t entirely unknown.”
Atty sighed and put her sneakers on, grabbed her keys and phone, then they headed out.
When they were out of the building and across the street, Missy explained her situation, and Atty paused. “That fucking sucks.”
“I agree. I think I will fall for someone else eventually, but there never seems to be anyone around when I am interested in looking.”
Atty smiled. “Is your crush around when you are looking?”
“Usually. He is near when I am at events with a lot of extranaturals.”
They walked into the shop, and Atty made them coffee.
Atty sighed, “Do you really know how to get out of the contract?”
“Definitely. No matter what happens, they can’t keep you.” She smiled. “And I will come to get you. I will know where you are.”
“I am really happy to see you face to face.”
Missy grinned. “The resemblance is uncanny. Almost like we are related.”
They giggled and chatted together. After a few hours, they left and were waiting to cross the street when their reunion came to an abrupt end.
Atty caught the curl of a familiar scent before she was knocked down. Missy was tossed against the glass of the building, and there was a horrific crack before she slumped to the ground.
The man who had knocked her down grabbed Atty and pulled her against him. There was a light and a wrench, and she threw up.
“Aw, geez. Randy, that was a rough transport.” One of the other guys groaned.
Atty straightened and looked around. “The fucking boathouse?”
The man who held her chuckled. “She made it through.”
“Whatever. Let’s get paid and get the hell out of here. I hit that friend rather hard.”
“Not a friend.” Atty turned to look at the feline shifters that were surrounding her. “My sister. If you hurt her badly, you are going to die.”
“Are you threatening me?”
The man looked like a human bobcat hybrid, and he growled as he loomed over her.
Atty smiled. “No, but she is a mage and just had her wards down so we could hug. Once she’s healed and on her feet, you are dead.”
The mercenaries laughed as they hauled her along toward the main house. They didn’t take her seriously, but they were about to learn.
Chapter Eleven
Missy stood up and called Ilthar. “Hey, I need all of Atty’s friends notified that she has been abducted by mercenaries, and we need folk to go get her. I will tell Cassian.”
She cast some minor healing spells and put on her formal robes. A gesture later, and she had her staff, and then she stepped forward to stand next to Cassian at the head of the table, where the wolves froze in place at her sudden appearance.
“Cassian, the royal household sent mercenaries to reclaim her. She’s been transported, and I can’t send you, or my portal would blow open. And yeah, I know you hear that from all the girls. Out the window and go.”
The window shattered as Cassian dove out and transformed on the way down, his wings opening above the ground, and then he was up and on his way.
Missy looked at the men who were milling in shock. She shook her head. “Go home and tell them that we are coming. They might want to hide the valuables. We aren’t going to be delicate.”
They stared, and she flicked her hand to send them back to their home. The wolves were going to be up in arms. She looked forward to it. Another portal, and she was in front of the multi-person call that Ilthar had assembled. She smiled and explained that the wolves had made their move, and those who wanted to help just needed to raise their hands.
Missy looked at Ilthar, and she nodded. “All gargoyles that are coming should be on the roof in five minutes, and everyone else, you have that same five minutes to get dressed and get ready. They are fighting to get power on the throne. They might be brutal.”
The others nodded, and she said, “Right. Five minutes from now.”
Missy smiled and got her phone to set the alarm.
Ilthar brought a sword and dagger, and when her alarm went off, she nodded. “Here we go.”
She focused her mind on the thirty who had agreed to come with them, and as one, they appeared at the wolves’ home manor. Time to settle things.
* * * *
Atty felt the pulse of power as she was pulled toward the house. She grinned. Missy had arrived. Based on the feeling of approaching thunder, Cassian wasn’t too far behind.
She was pulled into the kitchen doorway and toward the main hall. The collection of shifters in paramilitary clothing hauled her to the gathering hall to collect their reward.
She saw eight elders talking to Richard on the throne, and Andrew and Leah were behind the chair on either side. Maybe Richard’s wife had passed on.
“Your Majesty, we have brought her as the prince ordered. We will turn her over the moment that we receive payment.” The man holding her kept his hands on her arms.
Atty looked at Richard. “Why am I here, Richard?”
He flinched. “You have lost your manners?”
“What manners? You are not my king.” She shrugged.
There was the heavy rapping of a staff on the polished floor. “Well, now, let my sister go, and as for you...” Missy flicked her fingers, and the man who struck her was turned into a small kitten.
The man holding Atty tensed.
Missy sauntered forward as Cassian thudded down and came inside without using the door. The hole in the wall was large.
The wolves were soon nervous as other extranaturals had now turned the ambush into a fair fight. Gargoyles, a vampire, elves, trolls, fairies, they were all there and looked angry. Atty blinked away tears.
Richard swallowed. “We don’t want this to escalate. We just need you back.”
“No.”
“Andrew is willing to bind himself to you alone.”
Leah flinched.
Atty sighed. “Leah, you are still standing with him while he cats around?”
“He loves me.” She smiled and lifted her head.
“Yeah, and he has also loved four other women in this room. I am amazed you aren’t catching his scent on them. He loves himself and getting off. Not much else. It’s a pity he will never have children. He has certainly put in the work.” Atty glowered at them.
Leah looked less confident. “Four?”
Andrew muttered, “Lee, don’t listen to her.”
“Sara, there is no need to be so petty,” Richard muttered.
Cassian growled. “You have stolen my mate.”
Atty watched him approach the mercenaries. She muttered, “I would let go of me if I were you.”
Fire suddenly bathed them all, and the mercenaries stiffened. Atty stepped toward Cassian, and he folded her in his arms and hid her in the wrap of his wings. He stroked her back, and Andrew called out, “Hey, Sara is mine!”
Leah gasped. Atty didn’t care; Cassian had her now.
* * * *
Missy stepped forward. “Her name is Athena, not Sara. What twisted fuck thought Sara was better?”
The king stood up and stared. “Who are you?”
“Archmage Artemis Will. Athena’s little sister.”
“Archmage?”
Missy grinned. “Yeah. Is the seer who sent you on the trail to Atty here?”
An older man stepped forward. “I was that seer, Archmage.”
“Well, you got this household into an invalid contract.”
Richard stared. “What?”
“You heard me. It was an invalid contract. The prophecy was never for Atty, and it was never for a consort. It was to bring magic to your kingdom, and here I am.” She smiled. “Now, stand aside. That throne is mine.”
He froze. “What?”
“And a woman of magic shall be chosen as a child, shall be educated in the ways of magic, and she will bring magic to the clan by sitting on the dais. Her blood will herald a new era of power.” She smiled. “You overzealous twits grabbed Athena and educated her witching magic. Good for you.”
She stepped toward the throne with her wards up and her aura on full display. Richard staggered back, and his son cried out. Missy settled on the throne and waited for the wolves to stop freaking out.
She sat with her staff held in her right hand. She looked at the wolf shifters and smiled. “Now, I am just going to borrow your beasts for a minute. Don’t worry; they are safe with me.”
Without another word, she pulled the energy of their beasts to her and settled them in her body for a moment. That was the moment that she felt the cold and hot slice through her back and into her chest.
