Sterling (26 page)

“Look at her eyes,” Novis said.

Silence fell.

What they were looking at was something that happened under extreme conditions, the pinpoint pupils of my eyes turned a metallic color that was more noticeable when it was dark and they were expanded.

“What have you made, Samil? She is not like us.” Novis placed his thumb on my forehead in the same manner he had done once before. He was no longer giving, but taking from me—testing me—summoning the power within me. Was he measuring me? Well he could measure my fist up his ass if he didn’t get himself up off of me.

I pulled back.

A sweet rush of perfumed energy whirled within my being—ancient energy—before the contact was broken. Novis gasped and rose to his feet. He stepped back in line with a peculiar expression that he quickly erased. Merc brushed back his blonde hair and lifted a meaty arm to point his finger straight at me.

“She has broken the laws in front of the Council, Novis. She has attempted to take the life of her Creator.” It wasn’t just an observation—Merc was placing an accusation against me.

Simon approached quickly with his head lowered.

“Council I implore you that I would offer you my services, what you would ask, if she be spared her life and continue to be kept under Ghuardianship. Her maker forced her into being without a choice. She has not yet been named within the Mageri. Can a law be broken of a society you have not yet fully entered? Please do not punish ignorance.”

I glared at him and I could tell he saw me out of his peripheral. I flicked my eyes back to the Council and noticed they lightly touched fingers while facial expressions changed, as if they were communicating. Another moment passed and Hannah finally spoke up.

“We have come to a decision. Simon, as you so offered your services we will collect for our leniency. However, we cannot deny her maker his rights. For her life, we will require one service from you upon our choosing.” Simon bowed his head with respect.

“Learner,” she continued, “Rise to your feet.”

I did so, without grace or speed but with my dignity in tact.

“Show us the mark of your maker.”

Scratch dignity
.

Justus nudged at me to do as commanded, but I never told him
where
my mark was. Brushing the dirt from my hands, I looked at her directly.

“I have a mark; you don’t need to see it.” I licked my lips and gulped.

“It is but required that you present the mark of your Creator so that we may be witness and it is properly documented in our books that you are his progeny.”

“I’m shy,” I bit through clenched teeth

Her eyes narrowed at my disobedience but she wasn’t backing down. Justus shoved at my shoulder and the eyes were unwavering.

I began to unbutton my jeans when Novis spoke up.

“
Hannah
.”

She rolled her eyes and waved her hand. “Fine. Learner, come with me.”

She led me to a private area in the woods and what I showed her was sufficient. When we rejoined the group, they were all standing in silence.

“I have seen the mark, she is Samil’s progeny. Samil, you will now present the Learner to us. Speak her name, for once it is heard she will no longer be an outsider among the Mageri.”

Samil stepped forward as a victor in a battle, his long wild hair obscuring his face.

“But first Samil, you will know that we have made a decision to your fate as well. These are unusual circumstances which we have not seen, and not all the facts appear to be disclosed. We will release her to your charge. However, in seven days there will be an open challenge that will entitle any other to stake their claim on this Learner. As she was not given the choice to be Mage, we will allow fate to decide.” Hannah paused and her thick brows nearly met, giving the appearance of a Goddess who could strike fear with a mere glance.

“Should there be a challenger, your gifts will be leveraged to give equal footing. The victor shall acquire the rights to this Learner and the power of the other Mage. Samil, should no one challenge you then she will remain your charge. Upon your death, if she has not been released from your custody then she will go to her Ghuardian. We will not retract his status.”

“What happens to the loser?” I asked, hesitating as I was told not to speak out of turn. Of course, I already fucked that up the moment I stepped on the field.

Her eyes flew back to Justus annoyed by my questioning. “We do not challenge to the death, Learner. The winner will not borrow, but take the power of the other. The defeated will be tasked with rebuilding their life source and that will require a number of years to regain the same level of power. It is a fitting elevation for the victor.”

There it was, a chance that my enemy could be weakened. A chance that I could be free of him. All of it depended on one small detail—someone would have to fight for me.

But who? It was between Justus and Simon. Simon didn’t know me well enough and Justus, he already was so willing to pass me over. Even now he said nothing.

“May I ask another question?” Justus yanked my arm and I pulled out of his grasp, folding my arms.

“You may,” Hannah answered.

“If no one challenges him…may I?”

My embarrassment turned to heated anger when the response was laughter. Hannah rolled her eyes and I saw smiles play across all their faces.

Novis clasped his hands in front and gave a nod to Justus before answering my question. “I like your tenacity Learner. You will make a fine Mage one day. To answer your question: no. You are neither skilled, nor strong enough. I’m sure you still value your life. No Creator would want claim over a Learner who challenged them. Someone must fight for you. Fear not—perhaps chivalry is not dead. We shall see.”

The seconds were excruciating as no one said a word. Justus stood motionless and guilt played across his face as his eyes memorized the tips of his shoes. I had been expecting for someone right at that moment to give their intentions, perhaps in a moment of nobility yell out something along the lines of, ‘I will fight for her!’ But this was not an epic movie, and Justus said nothing.

No one did.

Except…

“Come.” Samil’s fingers curled around my elbow painfully as he pulled me forward.

“I am Samil, Creator of 43 Learners. I stand before you on this night to present to the Council my progeny, a new member to our sacred lineage. I claim this Learner as her maker, and hereby name her…,” he flicked a glance at my eyes. “Silver.”

I hated him immediately.

Novis raised his chin as he replied, “That is an acceptable, and may I say, appropriate choice. Embrace your name, Silver; it is now your identity. Samil, we accept your claim to Silver as a fledgling Mage, you will take her into your home and respectfully teach her the ways of our kind.”

Hannah adjusted a pin in her hair as she studied Samil. “These
are
strange circumstances,” she sighed. “Samil, it is custom for the progeny to leave from this spot with their maker; however as she also has Ghuardianship, you will allow her one half hour to retrieve her things and pay respect to her Ghuardian. Seven days we will assemble here. If you do not show, she will be removed from your care. That is all.”

The Council turned and we stood in silence listening to the sound of the grass rustle below their feet as they disappeared from sight.

“One half hour. Not a fraction more,” Samil pointed a finger at Justus and stalked into the shadows as if he were nothing more than an apparition.

“Silver. It’s not such a bad name, love. Silver metal has the highest electrical conductivity you know, from any other element…and thermal conductivity.”

Justus glared at Simon, who shrugged. “Just sayin’.”

I felt empty…abandoned. If I had stayed with Adam none of this would be happening.

“So I’m Silver Merrick.”

“No.”

“I’m not taking his last name am I?”

Justus folded his arms prepared to give me perhaps my last lesson.

“In the beginning it was custom for the Creator to give his progeny a new name as a Mage. Maybe they thought it would help them let go of their old life, or maybe it was an ego thing. But it’s a tradition we still carry. Some kept their former human name while others did not. If the ancient had a surname or a second name—which almost all did—the progeny would take on that name like a female does when she marries. The name De Gradi is of my maker and he was of Italian descent. The only exception to this rule is if a Mage discovers their rare gift makes them a Creator, also. Then they are allowed to retain their own surname and pass it on to their progeny—it creates a lineage. There are not many ancients left and most of them no longer create fledglings.”

Justus ran his hand across his head rubbing it back and forth.

“So what is my last name? And so help me, if you tell me it’s Ware, I’ll drop kick you where you stand.”

“You have none. You are only Silver. His people did not have surnames. Their first name was followed the name of their father, so it would have been something like ‘Samil, son of___”

“A bitch” I finished.

The wind gently rustled through the trees and I shivered from the icy air.

Simon approached and brushed his fingers through my hair, tucking away the one strand that was unwilling to join the rest. He studied my face and cradled my neck with his hands.

“You are stronger than you give yourself credit for.” He kissed me lightly on the mouth and walked away.

“What the hell were you thinking pulling a stunt like that with the dagger? I specifically told you how to conduct yourself. You must play by the Councils rules, have you learned nothing I have taught you?”

My eyes were moist and Justus pulled me to his chest and held me tight.

He held me as he had never done before—with warmth and feeling. Large hands ran down my back and his baritone voice soothed, “Shhhh. I didn’t mean to make you cry.”

“I’m not crying, I’m scared.”

“Remember, the Grey Veil.”

I nodded into his chest.

“Silver…
Silver
,” he whispered, adjusting to the sound of my name. “He may have named you, but I want you to own that name, do you understand?”

“I have seven days, I’ll figure out something.”

He pulled me at arms length and I watched that thick jaw harden to marble.

“I’ll work on the Council, don’t get any ideas.” He slipped a silver jade dragon pendant over my neck. “Don’t take it off. It is forged with hidden energy, should you need it you’ll have one chance to use it.”

One chance was all I needed.

Chapter 22

“I would like to see you just try it you fucking piss poor excuse for a Mage! Come on then, swing away. I’ll give you the first shot but after than you better flash your arse off you limey bastard.”

“So it is you who will challenge me?” Deep laughter broke away from Samil. “Well then I wager that it will not last very long. What a shame, your power wouldn’t be enough to charge my phone as green as you are.”

Through the tree’s they came into view—Simon and Samil were standing ten feet or so apart between the cars.

“Right here, right fucking now. All mouth and no trousers.”

“Shame you won’t see her curse your name during her beatings,” he said in a thick accent.”

Simon bared his teeth and charged with a fury that could only be rivaled by Justus who flashed over and slammed him up against the car. The passenger window shattered from impact.

Samil casually strolled back to his SUV, brushing his shoulders with his hand.

“Enough, Simon!” Justus pressed a forearm into his neck. “You risk further punishment from the Council—do not provoke him.”

Simon defiantly shook free of the fists that held him down and kicked his shoe into the dirt sending up a flurry of rocks. “It’s not right!”

Samil stood by the driver’s side door as Justus tossed my bag in the back. He eased me in the back seat making it clear he didn’t want me sitting beside my maker any more than I did. If sitting on the roof were an option, I might have happily taken that.

The door slammed shut and I wrinkled my nose at the smell; it was like rancid pine cones and cheap vinyl. The interior light slowly dimmed and my breath fogged up the window as I leaned my face against the cold glass.

“I suppose you’ve tasted her. Extraordinary, isn’t she? Can’t say I’ve had the full pleasure but no one makes them quite like I do. All good things come to those who wait, isn’t that right?”

Cobalt eyes drifted down to watch me, softened and full of words I knew he would never speak out loud. He cared. Despite the fact we butted heads and spent six hours a day trying to kill each other, the man cared for me. Why did I ever doubt?

Because he was letting me go, that’s why.

“Fear not Ghuardian.” The word rolled off Samil’s tongue like a curse. “She’s in capable hands now.”

His laugh was unexpected and poisonous. My fingers clawed into the armrest of the door as I shut my eyes and pushed down all the sorrow and anger that was rising up within me. I refused to let my emotions take over. I was no longer Zoë; I was no longer a Mage. I was now a person I did not recognize. I was Silver, I was his, and I was nothing more than property.