Chapter 35

Simon's magic thundered through him, the new connectivity like nothing before. He hadn't needed much coaching from his father—this had felt intrinsic, normal and perfect. His magic had always brought him great joy but this was a different level.

He had no fear as he stepped out of the portal, a lich, even a creature of Mettle's power was no match for him and it helped he was fuelled by righteous indignation. He'd focused in on the phylactery and Mettle was sitting in a chair in a well-appointed study when they arrived. Surprise was always the best form of attack and Mettle just managed to get out a couple of spells before Simon had him cornered, wrapped tightly in a confinement charm. But Simon was not stupid enough to let his guard down.

"Ralph, so good to see you again." Simon leant over him, he was going to enjoy this. "I love the new place."

"How did you find me?"

He smiled, letting his fangs descend. "I'm a little different from the last time we met."

"I see. Such a waste."

"You used me like a battery." He hadn't felt any pain, hadn't realised anything at the time, but now he knew he was livid. "I won't forgive that, but I have questions and you can tell me or I have a new way of making you talk."

Mettle stared past him to the collection of vampires Simon had brought with him. "Are you going to set them on me?"

"I don't need them, they wanted to come for shits and giggles afterwards. I'm going to take what I want and hand you over to Messrs Cartwright and Hewel."

Only then did he realise, Mettle hadn't figured out who his friends were until he'd said the names. This was going to be fun.

"I would say they would both like a word, for different reason. Mr Hewel is Catlin Redbourn's Head of House, and the gentleman in the suit is Lord Crofton, and of course my husband, Mr Flint. And as you probably know, Mr Cartwright is my father's sire."

"I am honoured," Mettle drawled.

"You're a fucking bastard, and I'm going to get what I want and let these fine gentlemen play." He made a crackle of magic dance between his fingers, unnecessary but he was happy to put on a display. "I can make you speak the truth. No torture needed, and I'm not even going to pretend to let you think you'd have the choice to tell me."

"There's no such spell."

"Tut tut, you never knew what you kept captive. You thought I was a good energy source, but I'm far more than that."

His burning question was how he had known to target him, his family had been careful and while there were rumours in the fae realm, even his father's status had never been confirmed widely.

Simon pressed a finger to Mettle's temple. "I want to know how you knew what I was and when to take me."

"I bet you do. Must be quite annoying not to know."

He fired a pulse of magic into Mettle's mind, a needle-sharp piece of spell work he'd never used but had every faith there'd be no issue. "Telltale, tongue untied."

Mettle hissed. He was fighting but there'd be no point. "I had heard about the vampire-fae in the warrens of Constantinople around about the 15th century. Not that name but the context, and I met your father… celebrating his upcoming wedding. He raved about her beauty… I could tell he was different but I wasn't sure how exactly."

Sebastian growled. "He was with me and Liam. We were introducing him to some friends of mine, and we were sampling a local or two. Enjoying a different flavour, so to speak, and then he was off to marry Queen Hylei."

"Yes," Mettle said. "I saw him again a century later, I'd been searching, and he'd changed and I could almost taste the raw power. I researched everywhere, sniffing out fragments here and there and found out that there were a few days when your kind were neither one or the other but a ball of pure magical energy, and I thought that would be perfect. I could feast forever off one of you if I kept you in that state. I thought it would only be a matter of time before James had a child…"

He suspected Mettle had been playing the long game but not six centuries. "How did you know about me?"

"Oh, I have tracking spells everywhere. I sensed there was a spell orb at play with James and another's signature, but I couldn't grasp why, and then I heard the Dark Earl of MacLove was going to agree to the marriage of his son but there would be a waiting period."

"No one knew of the marriage," Jack said. "I made sure to keep all records closed."

"I did not know to whom the boy was betrothed but I surmised the change in the nature of the spell orb meant someone had been identified and the contracts signed. If he weren't special it would've been announced. I slipped into the fae realm and posed as an academic while I waited for him—you—to get older."

Mettle's face morphed into one he had known for years. Albdin… his tutor. The rolls of nausea hit headlong with his anger but he needed to keep his composure as he had more to learn still.

"You were such a gifted student, and when you surpassed what I could be seen to be teaching you I had to back off. But at least I knew."

"But how did you know the timing when I would change?" Once his memories had returned, he'd had a moment when he'd wondered if Robin had been part of it but he'd dismissed it outright, a stabbing pain from their bond giving him instant karma.

"There were rumours around the contract but not to whom you were promised, then I got word that the Young Flint was getting married to Prince Simon, at MacLove Castle. I'd been waiting for years, the elves' contract in place. I just needed to make sure."

"You pretended to be Henry Osbourne," Robin said. "You turned up at our wedding, but the real Henry was stuck as a bat. Which I bet you did."

Simon hadn't heard this but Mettle started laughing. "That's right, it was funny to see the Dark Duke of Pembroke as a furry squeaky thing. When I kissed Simon's hand I could feel the potential, he was marvellous, and I was ready."

Simon had the answers he needed and removed his fingers. He reached under the collar of Mettle's shirt. found the chain with the blue gem and yanked it off. "I don't need to hear any more. I'll let my friends do with you as they wish."

The sound of a distant alarm didn't distract him, and he saw Jack head over to the door and Ashley to the window unprompted, they were an impressive duo, magically dominant and an eye for strategy, useful people to know and to have on his side.

"There'll be others here soon," Ashley said. "I sent out a scanning pulse when we arrived and there's at least fifty other magic users on-site."

Simon turned to Sebastian. "I'm not sure we have time for a detailed torture session, but I'll provide you with a flamethrower."

"Are you sure you don't want the honour?" Sebastian asked, he was bouncing from foot to foot as if limbering up. Simon held up the phylactery. "I'll be the one to destroy this, which will put a permanent end to him. If someone else wants to roast his body, I'll ensure the case for his soul is smashed to pieces."

Mettle began to struggle, bound in the chair, the realisation hitting home. "I can give you anything you want. Let me work with you, we could be a brilliant team."

"I don't need you to be brilliant. I have nothing but contempt for your ways."

He felt Jack's magic form a protective barrier over the door, moments later a loud bang resonated from outside. Someone was trying to get in, Mettle would have his minions but they couldn't save him now.

He conjured a flamethrower and offered it to Liam. "If you'd like to do the honours. A light charring will cause him discomfort, but you'll need a concentrated stream to make a real impact."

Liam motioned to Sebastian. "Simon, you can do the honours for the House of Cartwright, I will let Sebastian do the ones for his."

"And that's why we have remained friends for so long, always generous with your considerations." Sebastian took hold of the flamethrower and without preamble sent a stream of fire at Mettle, not enough to kill him but his screams and the acrid smell of his burning flesh brought Simon great pleasure to know he was suffering.

"That's for Catlin Redbourn."

"I took her in when you discarded her," spat Mettle. "You are punishing the wrong person."

"I have already dealt with the one who was the instigator, drained the aswang of use before she was dispatched. But you took advantage, and you will be suitably disciplined." Sebastian didn't wait for an answer and fired another stream of fire.

A second barrage of loud bangs hit the door. "I can't hold them off much longer," Jack called.

Ashley raised a shield against the windows as another set tried to get in. "Same here."

"Come on, Sebastian, toast the fucker," Liam said.

Sebastian rolled his eyes. "You're getting off lightly, Mettle. I've half a mind to let you reincarnate so I can kill you again."

Simon didn't think that would be a very good idea. "I'm not sure that's a risk we'd want to take."

Sebastian flashed him a brilliant, if not a little demented, smile. "Of course not. And as much as I'd like to play with this piece of shit to get his hopes up, it's time to take him down and get out of here."

With a cackle, Sebastian fired a sustained plume of fire at Mettle. The intensity burnt him to a crisp, the smell of flesh and hair burning caught at the back of Simon's throat and the charred remains of Mettle crumbled in his chair, but had one last thing to do to finish this. He held the blue jewel in his hand, forcing his magic into it, pulling it apart and reducing it to atoms.

The door to the room burst open, Jack deflected a couple of bolts but was hit by a third, he staggered backwards, and it looked as if he'd taken some damage. Simon let loose a wave of magic, forcing the intruders out, and opened a portal.

"Grab Jack and go."

They hurtled through the portal, Ben and Ashley supporting Jack, and he saw Robin was waiting for him. He pushed him ahead and then as they stepped back into Fairbanks, he closed the portal behind them.

Jack was on the floor, panting with pain and Simon could see random clumps of scales poking out from underneath his clothes, Ashley at his side, and Simon crouched down next to him. "Do you know what hit him?"

Ashley waved a hand over Jack, muttering a diagnostic spell. "A general power destabiliser, I think."

Simon put a hand on Jack's forehead. "Yes, but with a twist. Disruptive and with an echo. I'll defuse but he'll need some time to recover…" He could taste the sea and realised what the scales were. Sirens often had the worst of things. "His physiology might not be helping."

"It never does."

Simon let his magic ripple through Jack. Jack's magic scattered and fraught, like a scared cat. He cleared away the lingering spells causing the issue, which would allow Jack some time to recover and resync. "He'll be okay, but it'll take a while. Has he family, or someone who could take him in? I could take him to the fae realm."

"I can look after him," Ashley said quickly. "He hasn't any family left."

"You're at Crofton Hall more than your home," Ben said. He came to stand behind Ashley. "You could move in properly, bring Jack with you."

Simon thought they might need a private conversation but Ashley smiled and maybe there wasn't anything to discuss.

Simon stood. "He's stable enough to move, so let's take him to Crofton Hall. I'd like to check in with Catlin."

Sebastian and Liam excused themselves, no longer needed and having other things to do. Liam turned to Robin before he left. "You'll need to restart your house hunting. I've somewhere in mind, I think you'll both like. I'll send you the details."

Ben was carrying Jack, his vampire strength meaning it was no issue. Simon opened a portal and turned to Robin. "I need to take Ben back to Crofton Hall as warlock portals are different to fae so my protective casting won't help if Ashley were to do it."

"I'm coming with you," Robin said, before Simon had the chance to ask him his plans. "We need to decide where we might be heading. Might be good to talk on neutral soil."

He laughed. "I'm still receptive to the idea of LA… but I'm sure you've ways to convince me."

The portal opened into the rooms he'd used when he'd been rescued from the facility. The wards were gone and it no longer felt oppressive. Alex and Karl materialised as they appeared.

Alex took one look at Jack and set to work, casting an elvish healing spell Simon ached to learn. He wanted to know everything, wanted to push his skills in every direction.

"He needs somewhere to recuperate," Simon said to Alex. "Monitoring and alignment would be useful."

"I'll set up a room immediately. My lord, if you'll follow me."

Ben and Ashley followed Alex, Jack still safe in Ben's arms, which left Simon with Karl and Robin. "Are you gentleman staying?" Karl asked.

"For a couple of days, at most," Robin answered.

"And would you prefer these rooms or Mr Flint's?"

"Robin's," Simon answered. "The memories are too heavy here. We've much more pleasant things to discuss."

"Certainly, Your Highness."

"I would prefer to be called Simon, my fae title carries no weight here." He saw Karl wince—demons loved hierarchy. "If you must call me something else in front of others, then my lord, in reference to my viscount status will suffice."

"I will try."

He swayed and Robin took his arm. "I think I might need something to eat."

"I'll deliver a tray immediately."

Karl vanished.

"My rooms are only down the other end of this hallway," Robin said.

Simon leant against Robin as they walked, his magic singing. Their bond was not going to wane, and he wondered if Robin already knew.