Chapter 5

CHAPTER FIVE

Arkon stared at the mage on his couch and internally debated the merits of trying to kill her in her sleep. She slept on her side with one hand tucked under her cheek, the picture of exhausted innocence.

This was not how he imagined his night going when he woke up in a fisherman’s boat that afternoon. Arkon’s regular days were bizarre enough. This was too much.

How far could he trust whatever Zarya said? Arkon chewed his bottom lip and opened his inner sight to take a better look at Zarya’s magic. Just one little look couldn’t hurt.

Arkon snorted softly when he saw the woven pattern of her dampening spell. He should have known better. It was an elegant cocoon of a warding. He debated unraveling it a little, just for a peak underneath, but it would be the magical equivalent of looking up a lady’s shirt while she was sleeping. Despite his reputation, Arkon was in fact a gentleman.

If she had a dampening spell on while she slept, Zarya would have other passive spells at work to warn her of an attack.

It was instinct and habit that made him think of murdering her. A magical alpha had come into his territory, and he wasn’t sure how to deal with the threat. If nothing else, killing her would help his self-preservation.

Arkon got through most of his life by fooling people into thinking that they knew him. He was powerful but not a threat, that he could confidently protect Venice and not destroy her, that he was interested in politics and the war and people in general.

The truth was only magic really interested him, and he had only been engaged with what was happening with the war because the Wolf Mage was his adversary.

Arkon was good with people because he understood what motivated them, but it didn’t mean that he liked them. He found them boring because he knew them so well. There were only a select few people he actually enjoyed being around.

What was going to be problematic was he knew he was going to like Zarya Varasha. She wasn’t afraid of him, and he wanted to tear apart all the warding around her to look at her magic.

Talking to her was like sparring with his eyes closed, and he worried he’d be bleeding out before he realized he had been cut. The most horrible thing of all was that he couldn’t fool her with any of his masks. She knew how to see the core of his magic, which meant if he let her, she could learn things about him that no one else had ever known.

Arkon let out a frustrated huff and made for the door. He was almost there when he turned around, took a small throw rug off another chair, placed it over the sleeping mage, and hurried out of his apartments.

He studied his wards, noticing the way she had worked her way into them. A creeping, alien sensation of an undefinable something moved through him when he looked at their magic twined together. Lust, longing…

"No, not dealing with that," he whispered under his breath.

Arkon quickly activated the wards to ’assassin coming for me’ mode so that no one, not even helpful servants with food, would find her. He told himself it was to protect people against the Wolf Mage and not the other way around.

Arkon turned up the collar of his jacket and stepped out into the drizzly night. He needed to walk and think before his brain exploded. He cast a shielding spell around himself, stuffed his hands into his pockets, and began to roam the streets. It was his usual habit when he couldn’t sleep, or he was working out a problem. Or both. Zarya’s sudden appearance was definitely causing both.

Arkon walked until he ended up at a wine bar in the Campo San Lio. It was still busy with patrons, and they didn’t look at him twice as he took his glass and stood in the square, staring at the rain. The back of his neck tingled, and Zahir was suddenly beside him.

"Gesú Cristo, are you having me followed now?" Arkon griped.

Zahir tapped his own glass against Arkon’s in greeting. "Stop complaining. You knew I would. I told you—Ezra and I are concerned. Now more than ever."

"What’s that supposed to mean?"

"The Wolf Mage is here, Arkon. The focus of your singular obsession for years. Don’t treat me like I’m a fool." Zahir sipped his wine. "Did she stay in the cell or seek you out?"

Arkon sighed, knowing that he couldn’t lie. Unfortunately, Zahir was one of the few people he liked and valued. "She found me."

"Where is she now?"

"Asleep on my couch."

Zahir smiled. "And you wonder why I am concerned. Did she tell you anything useful?"

Arkon told him everything that Zarya had told him. There were still gaps in her history and the relationship she had with Arkadi, but their chat had been a start.

"A seventh daughter. That makes sense," Zahir murmured.

Arkon fidgeted. "Does it?"

"I have eyes in my head, and they are sharper than most. I saw how both of your magic glowed in that ballroom." Zahir toyed with his earring thoughtfully, and when he didn’t elaborate, Arkon made a hurry up gesture at him.

"You are equal in power, Arkon. I can’t see the actual nature of her magic, but I can feel it. She is like your twin in power range. Don’t forget that magic must have balance like everything else. Perhaps she was born because you were, and you needed a counterpoint. Whatever you do, make sure you tighten your shields. I could see your power reaching out to touch hers."

Arkon laughed. "Stop making it sound sexy." He thought of her modifications to his warding and quickly had another nervous mouthful of wine.

"It’s not sexy. It’s terrifying," Zahir argued. "You could blow up Venice by yourself on a bad day. The two of you having an argument could be cataclysmic."

"Now you’re just being dramatic. She hasn’t come here to duel with me." Though Arkon wasn’t totally opposed to the idea. It was definitely on his bucket list. Just who would triumph if they really unleashed?

Zahir rested his chin on his palm. "No. Zarya came here to make a scene. Did you wonder why she made sure everyone in Venice would know of her defection by morning? Did you bother to ask her?"

Arkon shrugged. "I don’t really care."

"Oh, sweet boy. You’re smarter than this. She did it because she wants the powers on high back in Varangia to know. She wants them confused and scared about what you two will do together. We both know she doesn’t need your help to kill. She wants the world to know you are united." Zahir gave him a scathing look. "She’s a wolf playing with her prey until they die of fear, and she can chew on whatever is left. That is who you are dealing with."

"Hmm, yes, you’re right." Arkon nodded sagely to humor him.

Zahir rolled his eyes at his antics. "You know this, but you don’t care?"

"Not even a little bit. I want to help her and for the war to end. I don’t particularly care about her motivations, though the murder of her sister is a good one. I want to kill these horrible bone mages and burn their camps to the ground. I want it all to be over,don’t you get that?" Arkon replied, his voice rising.

Zahir sighed. "Do you even know what you would do without having her as an adversary?"

"Yes. I would quit," he replied simply. Zahir’s eyes widened. "Don’t look so shocked. I made a promise to Gio that I would remain his Grand Sorcerer until the war ended. We are both going to quit once it’s done."

Zahir put his head in his hands. "Why are you humans like this? We can’t lose you both in one go. The Republic would be thrown into turmoil."

"No, it won’t. Gio will ensure a smooth transition when he abdicates, but as soon as Arkadi is dead, I’m done. That was the deal." For the first time in years, it seemed like a real possibility that it could happen. It made Arkon feel...hopeful.

"You are serious about this, aren’t you? What would you even do with yourself?" Zahir asked in exasperation.

"I’d do the only thing I’ve ever wanted to do," Arkon replied with a small smile. "I would study magic and forget everything else exists."

"And you trust the Wolf Mage not to kill you once it’s all over? If you help her take out the rest of her enemies, there’s only going to be you left."

"You really think so?" Arkon smiled in delight. "I mean, she could always try to kill me. I’d be disappointed if she didn’t do it just once for fun."

Zahir cursed under his breath. "Just don’t kill us all with these games you play with her, Arkon. You still have to convince the Council of this ridiculous plan tomorrow."

"I’ll leave that up to Zarya. It’s her plan after all. I’ll help her whether or not I get official permission," Arkon said with a mad little laugh. "I mean, who is going to stop us?"

Zahir only shook his head in despair. "And you wonder why I’m worried."