“All right, I’ll ask. What do you want?”

He quirked a smile. “I want you to help me rescue the Ice Moon from Ixia.”

I laughed, but his expression remained the same. “You’re serious? That’s the Commander’s.”

“It’s ours. He stole it from Sitia.” Fury radiated from him.

Obviously a touchy subject. “It’s hidden under the Soul Mountains. Only the Commander knows the location. And besides, why would I help you?”

He pointed to his men surrounding the couch then to his chest.

“You’ll need more incentive,” I said.

“Than preserving your own life?”

“Trying to steal the Ice Moon is suicide. Die now or die later. I’d rather save myself the trouble.”

“Good thing I anticipated your…reluctance.”

His smug smile sent a cold knife of dread into my heart.

“How about preserving your brother’s life for incentive?”

Part 2

“You? Have Leif?” Doubt laced my voice.

“Oh yes. He’s in a secured location with my men,” the magician said. “If you don’t help me recover the Ice Moon from Ixia, he will die.”

I considered. The magician lounged on my couch. Confidence radiated from him, yet he remained behind a null shield protected from my magic.

“Do you have any proof?” I asked him.

“Of course. But first, a warning. If I don’t send a message to my men every day, they will kill your brother.” He held out a glass turtle.

The inner core of the sculpture glowed with the magic that had been trapped inside. With the glass messenger, the magician could communicate telepathically over vast distances to another magician.

Did he steal the turtle from Leif? “Is that your proof?”

“No. This is for my safety. If you harm me, then I won’t send a message, and you won’t have any time to find your brother before my men carry out their orders. My proof lies in my memories. Go on, Yelena. I’ve moved the null shield. Take a look.”

I projected my awareness toward him, seeking his thoughts. The image of Leif bound and gagged and furious floated in his mind. My own anger bubbled, but I suppressed it. For now. He would pay for every mark on Leif’s body. I promised.

The magician had instructed his men to hide my brother without telling him the location. They set up a complicated message system to ensure their boss’s life and his freedom during the mission.

Digging a little deeper into his mind, I learned his name, Owen Moon. And I discovered he had a warped sense of honor. He would keep his word not to harm Leif if I agreed to his demands and help him steal the Commander’s Ice Moon. He would also not hesitate to order my brother’s death if I failed. I tried to find Leif’s current location to no avail. With a sudden snap, my connection to Owen broke.

“That’s enough. Do you believe me?” Owen asked.

“Yes.”

“And your answer?”

“When do we leave?” I asked.

He smirked with satisfaction. “Now. Go pack a small bag. Reed, go with her.”

A young man with short dark hair stepped forward. I allowed him to follow me upstairs, but at my bedroom door I stopped. “Stay here,” I ordered.

“But--”

“I need to change my clothes.”

His shoulders stiffened. “I’ll turn my back.”

“No. You’ll stay here. What do you think I’ll do? Your boss has my brother.” I shut the door and drew in a breath before pushing my awareness to Reed. As I suspected, he wasn’t covered by the null shield. Owen’s confidence in my cooperation could be used to my advantage. Too bad Reed didn’t know anything useful. I capitalized on his fatigue, and eventually my escort couldn’t resist lying down in the hallway for a little nap.

Valek coalesced from the shadows and wrapped me in his long lean arms. I soaked in his musky smell, listening to his heart beat. Strong and steady. No indication that he had been sneaking around.

“What do you want me to do, love?” he asked in a low whisper. “Find Leif or smooth the way for your trip north?”

“How about both?”

“It’s Ixia. Messages take forever compared to Sitia, but if you drag the trip out a few days, I could have a couple helpers in place.”

“Leif first.”

“Right.” His sigh vibrated through my chest. “So much for our vacation.” He pulled back and I recognized the eagerness in his blue eyes. “Interesting problem, though. Could be a bit tricky.”

“Free Leif and then you can play,” I said.

He grinned. “Promise?”

“If I don’t get to them first.”

“That’s my girl.” He released me.

While I changed, Valek packed my bag. In order to travel in Ixia without drawing attention, we would have to leave Kiki and the rest of the horses behind. I swung my gray cloak around my shoulders. The cooling season in Ixia, meant icy winds and freezing nights. Valek would have to find Leif before the cold season’s blizzards began or we would be stuck in Ixia for two months.

Valek handed me the backpack. “Directly north of us there’s a safe house near the Ixian border.”

“You’re not suppose--”

“We can argue about it later. It’s stocked with Ixian uniforms, money and papers. You’ll still have to sneak across the border, but it’ll help once you’re inside.” He gave me directions to the house. “Then head for Military District 3 and find the Commander’s diamond mine--the one he grew up in. Its designation is MD-3-13 and it’s in the foothills of the Soul Mountains near the northern ice sheet. I’ll meet you there.” He rested his hands on my shoulders. “Stay safe, love.”