“Ever think of homeschooling?” Leif teased.

“Yes. But she’s never been to a school before, and if she wants to join her brother at the Magician’s Keep, she needs to learn how to be with other kids her age.”

“Do you think she’ll be invited to the Keep?” I asked. At age ten, Reema was too young to show any magical potential, but her older brother, Teegan, had plenty to spare. Bain hoped he’d grow into master-level powers by the time he finished the five-year curriculum.

“Yes. She has an intuitive sense that is more than natural. It’s hard to explain. She can be so mature and smart at times, acting older than ten, yet at other times, like in the mornings before school, she runs around like a spoiled five-year-old.” Opal sank behind her desk. “While I’m happy to see you both, I sense it’s not to discuss parenting methods. Unless you have some news about my sister, Leif?” She raised her eyebrows.

Leif blushed bright red. Now it was my turn to laugh. My brother, the prude.

“I’ll take that as a no. Yelena?”

My mirth died in my throat. “Not even engaged.”

“Too bad. Another wedding would be fun.”

“Except we’d be targets. Better to elope like you and Devlen.”

“Which worked until my mother found out about it.”

I smiled, remembering the big gala Opal’s mother had thrown for them.

“Best food, ever,” Leif said.

“What about at your own wedding?” I asked.

“I was too nervous to eat.”

“Wow, I didn’t think that ever happened,” Opal teased.

“Not funny.”

After a pause in conversation, Opal asked, “Do you want to wait for Devlen to return before you tell me what’s going on?”

“Probably a good idea,” I said. Bad enough telling my story again. Best to avoid telling it twice.

“Then I’ll fetch some tea.” Opal left.

I scanned her office. Glass vases, bowls and sculptures decorated the tables and shelves. Stacks of orders had been arranged neatly on her desk.

Opal returned with a tray and poured four glasses. “Devlen’s coming.” She handed us each a steaming mug.

Devlen slipped into the room. He’d fixed his hair and changed his shirt. He said hello and stood behind Opal with one hand clutching his mug as if it would protect him and the other resting on Opal’s shoulder. Leif stared at him as if scenting his intentions. When Opal had first married Devlen, the relationship between Leif and Devlen had been strained. Leif had dealt with Devlen when he’d been addicted to the blood magic, and hadn’t witnessed Devlen’s change firsthand, only heard about it through Valek.

I had seen Devlen’s soul and knew him like no other. Probably why he acted embarrassed around me. Examining a person’s soul was a ruthless and intimate experience, and I hadn’t shied away, stripping down the layers to see the good man underneath the childhood traumas and insatiable desire for magical power. He’d lost his way, but had been strong enough to find the right path. And Leif was learning to trust him, as well.

“Is this about the man who escaped Wirral?” Opal asked. “Devlen’s been helping the authorities search for him, but the man’s a magician and has just disappeared. Has the Council finally sent help?”

“That’s one of the reasons we’re here,” Leif said. “But not at the Council’s behest.” He glanced at me.

I explained about my connection to Ben Moon and the attack in the woods. “Do you think he could have orchestrated it from Wirral?”

“No,” Opal said. “That place is locked down tight. But he did have help, so one of his accomplices could have organized the attack to knock you out of the picture and ensure you didn’t come searching for him. The prison break required a ton of planning and skill. Let’s just say they’d never get a second chance.”

“Do you know who his accomplices are?”

“Only two. A brother-and-sister team of magicians,” Devlen said.

“Any clue as to where they are?”

“We tracked them for a couple days. They headed northwest from Fulgor before we lost them.” Anger sparked in Devlen’s blue eyes.

“Do you think they’re hiding in Ixia?” I asked.

“We have searched most of Moon Clan’s lands and still have not found them. It is the one place we cannot look.”

True. I’d have to send Valek an update.

“You mentioned another reason?” Opal asked.

Here we go. I drew in a breath. You’d think the telling would get easier the more times I recited it, but no, it was even more difficult. At least I knew Opal and Devlen would understand better than anyone else. Each had lost their magic. However, Opal was immune to magic like Valek and Devlen was glad to be rid of the burden.

When I finished, Opal rushed over and embraced me.

“Oh, Yelena, how horrible!”

“I’m hoping it’s temporary.” I swallowed the fat fist in my throat. “And I’m hoping you might have some information.”

“What type of info?” Opal asked.

“I suspect it’s a poison, but there was a gap in time between the bolt’s strike and my symptoms. What if someone siphoned my powers?”

Opal knotted her hands together. “Maybe Quinn learned—”

“It wasn’t him. Unless he could do it from a hundred miles away?”