The Hour of Dust and Ashes by Kelly Gay Read Free Book Online Page B

didn’t reach her eyes. “Haven’t had nachos for breakfastin a while … What did Alessandra have to say?”
    Emma had stayed with Bryn last night so Rex and I could go to Underground and see the oracle. My visit wasn’t exactly a secret. And, though it was unspoken between us, we both knew I couldn’t share details with someone who might still be possessed. I hated that part … Hated to think there was something else inside of my little sister pulling the strings, wanting to know what Alessandra said, wanting to get to the hidden sarcophagus …
    It was clear from Bryn’s look that she understood the direction of my thoughts. “Don’t worry about it.” She pushed away from the wall. “Come on, I’ll take you to see Aaron.”
    Bryn turned to the guard. I’d tagged him the minute I walked into her temporary living space. Human. Midthirties. Typical mage aura—a wash of intelligent greens. Warlock tattoo—a black dragon swallowing its tail, and always placed around the right wrist. It all equated to a bodyguard more than capable for the job. “Charlie and I are going outside,” she told him in a robotic tone.
    “She’ll be fine with me.” His dark eyes met mine. “Why don’t you go take a break? We’ll be back in a little while.”
    He stood, clipping his phone on his hip. “I’ll follow behind.”
    Ah. Yes. It would be just like Aaron to give the orders where Bryn was concerned. Orders that’d be followed to the letter. I nodded in reply.
    No doubt, every single one of her guards was a warlock.
    Since warlocks were the warrior sect of the mage class, Aaron’s decision made perfect sense. Not only were they skilled mages dedicated to study, craft, and knowledge, but they trained regularly in the art of warfare. And since Aaron was a warlock himself, it made even more sense. He’d trust them more than any other. Even if they knew Bryn had a hand in his death, they’d
still
put their lives on the line for her, because Aaron had asked them to. Simple as that. Warlocks were a
very
tight band of brothers.
    Bryn took the lead, going down the wide second-floor hallway toward the service stairs at the back of the house, instead of the main, sweeping staircase that commanded the front. Her blue tri-colored skirt swished around her legs and her ankle bracelets tinkled like wind chimes in a slow breeze as we went; the sound so normal and comforting. So … Bryn-like that it gave me renewed hope.
    The warlock stayed true to his word and trailed us at a leisurely pace.
    Once we were through the massive kitchen and out the side door into large herb and vegetable garden, Bryn slowed enough for me to walk on the stone path beside her. “I’ve never been in the back before,” I said in a low voice. “It’s huge.”
    “It’s hard to see everything with the darkness, but there’s a swimming pool, veranda, gazebo, patio … The grounds and gardens make up about seven acres.The woods, or the park as the League calls it, make up another three. And then the school”—she flung a gentle hand to her right—“makes up another five.”
    If she hadn’t sounded like an emotionless robot, the tour guide bit would’ve been interesting. As it was, it only cemented the fact that she was changing.
    “Wasn’t always like this,” she said.
    After buying the old Mordecai House a few years ago, the League set about buying up property around the mansion. They cleared the land, put their earth mages to work, and created a park-like setting within downtown city limits.
    Even though it was morning, the sky was dark, the kind of deep ominous color that heralded thunderstorms and tornadoes. Every once in a while a green flash would snake like otherworldly lightning through the churning mass of gray and bathe the ground in a fleeting, eerie glow.
    There was enough outdoor lighting to see over the lawn dotted with old oak trees to the school where street lamps illuminated the massive, gray stone church and monastery, which had