Page 119 of My Pleasure

“How wonderful for you,” Daia said, her smile showing everyone she meant it as a good thing.

Kendrick looked surprised, then turned back to Kiera. “Did the grey threads lead anywhere?”

Meryn snapped her fingers. “Like the necklace contract magic?”

“Shuush,” Kendrick ordered.

Meryn rolled her eyes, but kept quiet.

Kiera shook her head. “It didn’t lead anywhere. It was wrapped around her earth magic.”

Kendrick turned to Daia. “How’s your magic?”

“Fine. I was dizzy for a moment, but that has passed.”

“We may have new possible problems,” Meryn announced.

Kendrick steered Kiera back to her chair, and Hunter followed. Kendrick sat, and Hunter pulled her onto his lap. Kiera would normally get embarrassed, but his warmth gave her something solid to hold on to.

Caiden looked to Ryuu. “Maybe some tea?”

Ryuu gave a half bow and went to the kitchen.

Caiden turned to Meryn. “Okay, what new problems?”

“Well, I don’t know if what we did with Daia is traceable or visible.”

Kendrick strummed his fingers on the table. “Which means we don’t know if we’re tipping our hand if she returns and those working against us sees her changed.”

“Yup!” Meryn chirped.

“What else?” Caiden asked.

“I was kinda hoping to use Kiera’s missed magic as an excuse to audit the Academy or at least throw some mud their way,” Meryn said. “But, if what we did to Daia is noticed, we can’t exactly announce Kiera has this nifty new magic, can we? Not when we don’t exactly know what we did. If it allows Daia to see more clearly, we could slowly free the others if they have the grey stuff too.”

Kendrick leveled a flat expression at Meryn. “Is that all?”

Meryn bit her lip, and shook her head.

“Go on Meryn, you know no one will get mad at you,” Kendrick said, softening his expression.

“Zoe was saved because she left Storm Keep and made it to Éire Danu where she basically couldn’t be extradited. If Auntie hadn’t requested the Temple Head to help out with the lights, she would have been trapped here. Now Kiera’s magic was discovered because she mated a unit warrior that happens to know the one witch who treats magic like a toy.”

Kendrick snorted.

Meryn continued. “Do you really think those two are the only oddball magic users Storm Keep has produced, like, ever?”

Kiera felt like the air had been sucked from the room. Statistically speaking, Meryn was right. There had to be more.

“Ahh. I see tea was the right call,” Ryuu said, before passing out steaming cups. “Denka, what would you like for your before dinner snack?”

“I don’t suppose you’d actually make me microwaveable pizza rolls?” she asked with a hopeful expression.

Ryuu just continued to smile at her as if she hadn’t asked anything. She sighed then asked. “What’s for dinner?”

“Caiden and Genevieve have planned a small pasta buffet,” Ryuu replied, handing the last cup of tea to Pip. He walked over to place a hand on the top of her head. “No more chocolate for you for the day.”

“Aww man! We’re strategizing, Ryuu,” she wheedled.