His dad ducked, cursing under his breath before plowing into Ezra’s middle and taking him onto his back, sand flying in all directions from underneath them. Cahal held an instant forearm to Ezra’s throat, restraining him when Ezra’s fangs extended. I was pretty sure the only thing that kept this from becoming a real fight was the fact that they were father and son. Elder Venclaire was correct not to intervene.
“Stop,” Cahal said in a deep, calming tone. “Just stop, son.”
Ezra growled, but stared up at him, not throwing any more punches. “Give me one f**king reason other than ‘it’s the way it has always been done’ that proves we can’t,” a pause, “all go together to protect the other.” His nostrils flared.
Instant. “The spell doesn’t work if you have another Mys, other than the Prodigy, nearby. It’s not only an ancient spell of finding; it’s also one of protection.”
Truth.
Ezra’s jaw clenched, his eyes closing as he figured this out on his own.
“Well, now that the fun and games are over,” Elder Harcourt clapped his wrinkled hands together from the entrance of the cave, startling me because I hadn’t even realized he was there, “it’s time to do the spell.”
Elder Nelson’s wide gaze went from Cahal and Ezra to Elder Harcourt, and he quickly herded Pearl over to him, probably praying she didn’t pull any of the theatrics that were happening out here. If he only knew. Elder Fergus even physically shoved Jack toward Elder Harcourt in his haste, muttering under his breath about Bonnie and Clyde bullshit. Which was more right than he knew.
I stared as Cahal whispered something at Ezra’s ear, to which Ezra slowly nodded. My heart swelled because I probably would have lost it just like Ezra with our emotions as raw as they were. Cahal whispered something else, getting the same response from Ezra, before he lifted his arm off his son’s throat. Ezra lay there for a few seconds longer than necessary after Cahal stood. His dad lowered his hand to him, and Ezra smashed his into it, letting his dad yank him to his feet.
“Well,” King Kincaid cleared his throat, gently nudging me in the direction of Elder Harcourt, “I think it’s safe to say you’ve been lying to me.” He rubbed his chest. “At least the others haven’t figured it out.” He didn’t seem too upset that I had been devious.
A hysterical giggle almost escaped, but I quickly bit it off and turned my back to him, heading toward the Mage. The only few out here that didn’t know about Ezra and I were Elder Harcourt, Elder Fergus, and Elder Nelson. There was nothing else to do but walk headlong into a fate I knew was going to be filled with turmoil, sans a furiously protective Ezra.
I stood next to Jack, Pearl on the other side of him, the three of us facing Elder Harcourt. Ezra moved to stand next to me, just a little too close, but I wasn’t about to move away because he was still growling quietly in his chest. I didn’t miss how his dad stood directly behind him, either.
Elder Harcourt glanced at Ezra, his lips twitching as he hobbled to stand straight in front of him. Crazy damn man. His head tilted as he stared Ezra in the eyes, then rooted around in his pants pocket, mumbling, “They’re in here somewhere.” A pause. “Wait. Other pocket.” He jammed his other hand in the other pocket, pulling out two tiny pairs of white dice.
“Hold your hand out, King Zeller,” Elder Harcourt instructed.
I blinked, then jolted, realizing he was talking to Ezra. That was the first time someone had called Ezra by that name. Even Ezra stood there motionless, blinking at Elder Harcourt, until I nudged him in the ribs covertly…well, as stealthily as I could with everyone standing in a circle around us, watching avidly. Ezra glanced down, his gaze still narrowed, but his growl cut off as his eyes met mine. I jerked my head toward Elder Harcourt, whispering, “Your hand.”
Real slow-like, he blinked, then held his hand out, eyes still on me. He leaned down, breathing against my ear, “You had better f**king call me every goddamn chance you get.” He straightened only when his dad cleared his throat behind him.
Elder Harcourt dropped one of the die onto Ezra’s palm, then placed his own palm on top of Ezra’s, gripping his hand. His eyes glowed, and I had to stop myself from stepping back as Elder Harcourt’s power began swirling around us. Ezra went rigid as Elder Harcourt lowered his head, placing his lips to the back of his wrinkled hand…and blew out a sharp breath.
Ezra jerked, but didn’t yank his hand away. Elder Harcourt released him, and the die glowed red and black in Ezra’s palm. Ezra sucked in a harsh breath, whispering, “Female.”
Elder Harcourt grinned. “The first female Prodigy Vampire.” He patted Ezra’s shoulder. “Go get her.”
Ezra stared down at his hand, slowly gripping the die hard.
Elder Harcourt hobbled a step over, standing in front of me.
I waited, wanting to hear him say it.
He chuckled. “Please hold out your hand, Queen Ruckler.”
I grinned and did as told.
He repeated the process, his power feeling purely of time and spells as he touched me. Only training kept me from blasting each of us apart in an invisible explosion. When he breathed life into the die, I almost turned to leave, feeling the instant pull to find the small life force. I grunted, widening my stance, murmuring, “Male.” Inside my glowing black die was the knowledge of a two-year-old male.
Elder Harcourt smiled, nodding, and moved down the line.
Jack’s glowed red. A fire elemental. Male.
Pearl’s glowed golden. Male.
“All of you stay safe while you’re out there,” Elder Harcourt said softly, shuffling back a step.
“East,” Pearl murmured. “I need to go east.”
“North-west,” Jack whispered, staring at his die.
Ezra and I glanced at each other.
His dad had said the spell didn’t work when other Mysticals were nearby, which had been the truth…and yet…it was working just fine right now.
Ezra’s lips curved in a tiny, vicious private smile. “West.” One eyebrow rose in question, but I knew my direction didn’t really matter either way.
I bit my lip to keep from grinning. “South-west.”
Five minutes later, Ezra and I gave heartfelt goodbyes to Pearl, who was taking Elder Harcourt, and Jack, who was taking a newly arrived Elder fire Elemental I didn’t know, and gave them pointed looks. We couldn’t all go together because they wanted us back as soon as possible, which was completely understandable, but that didn’t mean Jack and Pearl couldn’t travel together.