A Book of Spirits and Thieves

“You are the father of this boy,” she said.

“No, I am his guardian,” Livius admitted. “But he is like a son to me.”

“I see.” Valoria’s red skirts flowed behind her like a trail of blood. Her guards had stepped back, giving her room to move freely.

The large cobra began to slither down the steps, drawing closer to Maddox, its tongue darting out like a small but deadly whip. It finally reached him and it sat up, its hood fanning out, and it stared at him.

Had Becca not been close, he knew he would have shrieked like a little girl.

“Don’t move,” Becca urged.

Great suggestion, he thought. Thank you so much.

“Fear,” Valoria said, a smile in her voice. “It’s so very motivating, isn’t it? One sees a snake, and one is afraid. But snakes are no more frightening than any other beast. A rabbit’s bite might lack lethal poison, but it can be every bit as deep and dangerous as Aegus’s. But one sees something pleasant to the eye, and the fear vanishes, the guard drops. Appearances can be deceiving.”

Just like a beautiful goddess. She might lull her subjects into obedience with her attractive appearance, but everyone knew she was as deadly as poison contained within a beautiful bottle.

Maddox glanced at her hands to see the symbols for earth—a circle within a circle—and water—parallel wavy lines. One on each palm, as if branded there.

She held her hands out to him. “Interesting, yes?”

“Yes, Your Radiance,” he agreed quickly.

“I am the immortal embodiment of earth and water magic. But you . . . I’ve been told you have more mysterious abilities. Abilities that go beyond elemental magic. You possess a different form of magic never seen before in this realm.”

“Tell her,” Livius said. “Share with our goddess all that you can do, son.”

“No, tell her nothing,” Becca argued, crouching down next to him. “Play dumb. Her guards were going to execute that girl at the festival just for being accused of using magic. What do you think she’ll do with you once you show her what you can do?”

A dilemma. Should he do what an abusive, manipulative arse tells him? Or should he do what Becca Hatcher, the beautiful girl whom his heart wanted to trust after only a handful of moments, suggested?

“I’m afraid there’s been a misunderstanding,” Maddox said, forcing confidence into his voice. “My greatest apologies, Your Radiance, but I am not what you may believe me to be.”

“Maddox,” Livius growled. “What are you saying? My goddess, he is afraid. His words fail him, so allow me to provide whatever knowledge you wish to glean about my young charge.”

She pursed her lips and flicked her gaze toward Livius. “Is it true that he can summon the spirits of the dead from the land of darkness?”

Livius nodded. “He can.”

A lie. Maddox had never summoned a spirit before—at least, not on purpose. He could only draw closer a spirit that was already in the mortal world.

“And he can imprison them in silver,” Livius continued. “He can also incapacitate and choke a man twice his size with only the power of his mind. It’s incredible.”

“Indeed, it certainly sounds so,” Valoria said with growing interest.

Maddox wanted to retch. His deepest secrets were being revealed so bluntly, and he hated it.

“The only witches I’ve known have been females,” Valoria said. “But you are most certainly not a girl, are you? Why are you different from the others, I wonder?”

Coming from Valoria’s cool tone, these were not questions; rather, they were more like musings. Maddox didn’t say a word in response.

“A spirit visited him earlier in the dungeon,” Livius said. “He spoke with it at great length.”

Maddox’s heart sank, and he exchanged a brief, worried glance with Becca.

“Is this true?” Valoria asked.

“What do you want from me, Your Radiance?” Maddox asked, avoiding having to speak of Becca. He might not be able to help her get home, but he at least wanted to protect her from this powerful goddess who might mean her harm.

Her brows shot up. “Such candor. Such boldness. It pleases me to see that you’re in possession of a backbone. I had begun to wonder.”

Jaw tight, he studied the ground by her feet, feeling very much like a butterfly being watched by one of the goddess’s hungry, carnivorous flowers.

“I want very little,” Valoria said. “Only two things have managed to evade me throughout my reign. I seek a girl, sixteen years old, who is possessed by great magic, but I have failed at every turn. Perhaps she’s been hidden away in the South, or perhaps even in another land far from here. But it’s the lack of knowing that vexes me to no end.”

Find a lost girl? Why did she think he could assist in such a matter?

“What do you want with her?” Maddox dared to ask.